f no use is made of the labor of the past, the world will always remain in the infancy of knowledge. Cicero 106 - 43 BCE, Roman philosopher/statesman

Techniques in studying science and math menu

Writing Lab Reports &
Scientific Papers

What lab reports and scientific papers do:

• Persuade others
  to accept or reject hypotheses by presenting data and interpretations
• Detail data, procedures, and outcomes
  for future researchers
• Become part of the accepted body of scientific knowledge
  when published unless later disproved
• Provide an archival record
  for reference and document a current situation for future comparison

Format:

The typical lab report includes: title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, references and literature cited

Title:

• Reflect the factual content with less than ten words in a straightforward manner
• Use keywords researchers and search engines on the Internet will recognize

Abstract:

Summarize in a concise paragraph the purpose of the report,
data presented, and major conclusions in about 100 - 200 words.

Introduction:

• Define the subject of the report: "Why was this study performed?"
• Provide background information and relevant studies: "What knowledge already exists about this subject?"
• Outline scientific purpose(s) and/or objective(s): "What are the specific hypotheses and the experimental design for investigation?"

Materials and methods:

• 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
• Organize data into tables, figures, graphs, photographs, etc. Data in a table should not be duplicated in a graph or figure
• Title all figures and tables; include a legend explaining symbols, abbreviations, or special methods
• Number figures and tables separately
  and refer to them in the text by their number, i.e.
  1. Figure 1 shows that the activity....
  2. 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
• Include suggestions for improving your techniques or design, or clarify areas of doubt for further research

References & literature cited

• Cite only references in your paper and not a general bibliography on the topic
• Alphabetize by last name of the author
• Follow the recommended format for citations

General style

• Strive for logic and precision and avoid ambiguity, especially with pronouns and sequences
• Keep your writing impersonal; avoid the use of the first person (i.e. I or we)
• Use the past tense and be consistent within the report
  note: "data" is plural and "datum" is singular; species is singular and plural
• Italicize all scientific names (genus and species)
• 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)
• Have a neutral person review and critique your report before submission

Science series

Following the scientific method | Studying text books in science |
Writing lab reports and scientific papers | How to write a research proposal | Writing white papers | Lab safety