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What lab reports and scientific papers do:
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Persuade others to accept or reject
hypotheses by presenting data and interpretations
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Detail data, procedures, and outcomes
for future researchers
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Become part of the accepted body of
scientific knowledge when published unless later disproved
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Provide an archival record for
reference and document a current situation for future comparison
Title:
Abstract:
Summarize in a concise paragraph the
purpose of the report, data presented, and major conclusions in about
100 - 200 words.
Introduction:
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Define the subject of the report:
"Why was this study performed?"
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Provide background information and
relevant studies: "What knowledge already exists about this
subject?"
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Outline scientific purpose(s) and/or
objective(s): "What are the specific hypotheses and the
experimental design for investigation?"
Materials and methods:
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List materials used, how
were they used, and where and when was the work
done (especially important in field studies)
-
Describe special pieces of equipment
and the general theory of the analyses or assays used
-
Provide enough detail for the reader to
understand the experiment without overwhelming him/her. When
procedures from a lab book or another report are followed exactly,
simply cite the work and note that details can be found there.
Results
-
Concentrate on general trends and differences and not
on trivial details.
-
Summarize the data from the experiments
without discussing their implications
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Organize data into tables, figures,
graphs, photographs, etc. Data in a table should not be
duplicated in a graph or figure
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Title all figures and tables; include a
legend explaining symbols, abbreviations, or special methods
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Number figures and tables separately
and refer to them in the text by their number, i.e.
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Figure 1 shows that the
activity....
-
The activity decreases after five
minutes (fig. 1)
Discussion
-
Interpret the data; do not restate the
results
-
Relate results to existing theory and
knowledge
-
Explain the logic that allows you to
accept or reject your original hypotheses
-
Speculate as necessary but identify it
as such
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Include suggestions for improving your
techniques or design, or clarify areas of doubt for further research
Literature cited
-
Cite only references in your paper and
not a general bibliography on the topic
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Alphabetize by last name of the author
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Follow the recommended format for
citations
General style
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Strive for logic and precision and avoid ambiguity,
especially with pronouns and sequences
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Keep your writing impersonal; avoid the
use of the first person (i.e. I or we)
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Use the past tense and be consistent
within the report
note: "data" is plural and "datum" is singular;
species is singular and plural
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Italicize all scientific names (genus
and species)
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Use the metric system of measurement
and abbreviate measurements without periods (i.e. cm kg) spell
out all numbers beginning sentences or less than 10 (i.e. "two
explanations of six factors").
-
Write numbers as numerals when greater
than ten (i.e. 156) or associated with measurements (i.e. 6 mm or 2 g)
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Have a neutral person review and
critique your report before submission
* adapted from
Biological Investigations, 5th ed. by Warren D. Dolphin 1999,
published by McGraw-Hill."
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The Study Guides and Strategies web site was created and is
maintained by Joe
Landsberger,
academic web site developer at the University
of St. Thomas (UST), St. Paul, Minnesota. It is collaboratively
maintained across institutional and national boundaries, and last revised
September 04, 2002 .
Permission is granted to freely copy, adapt, print,
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