Lab ReportGeneral Information
Definition: A lab report is written to describe an experiment
that a student performed or a process that a student has observed.
Usually the lab report will be tailored to a specific audience,
which may include the student’s professor and/or peers.
A typical lab report will contain a great deal of experimental
information and data, so the key is presenting the procedure,
results and conclusions in a way that is well organized and easy
to understand for the intended audience.
A lab report examines your work in relation to the work of others
in the same field, so your writing may also mention the results
and conclusions of other researchers and scientists. Make a clear
differentiation between your results and those obtained from
other sources. Remember that the original source must be cited
each time.
A lab report should examine: (1) the purpose of the experiment,
(2) the procedures of the experiment, (3) the expected results
of the experiment, (4) the actual results of the experiment,
and (5) any conclusions drawn from experimental findings.
Purpose: The lab report is used by scientists and students to
communicate, explain and discuss their findings with others in
the field and to establish these findings as sound and valid
contributions to the field.
REVIEW
Explain the importance of determining the appropriate audience
in a lab report. Who are possible audiences for your report?
Continue to Lab Report: Process
Copyright 2003 by the Academic Center and the
University of Houston-Victoria.
Created 2002 by Candice Chovanec Melzow.
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