Laboratory Report Writing Guide

After performing an experiment in the laboratory, each student is required to submit a technical laboratory report. There are many different formats for laboratory reports. The minimum requirements for your class are explained in the "Electronics Class Policies" handout. The following comments are intended to serve as a guide should you wish to go beyond the minimum requirements. They represent how reports might be written in a more formal environment, or for a professional engineering or consulting company. Your instructor will provide more specific instructions.

The informal report

The informal or "short form" report generally places emphasis on the data section. The report is normally due at the beginning of the laboratory period one week after the experiment is performed.

The contents of a typical informal report, in outline form, are shown below.

I. Cover Page
  a. Your name.
b. Lab partner's or research assistant's name.
c. Course number and section, or project or case file number.
d. Experiment number and title, or title of research or case file.
e. Date the experiment was performed.
 
II. Data Section
  a. A schematic of the experimental circuit. The drawing should be done neatly using a straight edge and should be drawn on quadrille paper, or may be prepared using a computer.
b. A list of the equipment used indicated by the manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number.
c. A neat, accurate and complete data table.
d. Graphs drawn on graph paper or by computer, accurately plotted, properly labeled and titled.
e. Sample calculations.
 
III. Analysis Section
  The analysis section should contain a concise technical discussion of your data. Compare your data with expected results and discuss probable causes of any errors noted. Depending on the format that you are to follow, conclusions may be in the same paragraph as the analysis or there may be a separate paragraph for conclusions.

The formal report

The formal or "long form" report includes all that is part of an informal report plus several additional sections. Frequently formal reports are required to be submitted in a suitable laboratory report folder and are normally due at the beginning of the laboratory period one week after the experiment is performed.

The following is intended to serve only as a guide in formal report preparation.

I. Title Page or Folder Cover
  a. Your name
b. Lab partner's or research assistant's name.
c. Course number and section, or project or case file number.
d. Experiment number and title, or title of research or case file.
e. Date the experiment was performed.
 
II. Introduction Section
  This section generally consists of a statement of the objective of the experiment.
 
III. Theory Section
  The theory section should consist of a discussion of pertinent theory.
 
IV. Method of Investigation Section
  The section describing the experimental investigation usually includes the following:
  a. A brief outline of the experimental procedure.
b. A neat schematic drawing of the experimental circuit.
 
V. Equipment List
  All equipment used should be listed by the manufacturer's name, model number, and serial number.
 
VI. Data Section
  The data section should include a neat, accurate, and complete data table showing all measured and computed values.
 
VII. Sample Calculations Section

This section consists of a sample of each type of calculation made in the experiment.
 
VIII. Analysis Section
  The analysis section should contain a discussion of the following:
  a. A comparison of the experimental data and expected results.
b. A discussion of the probable causes of any errors noted.
 
IX. Rough Data Section
  This section should include the actual raw experimental data recorded in the laboratory. The data should be submitted exactly as it was recorded when performing the experiment. Altering that data violates scientific ethics.

Preparation of a quality laboratory report is a time-consuming task which is by no means easy; however, the time spent in learning to communicate technical information well, in writing, is time well spent. This will become obvious to you when you finish school and go into the "world of work". Whether it is "right" or not, the credibility of a presentation is strongly influenced by the presentation method itself.

A possible benefit of quality lab reports that you may not have considered is related to job interviewing. Since few students have work experience to list on an employment application, you might consider providing a copy of two or three quality lab reports to the interviewer as an indication of the quality of your work.

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