Keeping an experimental record Summary

Video Transcript

An experimental record is a personal account of the events that occurred and the data measured during an experiment, usually written in a dedicated lab book. We use these records to retrieve information about the experiment without having to rely on our memories, which can be fallible. This is why it is important to write down the information in your lab book while the events are taking place, rather than waiting until the experiment has concluded. There should be a sufficient level of detail to replicate the condition of the experiment or write a full report of the work done without needing to return to the lab to collect unrecorded information.

Lab books don’t have to be neat, but they should be clear and logically structured so they are easy to refer back to when needed. They should contain the time, date and location of the experiment and should state the aim of the work being conducted.

You will want to record what you did, typically in a “procedure” section, including all the details that may be pertinent when analysing the results. If you are adopting existing method statements, such as experimental plans or standard operating procedures, you don’t need to copy these into your lab book, simply make reference to them and note any deviations from the planned activities. List the details of any equipment so that the exact items can be identified after your experiment. A sketch can be a quick and helpful way to communicate how equipment was set up and operated.

Numerical data should always be recorded in its raw form, exactly as it appears on the instrumentation, along with a way to capture the uncertainty of the measurement. All numbers should be presented with any associated units and it is normally best to put numbers into a pre-constructed table, ensuring the meaning of columns and rows is clear. If recording qualitative data, a written description or well labelled sketch can be used and if data is stored elsewhere, such as from data acquisition, write in the lab book what it relates to and how it can be found.

There are some conventions to adopt when keeping an experimental record, such as using ink rather than pencil and ensuring all pages are used. But the most important convention is to ensure the record is an honest account of the all the events that occured and measurements made in the laboratory, even those that are unfavorable for what you were hoping to achieve.

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