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Writing Lab Reports
& Scientific Papers *

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

• Following the scientific method
• Studying text books in science
• Writing lab reports and scientific papers
• Writing white papers
• Lab safety - outside links
• Seven stages of writing assignments

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

* adapted from Biological Investigations, 5th ed. by Warren D. Dolphin 1999, published by McGraw-Hill."

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