Lab Reports – IMRAD

     
 
The  purpose  of  a  lab  report  is  to  describe  the  results  of  an  experiment  or  research  study.  
University  lab  reports  follow  the  style  and  format  of  professional  journal  articles,  which  
research  scientists  use  to  share  and  evaluate  each  other’s  work.  
 
Lab  report  formats  vary  slightly  among  scientific  disciplines,  but  all  are  based  on  the  
IMRAD  outline:  introduction,  materials  and  methods,  results,  and  discussion.  The  purpose  
of  each  section  dictates  what  information  to  include,  regardless  of  the  specialty  being  
written  for.  
 
Helpful  Tip:  It  is  usually  easiest  to  write  the  methods  and  results  sections  first,  followed  by  
the  discussion  and  introduction.  Title  and  abstract  (if  required)  should  be  written  last.  
 
IMRAD  format:  
 
Section   Purpose   Content  and  Characteristics  
Title   • Describes  the  content  of   • Clear,  specific,  and  accurate  
the  report   • Loaded  with  keywords  drawn  from  
• Allows  scientists  to   the  body  of  the  report  
locate  research  of  
interest  when  searching  
databases  
Abstract   • Summarizes  the  report     • One  paragraph  (200-­‐250  words)  
• Helps  researchers  decide   • 2-­‐3  sentences  for  each  section,  
whether  to  read  the   summarizing  key  data  and  ideas  
entire  paper   • A  complete  synopsis,  not  a  teaser  
(results  and  discussion  must  be  
included)  
Introduction   • Gives  background   • Reviews  relevant  literature,  
information  needed  to   including  properly  formatted  
understand  the  current   citations  
research,  tracing  the   • Explains  why  the  study  was  
development  of  existing   conducted,  and  what  question  it  was  
knowledge   designed  to  answer  
• Places  the  new   • Briefly  describes  approach  to  the  
experiments  within  the   problem  
context  of  the  field   • Outlines  hypothesis(es)  to  be  tested,  
• Identifies  gaps  in   and  predicted  results  
existing  knowledge  and   • Written  in  a  mixture  of  present  tense  
shows  how  the  present   (for  generally  accepted  truths)  and  
research  will  fill  them   past  tense  (when  referencing  specific  
• States  the  specific   research  
objectives  of  the  work    
 
   
©  The  Writing  Centre,  Saint  Mary’s  University,  2014  
This  handout  is  for  personal  use  only.  Reproduction  prohibited  without  permission.  
 
Lab Reports – IMRAD     2  

IMRAD  format  continued:  

 
Section   Purpose   Content  and  Characteristics  
Materials  and   • Explains  how  the   • written  in  paragraph  format  
Methods   experiments  were   • materials  are  mentioned  while  
conducted   describing  methods,  never  listed  
• Provides  enough  detail   separately  
that  another  scientist   • describes  the  purpose  of  each  
could  repeat  the   procedure,  as  well  as  necessary  steps  
experiment   • omits  details  that  are  common  
• Gives  readers  the   knowledge  or  would  not  impact  the  
information  they  need  to   results  
evaluate  the  validity  of   • written  in  past  tense  (recounts  what  
results  and  conclusions   was  done,  rather  than  giving  
instructions)  
Results   • Describes  the  outcomes   • straightforward  reporting  of  
of  the  experiments   observations  and  calculations  
• Draws  attention  to  key   • does  not  include  commentary  or  
findings  and   interpretation  
relationships   • detailed  data  is  presented  in  tables  
• Allows  readers  to  form   and  figures,  which  are  referenced  in  
their  own  conclusions   the  text  
based  on  the  data   • written  portion  should  summarize  
and  emphasize,  not  repeat  details  
shown  in  the  visuals  
• written  in  past  tense  
Discussion   • Interprets  the  results   • references  key  data,  describing  its  
and  explains  their   implications  
significance   • identifies  any  errors  made  during  the  
• Places  the  new  data  in   experiment  and  their  impacts  
the  context  of  the  field   • discusses  any  shortcomings  of  the  
• Identifies  limitations  of   protocols  or  experimental  designs  
the  study  and  suggests   • draws  conclusions  
next  steps   • identifies  questions  that  could  not  be  
  answered  
• cites  relevant  literature  
• written  in  past,  present,  and  future  
tense,  as  appropriate  
References   • Provides  full   • includes  only  literature  that’s  cited  in  
bibliographic   the  text  
information,  directing   • follow  a  consistent  scientific  citation  
the  reader  to  relevant   style,  such  as  APA  
literature  
 

©  The  Writing  Centre,  Saint  Mary’s  University,  2014  

This  handout  is  for  personal  use  only.  Reproduction  prohibited  without  permission.