o What is the lab report?

- It is a complete and detailed record of an experiment in a specific format.

- The information provided should be specific enough that the reader would be
able to replicate the experiment.

o Purpose oF lab report :

1- Communicates what you did, why you did it, and what happened.
2- Shows your ability to interpret scientific data — not just copy protocol.
3- Allows others to replicate your experiment, critique it, or build on it.

o Structure of a Standard Lab Report

1) Title
- It is the name of the experiment you are doing.
A good title is precise, describe the content clearly and precisely. It should not
include waste words (study on, investigation of)
2) Abstract (150–250 words): it should contain
Background (principle) (1–2 sentences) Aim of the experiment
Methods (brief, no details) Key results (major numbers/trends)
Conclusion

3) Introduction: determine the purpose

•What the experiment is about.
•Why this question matters.
•What is already known (brief literature context)
•The hypothesis you are testing
Do not turn the intro into a textbook chapter. Focus on the specific concept the
experiment explores
4) Materials and Methods (or Experimental Section)
This is the “recipe” — but scientific. Write it so another trained person can
repeat the experiment.
It includes:
-Instruments, reagents, concentrations
-Exact procedures (what you did, step by step procedure including precautions
and variables in a paragraph form not a bulleted list), should be detailed
Tip: Write in past tense, passive voice.

5) Results
This is what you found — not what it means (save that for discussion).
Include: Tables, Graphs (labeled axes, units, titles!), Numerical results,
Observations (color changes, precipitates, etc.)
In results , no interpretation, no storytelling, Just clean reporting.
6) Discussion
Discuss:
•What the results mean (interpretation)
•Whether they support the hypothesis
•Explain unexpected results
•Identify limitations
•Suggest improvements
This is where students often shine — or dig their own grave — so encourage:
•Logic, Clarity, and Honesty (don’t hide strange findings)

7) Conclusion
A short, punchy summary. Include:
What the experiment demonstrated, one or two strong takeaways, practical
implications (if applicable)
8) References
Use the citation style required by your department.
•Cite textbooks, papers, manuals
•Make sure in-text citations match the reference list

9) Appendices (Optional)
- Raw data sheets -Calculations -Extra figures
-Not in the main report because they clutter the structure.

What is the difference between scientific article and lab.

report?
•Scientific article = published research for the scientific community.

•Lab report = coursework assignment for teaching and training

•NB.:A scientific article creates new knowledge. A lab report

shows you understand existing knowledge.
Item Scientific article Lab. report
Purpose -Shares new scientific knowledge -Shows the instructor you
Scientific with the world understand the experiment.
Article -Contributes to the literature -Practices scientific thinking/writing
-Gets peer-reviewed -Not meant for publication
-Advances the field -Usually follows a strict predefined
experiment
Structure Usually follows IMRaD: -Same parts — but much simpler,
• Abstract shorter, and less formal.
•Introduction (background + -Appendices (raw data)
research gap)
•Methods (detailed)
•Results
•Discussion
•Conclusion
•References
•Sometimes graphical abstract,
supplementary data
Content •Original research •One experiment
Depth •Statistical analysis •Basic analysis
•In-depth discussion •Interpretation of your OWN data
•Comparison with multiple studies only
•Novel findings •Often follows a known outcome
•Limitations + future directions •Limited literature linking
Item Scientific article Lab. report
Audience • Scientists • Your instructor
• Researchers • Your classmates
• Clinicians
• Reviewers
• The entire scientific
community
Style & Tone •Professional, high-level •Still scientific
•Formal scientific English •Clear and simple
•Precise and polished •More educational tone
•Must follow journal guidelines •Focus on clarity over elegance

Experiment Type Original idea Pre-designed experiment

Designed by researchers Objective is to learn the
Novel hypothesis technique, not produce novel
Methods optimized and science
justified Hypothesis often given
Publication •Submitted to journals •Submitted to your course
•Peer-reviewed •Graded
•Published •Stored in your laptop forever
•Indexed (Scopus, PubMed…) or deleted before exams
• What is the difference between case report and lab.
report?
Item Case report Lab. report
Purpose -Analyzes a real-life scenario: a -Describes the results of a
patient, an incident, a business, a controlled experiment performed in
system failure, etc. a laboratory setting.
-Focuses on what happened, why it -Shows understanding of the
happened, and what can be learned. method, data analysis, and scientific
-Often used in medicine, pharmacy, reasoning.
clinical practice, business, forensics, -Mainly used in scientific and
etc technical education.
Source of -Real-world data -Data produced by YOU during the
Data -Observations, interviews, medical experiment
records, real patient values -Controlled variables and standard
-May include unexpected, uncontrolled protocols
factors -Results follow a predictable pattern
(usually)
Writing -Background of the case (patient -Scientific method
Style & history, event details) -Objective measurement
Focus -Problem identification -Data analysis
-Analysis and reasoning -Error sources and experimental
-Management, solutions, lessons limitations
learned -Technical, concise, structured
-Often narrative and descriptive
 Item Case report Lab. report
Structure • Case background • Title
• Description of the • Abstract
incident/patient/event • Introduction
• Problem analysis • Materials & Methods
• Discussion (causes, • Results
interpretations) • Discussion
• Recommendations / • Conclusion
management / outcome • References
• Conclusion • Appendices (optional)
• references
Audience -Clinicians, pharmacists, business -Course instructors, teaching
analysts, forensics teams. assistants.
-People trying to learn from real- -Sometimes scientific peers (if
world scenarios formal)