Guide to Writing a Lab Report

Title – Create a title that captures the essence of the experiment

Date - Use the date when you conducted the experiment.

Background [for Inquiry Labs]:

• Background section should include the requirements specified in the lab proposal guide and has
been revised, as necessary, based on the feedback received.
• Includes the Purpose and Hypothesis.
o The purpose should be short; one or two sentences stating the goal of the activity.
o The hypothesis is written with an "If...Then..." statement that can be supported or
refuted. For example, "If a ball is dropped from a higher height, then it will bounce
higher.”
o Independent, dependent and controlled variables are clearly identified.
• Provide an overview (and diagram, if applicable) of the experimental setup, including a
discussion of the parameters to be measured and an explanation of how the data will be
analyzed to support or refute the hypothesis.
• Includes any relevant equations or diagrams and an explanation of how they are used to
analyze the data.
• Additional Prompts – each lab report lesson within your course may have specific content
related prompts for you to address .

Materials
• List all equipment and materials including those that you may have supplied
• Should be a bulleted list.
• Include quantities and sizes

Procedure The steps you carried out, in a numbered list, including how you varied anything.

• Should always include the safety statement first: “Before assembling the materials, safety
measures were taken by applying safety glasses/goggles, and preparing a clean, dry workspace
away from food, pets and young children.
• This list of instructions describes what you did - not what you meant to do.
• Another student should be able to follow these directions and repeat your experiment exactly
as you did it. Amounts of chemicals and tools should be included.
• Do not use first person and be specific.
o Example 1: instead of “I massed 20.0 grams of NaCl” you should write “20.0 grams of
NaCl were massed using a digital balance.”

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 o Example 2: Instead of “I used a stopwatch to determine the speed of the cart” Say: “A
stopwatch was used to determine the speed of the cart.”
• The final step should be: Materials were returned to their proper place, clean up the work
space and wash hands.

Data/Results:

o Include the images of your experimental setup, and results, if applicable, here.
▪ Reminder: Two photos are required, one showing the experimental setup and
one showing the experiment in progress, with you in the picture.
▪ No photos of you means no credit for this lab report. No exceptions.
o Data and results should always be presented in table form. Tables can be organized to
present data and results in separate columns; or you may choose to present the
calculated results in a separate table.
o Data is any information you read directly off a tool or instrument
o Results are where data is manipulated, typically through calculations.
▪ Example 1: A temperature recording over a specified time would be data;
determining a change in temperature would be a calculated result.
▪ Example 2: Distance and time are data measured with a ruler and stopwatch;
speed would be a calculated result.
▪ NOTE: If several calculations are done, a table can be used to organize and
present the results.
o Make sure every single number has a description, a value, and a label (this can be
condensed if you have many similar pieces of data by labeling a column heading such as
"Length (m)").
o Make sure you read your instruments correctly. Data should be presented in the order it
was obtained and results in the order in which they were calculated.
o Spend time making sure this section is clear and easy to read.
o Written observations can be included below the data table if applicable.
o Sample Calculations if applicable will go at the end of this section.
▪ Include one example of each unique calculation.
▪ For each example, include the formula(s) or equation(s) and the setup with units.
• The setup is where you plug the data into the equation and show how
you arrived at the answer.
▪ Choose one set of data and show how to plug that data into the equation.

Analysis this is where you explain what the data means, any trends you observed, and if the hypothesis
was supported or refuted.

• Discuss the independent and dependent variables for the experiment. Were there any trends or
patterns in the dependent variable as the independent variable was changed?
• State the results that were obtained, using specific data, and explain any trends.
o Do not describe each piece of data, but the important ones that led you to your
conclusion.

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 • Include any graphs that support the trends discussed, and make sure to explain what the
graph(s) show.
• Discuss whether the results support or refute the hypothesis and explain using supporting data.
• Describe any errors or uncertainty about the results.
o Remember, all experiments have some error – did the error in your experiment impact
the results, or was it negligible?

Focused Analysis Questions and Calculations: Be sure to check the lesson for the specific lab, as
guided questions or calculations you may be expected to perform.

Conclusion – this is the final part of the lab report where you provide a brief summary of the results
and discuss next steps.

• In a brief statement, summarize whether the data supported the hypothesis or question and
why.
o This should not be exactly what you stated in the analysis, or with as much detail.
• Discuss what would be done next time to improve the results, or what would you further like to
explore about this topic?

o Example: The hypothesis stated that if NaCl is added to water, the water will boil at a higher
temperature. The results show that the average temperature the water boiled when NaCl was
added was 2oC higher than the control without NaCl, which supports the hypothesis. If this
experiment was done again, different types of salts would be used to determine if they all have
the same impact on the boiling temperature of the water.

3 © 1996-present VHS, Inc.

All rights reserved.