V Writing laboratory reports

The purpose of a laboratory report is to describe an experiment you have carried out and to
communicate the results. A laboratory report should include the following sections:

1. Date of reporting

2. Title
The title says what you did. It should be brief (usually in the form of a phrase, not a complete
sentence) and describe the main point of the experiment or investigation.

Example
• Determination of the water potential of red onion epidermal cells
• Comparison of the vitamin C content in different fruits
• Investigation of effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis

3. Aim
The aim of the experiment or investigation should be clearly stated.

4. Introduction
The section provides an overview of the investigation. You should identify any problem to be
investigated and explain the principles behind the design of your investigation. The following
information should be included:

(a) a brief description of the rationale of your design

(b) independent variable(s) and the ways of manipulation

(c) dependent variable(s) and the ways of measurement

(e) the controlled variable(s)

(f) the critical assumptions made

Where applicable, you should also state the hypothesis for the investigation and the prediction
based on the design of the investigation.

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 Writing laboratory reports

5. Procedure
This is a description of what you did during the investigation. Note the following when you write the
procedure:

(a) Write in reported speech, i.e. past tense and passive voice.

(b) Number the steps.

(c) State the quantities of the materials and apparatus used.

(d) Use diagrams or tables whenever appropriate.

6. Results
In this section, you need to present your findings in a clear, concise, and accurate way that is easy
for the reader to follow and understand. You may find it useful to present some of your findings
using tables or figures (e.g. graphs, photographs, drawings). Refer to Skill builder (Book 1, p.S5
to S9) for learning different ways to present different types of data.

7. Discussion
In the discussion section, you analyse and interpret the results. You should also evaluate the
reliability of your investigation. The discussion section should include:

(a) a summary describing the trends and patterns in the data

(b) an explanation of the results in relation to the problem under investigation or hypothesis to be
tested.

(c) a discussion of the limitations of the methods used, sources of errors and their influence on
the accuracy of the results obtained.

(d) an assessment of the significance of your results.

(e) suggestions for improvement in technique and for further investigation where appropriate.

8. Conclusion
A laboratory report usually ends with a concluding paragraph. You should indicate whether your
hypothesis was accepted or rejected, and what this means.

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Writing laboratory reports

The following is the report written by a student about the effect of unilateral light on the growth
seedlings. The report carries a number of mistakes. Read it carefully and think about ways of
improvement.

Class: Form 4A Name: Susan Wong Date: 23-5-2020

Title
An investigation to study the growth of seedlings

 The title is uninformative and not specific enough.

Objective
To investigate the environmental factors affecting growth of seedlings

 Only the effect of unilateral light was studied in this experiment.

Introduction
In the experiment, seedlings were kept in a light-proof box with a slit so that the seedlings received unilateral
light. It is hypothesised that light will affect the growth of the seedlings.

 No control set-up is mentioned.

 The independent, dependent and controlled variables are not identified.
 The hypothesis is too general and no prediction is made.

Procedure
I place some seedlings on moisten cotton wool in two beakers. I kept one beaker of seedlings in a light-proof
box with a slit cut on one side, and shone light through the slit into the box. This was set-up A. I left the other
beaker of seedlings in light from all sides, and this was set-up B. I left the two set-ups undisturbed for two
days. Then, I observed and recorded the growth of the seedlings.

 Steps should be written in reported speech and numbered.

 The quantities of the materials and materials and apparatus are not stated.
 No precautions and assumptions are mentioned.

Results
Set up Condition Observation
A Unilateral light Seedlings grew and bent towards the direction of the light source.
B Light from all sides Seedlings grew straight upwards.

 The title of the table is missing.

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Discussion
The seedlings receiving unilateral light grew and bent towards the direction of the light source. This is
because the tips of seedlings detect and respond to light.

 ‘Tips of seedlings detect and respond to light’ is a hypothesis that is not tested in the experiment.
 There is no comparison of the results of the experimental set-up and the control set-up.
 The limitations and the possible sources of errors are not discussed.

Conclusion
The tips of seedlings detect and respond to light by growing toward the light source.

 The conclusion contains irrelevant information that is not tested in the experiment.

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