Prepared by

S.PraveenKumar/Assistant Professor/Department of Civil Engineering/PSGCT

This document describes a general format for lab reports that you can adapt as needed. Lab
reports are the most frequent kind of document written in engineering and can count for as much as
25% of a course yet little time or attention is devoted to how to write them well. Worse yet, each
professor want something a little different. Regardless of variations, however, the goal of lab reports
remains the same: document your findings and communicate their significance. With that in mind, we
can describe the report's format and basic components. Knowing the pieces and purpose, you can adapt
to the particular needs of a course or professor.
A good lab report does more than present data; it demonstrates the writer's comprehension of
the concepts behind the data. Merely recording the expected and observed results is not sufficient; you
should also identify how and why differences occurred, explain how they affected your experiment,
and shows your understanding of the principles the experiment was designed to examine. Bear in mind
that a format, however helpful, cannot replace clear thinking and organized writing. You still need to
organize your ideas carefully and express them coherently.
The function of the reports is to summarize in a systematic way the results of your
experiments. It is a demonstration of your understanding (sometimes ignorance) of the topic under
consideration. Everything you have learned about the topic should appear somewhere in the report,
whether you learned about it in the general lecture, lab lecture, text book or anywhere else. Think of
it as a future reference on this topic. To the instructor it is proof you understand what the lab is about.
The material should be presented in a logical way and, all the needed information should be easy to
locate. Something like the following format is preferred.
It is encouraged that you discuss the results with your classmates but the report you submit
must be your own work. If you are working closely with other people it is expected that your results
might look the same. In any case, the report's conclusions should be your own, expressed in your own
words. If you quote references, provide a citation. Copying of other people's work is unacceptable.



Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods and Materials(Or Equipment)
Experimental Procedure
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Appendices
Further Reading

a) Title Page needs to contain the name of the experiment, the names of lab partners, and the date.
Titles should be straightforward, informative, and less than ten words. Consider well the purpose or
purposes listed on those title pages, a complete response to the purpose is expected.

b) Abstract summarizes four essential aspects of the report: the purpose of the experiment (sometimes
expressed as the purpose of the report), key findings, significance and major conclusions. The abstract
often also includes a brief reference to theory or methodology. The information should clearly enable
readers to decide whether they need to read your whole report. The abstract should be one paragraph
of 100-200 words



Laboratory Report - Sample Format

Overview

Typical Components


Prepared by
S.PraveenKumar/Assistant Professor/Department of Civil Engineering/PSGCT
Quick Abstract Reference May Include Restrictions
Must have:
1. Purpose
2. Key Result(s)
3. Most Significant point of discussion
4. Major Conclusion
1.Brief Method
2.Brief Theory

1.One Page
2.Maximum 200 Words


c) Introduction is more narrowly focused than the abstract. It states the objective of the experiment
and provides the reader with background to the experiment. State the topic of your report clearly and
concisely, in one or two sentences

Quick Introduction Reference May Include
Must have:
1.Purpose of the Experiment
2.Important Back Ground and /Or Theory

1. Description of Specialized Equipment
2. Justification of Experiments Importance

d) Methods and Materials (or Equipment) can usually be a simple list, but make sure it is accurate and
complete. In some cases, you can simply direct the reader to a lab manual or standard procedure.

e) Experimental Procedure describes the process in chronological order. Using clear paragraph
structure, explain all steps in the order they actually happened, not as they were supposed to happen.

f) Results are usually dominated by calculations, tables and figures; however, you still need to state all
significant results explicitly in verbal form.

Quick Results Reference
Must have:
1. Number and Title tables and graphs
2. Use a sentence or two to draw attention to key points in tables or graphs
3. Provide sample calculation only
4. State key result in sentence form

g) Discussion is the most important part of your report, because here, you show that you understand
the experiment beyond the simple level of completing it. Explain. Analyze. Interpret. Some people like
to think of this as the "subjective" part of the report. By that, they mean this is what is not readily
observable. This part of the lab focuses on a question of understanding "What is the significance or
meaning of the results?" To answer this question, use both aspects of discussion:

Analysis Interpretation
What do the results indicate clearly?
What have you found?
Explain what you know with certainty based on
your results and draw conclusions

What is the significance of the results?
What ambiguities exist?
What questions might we raise?
Find logical explanations for problems in the data


More particularly, focus your discussion with strategies like these:



Prepared by
S.PraveenKumar/Assistant Professor/Department of Civil Engineering/PSGCT
Compare expected results with those obtained.
If there were differences, how can you account for them? Saying "human error" implies
you're incompetent. Be specific.
Analyze experimental error.
Was it avoidable? Was it a result of equipment? If an experiment was within the
tolerances, you can still account for the difference from the ideal. If the flaws result
from the experimental design explain how the design might be improved.
Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues.
Usually you will have discussed these in the introduction. In this section move from the
results to the theory. How well has the theory been illustrated?
Relate results to your experimental objective(s).
If you set out to identify an unknown metal by finding its lattice parameter and its
atomic structure, you'd better know the metal and its attributes.
Compare your results to similar investigations.
In some cases, it is legitimate to compare outcomes with Literatures, not to change
your answer, but to look for any anomalies between the groups and discuss those.
Analyze the strengths and limitations of your experimental design.
This is particularly useful if you designed the thing you're testing.

h) Conclusion can be very short in most undergraduate laboratories. Simply state what you know now
for sure, as a result of the lab. This is the most important part of the report, don't short-change it. How
much confidence do you have in the results? All results can be compared to something, either
reference values or some theoretically calculated value. How closely do the lab results match the
theoretical or reference values? What have you learned in this experiment? What have you been able to
determine about the material you tested? Is it related in any way to other topics that have been
considered in the classes?

Quick Conclusion Reference
Must Do
1) State Whats Known
* Justify Statement
Might Do
1. 1) State Significance
2. 2) Suggest further Research

i) References include your lab manual, Literatures and any outside reading you have done. Check this
site's documentation page to help you organize references in a way appropriate to your field.

j) Appendices typically include such elements as raw data, calculations, graphs pictures or tables that
have not been included in the report itself. Each kind of item should be contained in a separate
appendix. Make sure you refer to each appendix at least once in your report.

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a
successful personality and duplicate it.