Physical Science

Mr. Mahlum

Formal Lab Reports

Formal lab reports are used to report the results of experiments. These reports are commonly used in high school and college science classes, and are also published in scientific journals by professional scientists. Standardizing the format of the lab report makes it easy for scientists from all over the world to share their work. This will be the format that you will use for all written lab reports in Honors science. Formal lab reports have a very specific style making them different from most other written works. The major style points to remember are listed below:

Ø Always include your name the date of the experiment at the top of the first page.

Ø The title needs to be descriptive. (Experiment 5 is not descriptive)

Ø The report is always written in past tense. Tell what was done NOT WHAT TO DO. It is a report not instructions)

Ø A scientific lab report is not personal therefore, personal pronouns are not permitted you may not use the following words I me we us you the class etc.

Ø A report has four major sections Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion

The structure of the report is as follows

Introduction – provides background needed to understand experiment includes the following subcategories.

Purpose – a brief explanation of what you attempted to do. This may relate to the initial problem or question.

Hypothesis – an educated guess about the outcome of the experiment (made before the experiment was conducted)

Methods – explains how the experiment was performed.

Experimental Design – identifies the variables tested and controlled used in experiment

Materials – list of all materials and equipment used in experiment

Procedure – an account of what was done to gather data in experiment

Diagrams – labeled sketches or pictures of apparatus used in experiment.

Results – Organizes the data collected during the experiment

Written observations – any relevant observations made while performing the experiment

Chemical equations – balanced chemical reactions

Data tables – constructed in columns, with headings and units

Calculations – averages, slopes, intercepts, and experimental error, anything a calculator is need to complete

Graphs – included title of graph and labeled axes with units

Your results are often attached to the end of the report on separate data pages. All results are completed before the lab report is written!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Discussion – This is the most important part of the lab report. Explains the meaning of the results to the reader. Evaluates the outcome of the experiment. Your Conclusion.

Data Analysis – Interprets the data collected in the lab.

Graphical Analysis – comment on the shape of the graph and relationship between the variables. State equations where appropriate.

Error Analysis – identifies sources of error in the experiment and comment about how these could be minimized or eliminated. Include experimental error values if applicable.

Evaluation of Hypothesis – what they hypothesis correct? If not Why?

Concluding Statement – Summarize the findings in a few concise sentences. Restate the initial purpose, your findings, if the lab is reliable and repeatable for obtaining results.

Reflection – This is an informal section of the report you may comment on the lab experience. How the lab helped your understanding of the class. You may also include humorous anecdotes and mention any interesting group dynamics in this section.

Questions – answer any questions the teacher assigns at the very end of the written report and before any attachments are added.