Writing a Formal Lab Report

Laboratory reports are required any time a scientist (and science student!) conducts a laboratory activity or primary research (that is, where you get your own data

without looking it up anywhere). There are two types of primary research you can do in science: experimental and descriptive studies.
In an experiment, you formulate an hypothesis (i.e. an educated guess) about an observation you’ve made in nature. The hypothesis gives you a basis for testing your

observation in a controlled manner. If it is a good hypothesis, the results will lead you to either ACCEPT or REJECT the hypothesis as stated.
In a descriptive study, you collect data but are not testing a hypothesis. For example, if you dissect a frog, you are collecting qualitative data on what you observed

during the dissection. The qualitative data might consist of both written descriptions and diagrams.
In both types of laboratory activities, your formal lab report should follow the same basic format that follows:
General Guidelines
•    Use the following headings in your lab report: Question, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Observations, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
•    you must write in the passive tense (ex. The plant stem was cut longitudinally with a scalpel; NOT… I cut the plant stem longitudinally with a scalpel)
•    You may use any size font you like on your title page
•    You should use bold, italicize and/or underline to emphasize your headings
•    DO NOTwrite your whole report in any emphasis style!!
•    The body of your lab report should be in type Times New Roman font or similar
•    The body of your lab report should be in size 11 or 12 font
•    The body of your lab report should be single spaced (except headings)
•    Use spell check, grammar check and proof read your work to ensure you have not made any spelling and/or grammatical errors
•    You are responsible for saving your work and should be able to supply a copy upon request
Title Page
•    This page is separate from the body of your lab report
•    Title of the experiment
•    Course name and Course code
•    Your name
•    Date the experiment was performed
•    Your teacher’s name (spelled correctly!)
Question
•    Identify the problem
•    State the causal question (if applicable)
Hypothesis
•    What do you predict will happen?
•    Do some background research
•    Make an educated guess about what result you expect to get from your experiment
Materials
•    List all materials needed to perform your experiment
Procedure
•    List the steps by step instructions to required to perform your lab
•    Be sure this is a numbered list
•    Include your variables tested (i.e. dependent; independent; control)
Observations
•    Do NOT state your results or analysis of your experiment
•    Link your observations to the relevant step of the procedure
•    Describe only what you observed during the lab. For example, if you noticed the formation of a gas during a chemical experiment that couldn’t be measured but

may be important to your discussion of the lab – note it.
Results
•    Simply record the experimental results you collected in a table and graph (if applicable)
•    Do NOTanalyse or discuss your results in this section
•    If calculations were necessary, show your work here
Discussion
•    This will be the largest section of your lab report; this is where you discuss the patterns and/or trends in your results and evaluate the experimental

procedure
•    Part 1: provide a background summary of the science involved in the experiment; write this summary as if it is for someone unfamiliar with the basic science

and purpose of the lab
•    Part 2: provide a brief summary of the patterns and/or trends you see in your results; include some quantitative data to support your evaluation of the

results; discuss whether or not your results support the hypothesis and if it is to be accepted or rejected
•    Part 3: include an error analysis (if possible); this does NOT include human error; was there something in the procedure and/or materials that may have had an

effect on your results? is there a way that you can modify the procedure and/or materials to obtain better results? If you cannot provide an answer to these questions,

do NOT include this section in your lab report.
Conclusion
•    Provide a short statement of your results
•    Look back at your initial question and use your results to answer it if possible
•    If your results lead to further questions, state them here
References
•    You must reference all your sources
Vancouver Style