SCIENCE LAB NOTEBOOK GUIDE
Purpose: Why have a lab notebook, anyway?
In all fields of science, experimenters keep notebooks. Frequently, it’s the only proof they have to prove they’ve performed an experiment. As a result, it’s vital that lab notebooks be carefully managed so that people doing follow-up experiments can reproduce and verify the date collected.
One of the most important things about lab notebooks is that they’re honest. If you do an experiment and it works out, everything in there needs to be 100% true so that others can follow the lab. If an experiment doesn’t work out, a good lab notebook can save others many hours of time by showing them what doesn’t work in an experiment. No matter what, lab notebooks need to be complete, even if the results are poor.
Every lab notebook needs to have the following information. Although it may seem overly formal, all of the information here is important in a formal lab notebook.
Your Name(underlined/capitalized)Dates the Lab Was Performed (underlined/capitalized)
Title of the Lab(underlined/capitalized)
Purpose:(underlined/capitalized)The purpose section of a lab is where you tell the reader your reason for doing the lab in the first place. For example, many researchers for drug companies have as their purpose that they want to cure AIDS or some other disease.
Hypothesis:(If X occurs, then Y results.)
- The hypothesis is a one-line sentence where you discuss how you’ll solve the problem at hand. (e.g., “IfI poke myself in the eye, then my eye will hurt”)
- The statement after “if” is the independentvariable. The independent variable is whatever you’ll do to solve the problem.
- The statement after “then” is the dependent variable, because what happens will depend on what you did in the first place.
Materials:
- Your materials list must be VERY complete.
- Make your materials section in list form.
- You need to indicate how much of each material will be used in the experiment so you know what you’ll need. (e.g. corn starch: 26 grams)
- If you plan on arranging some of the equipment into a more complex setup (for example, if you’re going to heat something over a Bunsen burner, you’d need a ring stand, wire gauze, etc.), draw it as well as mentioned the equipment used.
- It’s never a bad idea to leave a couple of extra lines at the end of this section so you can add more things that you’ve forgotten when you started your lab.
Procedure:
1)This is a very clear, step-by-step list of things you plan on doing during the experiment.
2)Use numbered lists so you can refer to each direction individually.
3)Each step should be short (one phrase or sentence).
4)Again, it’s not a bad idea to leave a few blank lines at the end of this section to add things that you may have forgotten.
Observations:
1)This is the section where you write down all of your raw data. It should consist of quantitative (numerical) data arranged in charts, as well as qualitative (non-numerical) data written out as complete sentences.
2)This section will most likely be long, so make sure your leave plenty of room.
3)A good rule of thumb when writing the results section is that if you’re not sure if what you’ve seen is a result, write it down. Your results section can never be too long!
4)All drawings should be in pencil and labeled with pen. Include a title (underlined).
Analysis:
1)This is where you explain the meaning of your results.
2) If you need to make a graph or a chart, use the data you took in the results section to make the proper charts here. If you need to explain why something happened, you need to write it here. If calculations are required, they belong here.
3) The analysis section is the part of a lab where you explain why your hypothesis is right or wrong, based on the date you’ve taken.
4)Like the results section, if you’re in doubt whether or not to write something here, include it!
Error Analysis: There is no such thing as a perfect scientific experiment. All labs contain inaccuracy. There are 3 basic areas for error to be present:
i) Procedural error:
- this is inaccuracy as a result of a poorly written or incomplete procedure.
- The lab can be inaccurate due to sample size, lack of repetition or flaws in the way the experiment was designed. (e.g., using alcohol burner does not produce a hot enough flame for complete combustion to occur)
ii) Instrument error:
- Every lab uses measurement. There is no totally precise piece of equipment. (e.g. some thermometers are only be accurate to 1deg C).
iii) Human error:
This is the area that students normally focus on in error analysis, yet, surprisingly is one of the least significant sources of error.
This includes mistakes or omissions that are KNOWN to have occurred or are LIKELY to have occurred
(e.g. Mixing the wrong solutions or adding one too quickly)
Conclusion:The conclusion section needs to have the following:
1)A one-line sentence that either says that the hypothesis is right or the hypothesis is wrong. For example, if you proved the hypothesis that “If I poke myself in the eye, then my eye will hurt”, this first sentence would be “When I poked myself in the eye, it hurt.”
2)If the hypothesis didn’t work, an explanation of why you think it went wrong. These should be specific suggestions (I should have heated the mixture to 55oC), not general suggestions (I maybe should have heated it more).
Performance Indicators
0: No evidence3: Meets expectations (good level)
1: Not yet within expectations4: Fully meets or exceeds expectations
2: Meets expectations (minimal level)
Performance Criteria / 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4Purpose, Hypothesis, Materials, and Procedures
•writes a complete, relevant hypothesis
- easy-to read, properly written sections / S
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E / Hypothesis incomplete or irrelevant; sections sloppy and very incomplete. / Student needs somehelpwriting hypothesis and properly completing sections. More detail needed. / Student makes relevant hypothesis with few errors. Good detail. / Student makes superlative hypothesis and first section in excellent detail.
Safety
•recognizes and takes safety precautions / Student needsprompting on
safety rules. / Student knows safetyrules, needs prompts. / Student recognizes andfollows rules. / Safety habits are superlative.
Data Collection
by Observation
•makes and records detailed observations
•is systematic / Student can record observations on tables and charts but it is difficult to read and understand
/ Student can record observationsin verbal and/or pictorial descriptions with some error. / Student makes observations, recordsthem accurately and in detail. / Student makes accurate, detailed observations and records them so they are efficient and easy-to-read
Analysis of Data
•assesses problems
by careful analysis of data collected / Student shows little awareness of analytical methods. / Student interprets databut needs help relating to inquiry problem. / Student interprets datato assess inquiry problem. / Student relates interpreted data to
inquiry problem with detail and accuracy.
Error Analysis
•describes errors, their effects on results, and likely solutions / Section incomplete and in little detail / Student has completed some of the section, but still incomplete or with a number of errors / Student has completed section in good detail and quality / Student has completed a relevant error analysis in superb detail
Conclusion
•relates to hypothesis
•describes overall results / Section incomplete and in little detail / Student has completed some of the conclusion, but still incomplete or with a number of errors / Student has completed section in good detail and quality / Student has completed a relevant conclusion in superb detail
Grammar and Spelling
•finds and fixes errors for final write-up / Student report has many errors. / Student report has
a few errors. / Student finds most errors before final write-up. / Student rarely makes errors.
Report Presentation
• hands in write-up that is neat, well organized, and complete / Student report meetsonly one criterion. / Student report meetstwo criteria. / Student report is neat, complete, and
well organized. / Student report shows superlative formal structure and organization.
Total: ______/32