A biology report, like every other scientific report, should follow a specific format to ensure that it communicates the vital information it contains. Reports are written after carrying out research or an experiment. They explain the procedure followed in carrying out the experiment, the results obtained, and the conclusions made. A basic report has a title page, abstract, introduction, materials, procedure, results, discussion and conclusion. The sections of a lab report are discussed below.
Title Page
This is the first page of the report, which indicates the title of the experiment carried out, the name of the researcher, and the date of submission. This section is short and specific with only a few words.
Summary/Abstract of a Lab Report
An abstract is a synopsis of the scientific report. It briefly explains everything that is contained in the report. It enables the reader to have an understanding of what the experiment involved and the conclusions made before going through the report. The abstract is a summary and therefore, it is written after completing the entire report.
Background/Introduction
The introduction of the report provides the reader with background information on the experiment or research carried out. It explains the already existing knowledge in the research area and the purpose of carrying out the study. The researcher describes the research question and the hypothesis of the report in this section. This explains why it was necessary to carry out the study and what its benefits are in a broader context.
Materials
Here the researcher states the materials that were used in carrying out the experiment. It is important to state all the important materials that were used, such as apparatus and reagents, to ensure that another researcher can replicate the study and acquire similar results. Details such as sample sizes, concentrations, timings, and experimental conditions are essential in enabling the experiment to be repeated.
Procedure/methods of a Biology Report
It is important to explain to the reader the procedure that was followed in the experiment. The method should be described in detail and in order. Readers should be able to follow the procedure step-by-step and replicate the experiment to achieve the same results. The procedure should be written in the past tense as it explains an experiment that has already been carried out.
Results
The results acquired from the experiment are written in the report in a way that the reader can understand. They can be written in the form of statements explaining the outcome or using representations, such as tables, graphs, and pictures. It is important to explain any representations used to make it easier for the reader to understand. This section should only contain the observed results and not the expected results or other published results.
Discussion of Biology Lab Report
In this section, the results obtained from the experiment are interpreted and explained in detail. They can be compared and contrasted with other published results from previous experiments. Errors are common in experiments, and they tend to cause variations in the results. It is therefore important to explain these errors and their sources in the discussion section. The discussion is usually the lengthiest part of the report, as this is where the researcher reflects on the results to find the answer to the research question.
Conclusion
At the end of the report, the conclusions drawn from interpreting the results are explained. This section is usually short, as it only relates the findings to the hypothesis of the experiment. The researcher can also explain the implications of the conclusions and give recommendations for further research.
The format of a biology report can change depending on the content that the writer wants to include. Elements such as a table of contents, references, executive summary, and acknowledgments can be added to the report to provide further information. It is important to remember that a scientific report should be easy to understand so as to communicate with the reader. For help in writing lab report from experts you can always get in touch with us at TopPaperArchives.