A conclusion in a lab report is a recap of the entire experiment or the study. Starting from the purpose of the experiment to its result and subsequent interpretations of the result, a lab report conclusion effectively summarizes all the steps of the experiment.
Structure of a Lab Report Conclusion
Similar to the lab report abstract, which appears at the beginning of the lab report, the conclusion provides the reader with an overview of the experiment. While both have a similar structure, there is an important difference between an abstract and a conclusion. While an abstract summarizes the key points of the experiment, a conclusion is more elaborate and sheds light on the result of the experiment. A lab report conclusion:
- Restates the objective of the experiment: A good way to begin a conclusion paragraph is to restate the purpose of or the objective of the experiment mentioned in the introduction part of the lab report. This should also include the main hypothesis.
- Discusses the key findings: It is a common practice to include a separate discussion paragraph that lays down the outcome of the experiment in detail. However, in some cases, the lab report conclusion paragraph also contains the discussion part, which provides additional information on the outcome of the experiment.
- Revisits the hypothesis: The outcome of an experiment either proves, disproves, or partially proves the hypothesis. The conclusion revisits the hypothesis and notes whether or not the evidence (obtained during the course of the experiment) supports or refutes the hypothesis.
- Clarifies assumptions made and notes limitations: In some cases, while conducting an experiment, certain assumptions are made due to the limitations of a study. For instance, while conducting a Physics lab experiment, if the actual mass of the objects used in the experiment is different from the intended mass, then depending on the variation, the result of the experiment may be different from the hypothesis made. It is, however, assumed at the time of the experiment that the actual mass of the objects is the same as the intended mass. This assumption is made due to a limitation, which in this case is the unavailability of objects with the required mass. The conclusion is incomplete if it doesn’t note such assumptions and limitations.
- Records corrections: If the obtained result of an experiment is drastically different from the intended result, then certain adjustments are made to obtain the desired result. For the conclusion to be accurate, it’s important that it mentions corrections or adjustments made while conducting the experiment.
- Provides recommendation: A good lab report conclusion is one which provides recommendation of what the next steps should be after the experiment has been completed. The recommendation could be a reference to a similar study or scientific journals and articles that provide additional information or any improvements that can be made to better the result of the experiment.
Lab Report Conclusion Example
Below is the conclusion of a lactase enzyme specificity experiment, which clearly states all the key information related to the outcome.
For our lactase enzyme specificity experiment, we concluded our hypothesis that enzymes are specific and will only break down lactose, but not sucrose. This was proven with the data we collected. We found that only the test tube containing milk and lactase was able to have an enzymatic reaction releasing 1000 mg/dL of glucose. This gave proof to our prediction that if lactase is specific, it may only break down lactose. Enzyme lactase is specificity-hydrolyzed lactose.
Using the RERUN Method to Write a Conclusion
One of the most commonly used methods when it comes to writing a lab report conclusion is the ‘RERUN’ method. This method recapitulates all the key steps of an experiment:
Restate: Recapping the entire experiment, including the hypothesis and what was expected of the experiment, is a good way to conclude the report.
Explain: This step elaborates on the purpose of the experiment, the methods used, and any other important part of the experiment.
Result: After elaborating on the purpose of the experiment, the next step is to explain the result of the experiment and its interpretation.
Uncertainties: Any uncertainties that can affect the result, such as assumptions made or limitations to the experiment, should be noted in the conclusion section.
New: Anything new that is learned during the experiment should also be included in the conclusion of the lab report.
Tips for Writing a Lab Report Conclusion
A lab report conclusion should be comprehensive and precise. Also, it should:
- Clearly state any possible errors that may have occurred during the course of the experiment.
- Follow the rules of formal writing.
- Specifically answer the research question the experiment is based on.
- Provide proper references and citations.
- Avoid repetitions. Stating something more than once only adds to the length of the conclusion paragraph.
- Follow the guidelines outlined by the instructor or the college.
From the main takeaways to making sense of the key findings of the study, a conclusion explicates some important aspects of the experiment and is therefore a crucial element of the lab report.
