Checklist — Lab report write-up
Introduction
This page describes a checklist for a lab report of a student-conducted research project in biology. A lab report documents a specific experiment’s procedure, results, and conclusions. In contrast, a scientific publication presents original research to the wider scientific community, typically involving a more in-depth and independent project. The primary difference is that a lab report is a formal, academic assignment given to students so that they may demonstrate understanding of the scientific method for a specific experiment.
The checklist should not be viewed as a rubric — is is a guideline to help students move through the write-up phase. Also, do not treat the lab report as a list of bulleted responses to the checklist items. Write paragraphs, do not simply report a list of bullet-items. Include sub-headings as needed to improve reading and organization of the report.
I include links to example papers, an actual paper submitted by a student, plus two examples of a hypothetical research project sample reports, one good and one bad. Find the examples at the end of the checklist (click here to jump to the examples).
Additional checklists
Other material to help you with projects in biology courses
Checklist — Basic meta-analysis
Checklist — Writing the Biostatistics write-up
Checklist — Video Abstract for Biostatistics
Lab Report Checklist
1. Title Page
☐ Clear descriptive title
☐ Your name + partners
☐ Course, instructor, date
☐ Experiment date
2. Abstract (150–250 words)
☐ Background + question
☐ Hypothesis stated
☐ Summary of design (treatments, sample size, response variable)
☐ Statistical test(s) named
☐ Key numerical results (test statistic + p-value)
☐ One-sentence conclusion
3. Introduction
☐ Biological context and rationale
☐ Research question
☐ Null and alternative hypotheses
☐ Overview of experimental design
☐ Mention of statistical approach
4. Methods
4.1 Experimental Design
☐ Independent + dependent variables
☐ Treatment groups + controls
☐ Randomization method
☐ Replication (sample size per group)
☐ Blocking/stratification (if any)
☐ Equipment and measurement details
☐ Enough detail to allow replication
4.2 Statistical Methods
☐ Statistical tests named
☐ Justification for each test
☐ Assumptions checked
☐ Software used
☐ Significance level (α)
☐ Required formulas included (if instructor expects them)
5. Results
5.1 Descriptive Statistics
☐ Means/medians
☐ Standard deviations/standard errors
☐ Sample sizes (n)
☐ Clear, labeled tables
5.2 Figures
☐ At least one plot (boxplot, bar chart, scatterplot, etc.)
☐ Axes labeled + units
☐ Informative figure captions
5.3 Inferential Statistics
☐ Test statistic + degrees of freedom
☐ Exact p-value
☐ Effect size (if relevant)
☐ Statement of rejecting or not rejecting H₀
6. Discussion
☐ Restate hypothesis + main finding
☐ Biological interpretation of results
☐ State whether results support hypothesis
☐ Possible explanations
☐ Limitations or confounding factors
☐ Improvements for future experiments
☐ Broader implications or next steps
7. Conclusion
☐ One–two sentence summary
☐ Biological significance explained
8. References
☐ All cited sources included
☐ Consistent citation style
Appendix (if required)
☐ Raw data
☐ Analysis code (R/Python/Excel)
☐ Diagnostic plots (e.g., Q-Q plots)
Student papers
link to simulated paper examples
Notes:
This is a draft, written November 2025 by MD with assistance from generative AI, ChatGPT.