Lab Reports
Before starting, review assignment expectations, learning goals, and the pre-lab report (if applicable).
Common Structure (NOTE: Always follow your course laboratory coordinator and professor’s instructions):
- Title Page—Include course name, course code, title of lab with clarification of type of lab (pre-lab, in-lab, post-lab, formal lab report), student name(s), McMaster student ID number, instructor name, lab section and TA name, if applicable include lab partner’s name & student number, due date, McMaster University.
- Abstract—Summarize major findings along with the problem and hypothesis. Clarify why the problem was studied and the approach used to study it. Describe major findings and conclusions.
- Introduction—Provide an overview of the experiment and discuss how the results expand knowledge.
- Include past test results (if applicable) with statements supported by the peer reviewed scientific literature in the proper citation format.
- Use present tense for theory, equipment, and report, and past tense for results and experiment.
- Methods and Materials—State what was done and how (instructions should facilitate experiment duplication).
- Include the experimental design, apparatus description, methods for gathering and interpreting results, and controls used. Use past tense and the passive voice.
- Results—Provide data and observations without interpreting their meaning or significance. Describe events in the order they took place.
- Include tables (raw data) and graphs (interpreted data), calculations: Tables, figures and graphs should be properly numbered and include captions. Include proper units of measurement and legends. Figures and tables should be organized and clear (no fuzzy images).
- Include results that deviated from expectations (leave discussion for next section).
- Maintain an adequate font size for graph legends. Use past tense.
- Discussion—Follow the same order as Results section.
- Analyse results: How do they relate to previous studies? Why did they occur?
- Identify patterns and relationships: How did results differ from expectations? How do they relate to theory?
- Conclusions—Briefly restate the purpose, results, and concluding interpretations.
- Include recommendations for further study and/or suggest changes to the procedure.
- Support statements with scientific literature. Include research citations in the proper format.
- References—List references in the proper referencing format (as indicated by the instructor, TA, and lab coordinator). References should display strong evidence that has been recently published.
- Appendices—Include data, calculations, graphics, and notes along with captions and titles.
- Provide measurements and legend. Place each appendix on a separate page.
Remember to maintain a balanced perspective, use clear and precise language, and apply a logical structure.
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Source: University of Toronto (n.d.). The Lab Report. Retrieved from: UFT Lab Reports Writing Advice