Tips for Writing the Discussion Lab Report: Do’s and Don’ts
Tips for Writing the Discussion Lab Report: Do’s and Don’ts
When it comes to writing the discussion section of a lab report, knowing what to include and what to steer clear of can make a big difference.
Here’s a guide to help you get it right:
Do’s Don’ts
✅ Use the Past Tense: Talk about your completed research using the past tense. For instance, say, “We tested the new teaching method over a semester.” ❌ Be Flat or Generic: Skip the dull summary. Instead of, “The results were expected,” explain what makes your findings interesting and relevant.
✅ Tie Back to the Intro and Conclusion: Make sure your discussion loops back to what you introduced at the start. If you started with a problem, show how your results tackle that. ❌ Ignore Real-World Impact: Don’t just focus on theory. Avoid saying, “This is just a theoretical study with no real-world use.”
✅ Offer Practical Tips: Suggest what to do next based on your findings. For example, “Try using interactive tools in classrooms to boost student engagement.” ❌ Overload with Data References: Instead, summarize the key points directly in your text, like, “Our results show a significant test score improvement.”
✅ Acknowledge Study Limitations: Talk about any hiccups you encountered, like, “One challenge was the small sample size, which might not reflect the wider student body.” ❌ Forget Original Goals: Avoid discussions that don’t connect back to your initial research questions: “The results are interesting but don’t tie back to our original goals.”
Lab Report Discussion Example
Let’s now take a look at a practical example of a discussion section from a lab report to illustrate how you can effectively craft your own:
Example of Discussion in Lab Report
Summary
Whether your results matched your hypothesis or threw you a curveball, the discussion in a lab report is where you make sense of it all. You’ll interpret your findings, compare them with existing research, discuss any limitations, and suggest ideas for future studies.
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