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Lab Report- a Laboratory Report is a document that is synthesized during the processes of

various scientific research. After the experiment has been fully carried out, a lab report is used to
fully describe and analyze the procedures carried out during the experiment and the outcomes it
provided (Wikipedia). As the scientific experiment is being run, there is an informal lab report
that needs to be written out that is helpful in keeping track of data and organizing calculations
before the experiment comes to an end. This informal lab report consists of a purpose, procedure,
data/charts, results/discussion, and a conclusion. This is a brief representation of what would
actually be written in the formal lab report. These categories basically make sure the scientists
state the reasons why the experiment is being carried out, the step by step procedure of the
experiment, the calculations and observations they found, what they think it means, and what is
the outcome of the experiment as a whole. After this informal lab report has been written, there is
a formal report that is written next. This formal report includes everything included in the
informal report, yet it is more in depth and contains complete sentences. However, an abstract is
usually included at the beginning which ultimately summarizes the entire experiment (Writing
Guidelines). All in all, experiments have to be carried out more than once, and more than one lab
report has to be written, and by more than one scientist, in order to have a complete analyzation
of the results and an accurate outcome of the entire experiment.
How it is used in the Workplace- The first way a lab report is used in the workplace is to present
the outcomes of specific experiments to coworkers and managers in the required field. The lab
report is the basis of all corporate decisions, and it is a way to prove experiments and persuade
fellow coworkers to support the ideas and conclusions presented (Writing Guidelines). Most
basically, the lab report is used to ultimately present new scientific discoveries in a clear and

concise manner that will persuade other workers to carry out the experiment as well and learn
from the findings.
Examples of Lab Reports

http://writing.engr.psu.edu/workbooks/laboratory.html
http://writing.engr.psu.edu/workbooks/labreport2.html

Advice on Writing Lab Reports- To accumulate an affective lab report, the main things to
consider are the five basic steps that need to be included in the report. The steps are purpose,
procedure, data/charts, results/discussion, and conclusion. If these aspects are all included in the
lab report, there should be no room for information to be left out. Along with this, during the
experiment, every single bit of information discovered, everything that is noticed by the scientist,
and every calculation that has been made needs to be written down. This is because it may not
seem relevant now, but all of those details will be very important in the future, and the scientist
would be very upset if one of those details were left out, no matter how minute.
Works Cited
"Sample Lab Report #2." Sample Lab Report #2. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Lab Reports. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
"Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students." Laboratory Reports. Web. 02 Mar.
2016.

Data Visual (Table) - Used in Science- a data table that is used in science is basically just a
visual that clearly represents the equipment used, the data calculated, or the information that was
concluded at the end. Data tables are very important because they organize all of the aspects of
an experiment while also helping provide and back up evidence during scientific research. Along
with this, data tables help the scientist, and the audience, comprehend the results of the data more
fully, as tables are displayed and presented in a uniform, easy to understand manner (Wikipedia).
Data tables can be found anywhere, but typically in science they are used to communicate data to
the fullest, and it can be used for anything as long as it has the proper labels. Typically in
science, these data tables are organized by columns and rows that display information in different
quantities and qualities. These tables must have the correct corresponding labels or the
information being present will be misinterpreted, and the final outcomes of the scientific data
will be inaccurate.
How to use it in the Workplace- The first way a data table is used in the workplace is to provide a
visual for an audience that someone is presenting to about a scientific discovery, experiment, or
new piece of information. Data tables provide easy accessibility to calculations and results, as
they are organized properly and they are easy to find within a presentation or a lab report.
Ultimately, these graphs are used to make corporate decisions because calculations and statistics
are vital when drawing conclusions. Along with this, the calculations and information being
presented this way allows the audience to understand it fully, effortlessly, and without taking too
much time (Data Analysis). Finally, since the data is easily interpreted, it makes comparing data
between employees more straightforward in order for decisions to be made and information to be
learned more effectively.

Examples

https://datatables.net/examples/basic_init/zero_configuration.html
http://hookhamscience.weebly.com/examples-data-tables.html

Advice on forming Data Tables- To make a data table that is effective at presenting information,
there are a few things that always need to be kept in mind. The information should not be in
complete sentences, but it should be concise and legible in a way that is quick and easy for one to
grasp while they are trying to understand the scientific experiment and the outcomes. Along with
making the reading effortless, the data table should be as organized as possible. There should be
appropriate columns and rows with the corresponding units and labels that are relevant to the
experiment. Lastly, the data tables need to be used tastefully, in a way that will be helpful in
understanding and organizing data, rather than confusing the reader entirely, and they need to be
used in the correct spots in order to support the corresponding step in the experiment.
Works Cited
"Data: Data Analysis, Probability and Statistics, and Graphing." Data: Data Analysis, Probability
and Statistics, and Graphing. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
"Examples: Data Tables." Mr. Hookham's Science - Union Middle School. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Data Tables. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
"Zero Configuration." DataTables Example -. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.

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