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Experimental Laboratory Reports in Engineering A Template For Level 4

The document provides a template for writing experimental laboratory reports in engineering. It outlines the typical sections - introduction, methods, results, and discussion (IMRaD structure) - and provides detailed guidance on what to include in each section, such as stating the research problem in the introduction, including a labeled diagram and experimental procedure in the methods section, presenting processed results in tables and figures in the results section, and discussing uncertainties and comparing observations to theory in the discussion section. Overall presentation elements like formatting of equations, references, and the report layout are also addressed. The template is intended to guide engineering students in organizing their laboratory reports to reflect the scientific method and logical flow of information.

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Miley Le
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91 views2 pages

Experimental Laboratory Reports in Engineering A Template For Level 4

The document provides a template for writing experimental laboratory reports in engineering. It outlines the typical sections - introduction, methods, results, and discussion (IMRaD structure) - and provides detailed guidance on what to include in each section, such as stating the research problem in the introduction, including a labeled diagram and experimental procedure in the methods section, presenting processed results in tables and figures in the results section, and discussing uncertainties and comparing observations to theory in the discussion section. Overall presentation elements like formatting of equations, references, and the report layout are also addressed. The template is intended to guide engineering students in organizing their laboratory reports to reflect the scientific method and logical flow of information.

Uploaded by

Miley Le
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experimental Laboratory Reports in

Engineering: A template for level 4


(adapted from J. Donohue & J. Ingle, ISEE, UCL, 2018)

Most scientific reports use a similar structure designed to reflect a form of thinking, a
particular logic in the applied sciences, known as the scientific method. This structure is often
referred to as IMRaD, which stands for the different sections:
Introduction
Methods
Results
and
Discussion

The IMRaD structure has been in use for over 50 years and is a simple and straightforward
way of organising either lab reports or research papers in the sciences. It is worth noting that
sometimes different terminology is used and, depending on the experiment or purpose of
the report, different sections may have more or less emphasis; or other sections are also
required, such as: a title page, an abstract, a contents page (you will need to check the
precise requirements with your tutors and/or in the assessment brief).

Below is a more detailed template for writing experimental laboratory reports in engineering.
(At different sections/stages, the writing has different functions: DESCRIBING, EXPLAINING,
and/or DISCUSSING. You should keep these in mind when writing each section/stage).

A template for writing experimental laboratory


reports in engineering
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND SECTIONS
1. Briefly states the engineering research problem or question being addressed
2. Briefly explains how the experiment addresses the research problem or question
3. Presents the key principles involved
4a. States the equations used with explanatory comments (see lab sheet)
OR 4b. Derives, where appropriate, equations for this experiment, with explanatory comments
(see lab sheet)
5. Ensure intro flows and develops logically in an appropriate engineering style

METHODS (APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE) SECTIONS


1. Clearly labelled diagram (attributed if relevant) (a 2D diagram? are photos allowed?)
2. Description of the apparatus and how it works
3. Experimental procedure described
4. Ensure methods section flows and develops logically in an appropriate engineering style

RESULTS SECTION
1. Processed data, tabulated and labelled in this section (raw data is usually in the appendix and
cross referenced in the text)
2. Explanation of how the processed results were obtained from raw data
3. Processed results presented in tables and figures
4. Ensure results section flows and develops logically in an appropriate engineering style

DISCUSSION SECTION
1. Brief discussion of problems in the experiment, and how they affect the analysed results and
conclusions
2. Estimation and quantification of the uncertainties in the raw and analysed results
3. Qualitative and quantitative comparison of the observations with the theory
4. Exploration of any difference between theory and experiment (relation of the discrepancy to
the experimental uncertainties and assumptions behind the theory)
5. Discussion of whether the research question or problem has been addressed.
6. Ensure discussion section flows and develops logically in an appropriate engineering style

CONCLUSIONS SECTION
1. Conclusions: a concise summary of the key outcomes of the experiment
2. The implications of the results in relation to the problem stated in the intro.
3. Future research: Does the experiment need to be run again (because the results are
unsatisfactory) or if the results are satisfactory what research should be done next
4. Ensure conclusions section flows and develops logically in an appropriate engineering style

OVERALL PRESENTATION
1. Correct format of equations
2. Correctly formatted references and reference list
3. Accurate spelling/punctuation/grammar
4. Professional layout/format of the report

If you would like and ASK tutorial contact us:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02392 843462.
Visit: Third Floor, Nuffield Building.
Resource revised 2019.

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