Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Before you run the experiment
• Method 2 of 2: After the experiment
• Tips

A lab report is a clear, detailed description of your experiment. It is used to describe and analyze the procedures followed and the data collected. The report contains certain important elements such as the hypothesis, list of materials and raw data and adheres to a specific format.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Before you run the experiment

1. Choose the title. This is the name of the lab or experiment you are conducting. The title should be descriptive but short.
   • A title page is required for some teachers and for some lessons. The title page contains the title of the lab or experiment, the names of the students who worked on it, the name of the teacher for whom it is being conducted and the date.
2. Identify the problem. Determine what you are trying to solve or investigate. This is it target of the experiment. Why are you conducting this experiment? What can one learn from carrying it out? Explain what the experiment is about and what you want to determine.
   • The experiment must also be introduced in this section. Include background information of interest, important definitions, the theoretical and historical background of the experiment, and the methods you will be using.
   • Summarize the purpose in one sentence. It may also be a question. Sometimes the teacher decides what the purpose of the experiment is.
   • An example of a goal description is: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the boiling point of different substances on the basis of three different samples.
   • Another example is: Do you get green paint when you mix blue and yellow paint?
3. Determine the hypothesis. The hypothesis is the theoretical solution to the problem or the predicted outcome of the trial. The hypothesis therefore indicates what you expect the outcome of the experiment to be, based on prior knowledge or previous experiments. You cannot come up with solutions that are not supported by facts. The hypothesis does not have to be correct. You conduct the experiment to find out whether it is supported or not.
   • The hypothesis must be presented as a sentence.
   • Use a "like this, then that," because this "structure when writing your hypothesis. "If this" indicates what you have changed and "then that" is the result of that change. "Because this" explains the result.
   • An example of a hypothesis is: If I throw a ball off a 15th floor balcony, it will crack the paving stones.
4. List materials. The next step is to list the materials used in a clear, short list. Make sure to include all materials. This way, others can imitate your experiment and check your findings.
   • Some teachers are allowed to refer to your textbook if the materials are listed there. Then you can write: See page 456 in Chemistry Everywhere. Ask your teacher in advance if this is allowed.
   • The materials list must be in one sentence. Write the materials in the order you used them.
5. Explain the procedure you followed. Write down exactly the steps you took during your experiment and the measurements you took. This is how you review your experiment step by step. This information ensures that someone else can copy your experiment. Include precautions to take before conducting the experiment.
   • Describe all variables in the experiment. The constant variables are the variables that do not change during the experiment. The independent variable is what you will change during the experiment. This should be mentioned in the hypothesis. The dependent variable is the variable that changes due to your manipulation of the independent variable.
   • Some teachers want you to describe the procedure in a paragraph, not as a list. It should be a description of what you did, not a list of instructions. Consult with your teacher before writing this part of the report.
   • Clarity is the keyword. Provide enough detail for others to reproduce the experiment and explain the steps in a clear, detailed way. However, don't go too far into the details or provide irrelevant information.
   • The procedure and the list of materials used can be combined in one paragraph. Make sure you know how your teacher wants it before making the choice.

Method 2 of 2: After the experiment

1. Run the experiment. Conduct the experiment based on your step-by-step plan and list of materials. Make sure you have written down all the steps from part 1 before performing the experiment. It is important to have already described the materials and procedure as it will give you a clear idea of ​​what to expect during the experiment. Writing the hypothesis, purpose, and introduction will help you understand the results of the experiment and you will not change the hypothesis based on its outcome.
2. Present the results. This section contains the raw data from the experiment. State your observations in a clear, logical way. Organize and categorize the data in an understandable way.
   • This section contains tables, graphs, and any notes made during the experiment. Give the data tables clear labels and do not forget to mention the units. If you are using a graph, use X or O instead of dots. Make sure that a variable is indicated for each axis.
   • There are two types of data you can collect. Qualitative data is observable data that has no numerical value. So these are things that you can observe with your five senses. Quantitative data is observable data that corresponds to measurable values. Examples of quantitative results are measurements in centimeters, weights in grams, speeds in kilometers, density, volume, temperature and mass.
3. Discuss the results. In this part you analyze the experiment. Interpret the results by explaining them, analyzing what they mean and comparing them. If something unexpected happens, try to explain why it happened. Predict what would happen if one variable in the experiment was different.
4. Accept or reject your hypothesis. In the conclusion you explain whether your hypothesis holds or not. Use the data obtained in the experiment to show why your hypothesis turns out to be correct or incorrect.
   • Can you draw multiple conclusions from the data? In that case, you must state that. Explain what alternative conclusions there are.
   • An example of how to reject a hypothesis is: Our hypothesis was incorrect. The cake was not baked at a higher temperature for a shorter time. The cake was still raw when we took it out of the oven.
5. Also write about any mistakes. Add errors to your data, and also mention extreme data that does not match the other data. Discuss why these data are wrong and explain what you could do better to improve the quality and precision of the experiment. Human errors (eg liquid spillage or incorrect measurement) do not count.

Tips

• If you don't know which format to follow, ask your teacher for advice.
• Edit your report twice: once for the layout, and once for the content.
• Choose a laboratory that you know well and where you feel comfortable. Then you can write down more details.
• Use the APA or MLA format, or whatever format your teacher wants you to use for capturing external data. Always quote your sources.
• Most lab reports are written in passive voice and third person. They are also written in the present tense. The past tense can be used to describe specific methods and observations, or to quote past research or experiments.
• Do not plagiarize your reports. You will then receive a pass or may no longer take the lessons.