Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Abstract and introduction
• Part 2 of 3: Experimental Technique
• Part 3 of 3: Results

Every time you conduct a scientific experiment, you should draw up a laboratory report describing the objectives of the study, the expected results, the sequence of actions and the results obtained with their explanation. Often, laboratory reports are prepared in a standard format - first, an annotation and an introduction are given, followed by a listing of the materials and experimental methods used, a description and discussion of the results obtained, and at the end, conclusions. This format allows the reader to find answers to the main questions: what was the purpose of the experiment, what results the experimenter expected, how the experiment went, what happened during the experiment, and what the results obtained indicate. This article describes a standard laboratory report format.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Abstract and introduction

1. 1 Start with annotation. It is an extremely brief summary of the content of the report and usually contains no more than 200 words. The abstract will help the reader to quickly familiarize himself with the results of the experiment and their meaning. The abstract should have the same structure as the report itself. It will allow the reader to quickly become familiar with the purpose, the results obtained and the meaning of the experiment.
   • The purpose of the annotation is to provide the reader with a summary of the experiment so that he can judge whether the entire report is worth studying. The abstract will allow the reader to determine whether the given research is interesting to him.
   • Describe the purpose of the study and its significance in one sentence. Then, very briefly list the materials and methods used. Devote 1–2 sentences to presenting the results of the experiment. Following the annotation, you can provide a list of keywords that are often used in the report.
2. 2 Write an introduction. Start with a quick overview of relevant literature and experimentation. Then summarize the theoretical background and the current state of affairs in this direction. Next, point out the problem and questions that your research addresses. Briefly describe your work and what issues and issues it addresses. Finally, briefly explain the experiment you conducted, but do not go into details that will be presented later in the description of the materials and methods used, as well as in the analysis of the results obtained.
   • The introduction should mention what the experiment is, why it was done, and why it is important. It is necessary to convey to the reader two key points: what question the experiment is intended to answer, and why it is important to find an answer to this question.
3. 3 Decide what the expected results should be. A competent and clear explanation of the expected results is called a hypothesis.The hypothesis should be presented in the last part of the introduction.
   • A research hypothesis should be a short statement in which the problem described in the introduction is presented as a testable thesis.
   • Scientists need hypotheses in order to properly plan and conduct experiments.
   • A hypothesis is never proven, but only "tested" or "supported" by experiment.
4. 4 Correctly formulate a hypothesis. Start with a general statement of expected results and formulate a verifiable statement from this statement. Then expand and flesh out the idea. Finally, explain your intention in more detail and make sure your hypothesis can be tested.
   • For example, you might start by saying, "Fertilizers affect how tall a plant grows." This idea can be formulated as a clear hypothesis: "If plants are fertilized, they grow faster and taller." To make this hypothesis testable, experimental details can be added: "Those plants that are fertilized with a solution of 1 milliliter of fertilizer grow faster than similar plants without fertilization, because they receive more nutrients."

Part 2 of 3: Experimental Technique

1. 1 Dedicate a separate section to explain the experiment. This section is often referred to as Materials and Methods or Experimental Procedure. Its purpose is to tell the reader exactly how you conducted your experiment. Describe all the materials used and the specific methods you used in your work.
   • This section should provide clear and comprehensive information about the experimental procedure so that others can repeat your experiment if necessary.
   • This section is an extremely important documentary description of your analysis methods.
2. 2 Describe any materials required to conduct the experiment. It can be a simple listing or a few paragraphs of text. Describe the experimental equipment used in the work, its type and make. It is often useful to provide a diagram of a particular installation. Among other things, explain what you used as research materials or objects.
   • For example, if you are testing the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, you should include the brand of fertilizer used, the type of plant studied, and the brand of seed.
   • Do not forget to indicate the number of all objects used in the experiment.
3. 3 Describe the experimental procedure in detail. State all the stages of the experiment in a consistent and detailed manner. Describe step by step how you conducted the experiment. Include a description of all measurements taken and how and when they were taken. If you have taken steps to increase the accuracy and reliability of the experiment, describe them. For example, it could be some additional control methods, restrictions or precautions.
   • Remember that all experiments must include specified parameters and variables. Describe them in this section.
   • If you used an experimental method already described in the literature, do not forget to include a link to the original source.
   • Remember that the purpose of this section is to provide the reader with complete and accurate information about how you conducted your experiment. Don't omit details.

Part 3 of 3: Results

1. 1 Devote a separate section to presenting your results. This is the main body of your report. This section should describe the results obtained by qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. If you provide graphs, diagrams and other figures, do not forget to describe them in the text. All figures must be numbered and signed. If you have conducted statistical research, please provide the results.
   • For example, if you have tested the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, it is advisable to provide a graph that compares the average plant growth rates with and without fertilizer.
   • You should also describe the results obtained in the text, for example: "Plants that were watered with a solution of 1 milliliter of fertilizer, on average, grew 4 centimeters higher than those that were not given fertilizer."
   • Describe your results consistently. Tell the reader why this or that result is important for solving the given problem. This will allow him to effortlessly follow your presentation logic.
   • Compare your results with your original hypothesis. Write down whether the experiment confirmed your hypothesis or not.
   • Quantitative data is expressed in numerical form, such as percentages or statistics. Qualitative evidence answers broader questions and is expressed in the form of the judgments of the study authors.
2. 2 Include a section discussing the results. This section is intended for an in-depth analysis of the results obtained. Explain if your expectations were met. Present data from other works and compare with them the results of your research, and then suggest directions for further research on the problem under consideration.
   • In this section, you can consider other questions, for example: "Why did we get unexpected results?" - or: "What would happen if we changed this or that parameter of the experimental procedure?"
   • If the results obtained do not support the hypothesis put forward, explain the reason for this.
3. 3 Write your conclusions. This section summarizes the experiment and describes what the results mean. Summarize the topic of your research and the questions studied. Then explain what the experiment you ran revealed. Finally, briefly describe the pitfalls and challenges you encountered in your work and suggest areas for further research.
   • Be sure to link your findings to the introduction and indicate if your goals have been met.
4. 4 Make a list of used literature. If you have linked to any research and work by other people, please make sure the links are correct. The link can be inserted into the text - indicate the year and authors of the work in brackets. At the end of your work, place a complete bibliography in which you indicate all the sources used.
   • When listing sources, you can use specific software such as EndNote.