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EE10142 Electronic Laboratory Techniques

Laboratory Notebooks (Logbooks) and Technical Reports

Dr P J Leonard

Refer to:

Kirkup L, “Experimental Methods – An Introduction to the Analysis and Presentation of Data”, Wiley, 1994.

ISBN: 0471335797.

Univ. of Bath Shelf Marks: 530.001.5 KIR, Level-4.

Notes below taken from above book.

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Summary

● How to write lab books and technical reports.● What is a lab book / technical report● What is it's purpose.● The structure.● The content.● Style.

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Laboratory Notebooks (Logbooks)

•See Kirkup, “Experimental Methods”, Chapter 1.

•Type of book. A4 size, bound or stapled. Alternate pages lined and graph, or

all lined - and glue in graph paper as required. PUT OWNER’S NAME ON THE BOOK.

Number the pages of the book. For reference purposes. To show that no pages have been added or removed (may be important in arguments

concerning intellectual property rights).

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Laboratory Notebooks (Logbooks)

● Main purpose - place to keep a record of laboratory work.

● Contains measurements, observations, development of experimental apparatus and techniques etc.

● Sufficient detail should be recorded so that a full technical report can be written on the work at a later date.

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Laboratory Notebooks (at university)

● Logbooks have a dual function at university.● The main purpose, referred to above.● To provide a place for a brief technical report on an experiment for assessment

purposes (marking).

● logbook must be legible to other readers

● must be laid out like a technical report (see later)

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Laboratory Notebooks (Logbooks)

●Logbooks have a single function in industry.– The main purpose, referred to above.– Logbook need only be readable to its user (unless the engineering manager says otherwise).

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Laboratory NotebooksTypical Layout for Each Experiment

➢ Date Essential housekeeping

➢ Title To give a true impression of the subject of the work.

➢ Aim of the Work Explains what you are trying to do. (This is usually given to you at university.)

➢ Description of Description of items used in the➢ Apparatus experiment. Record of instrument serial

numbers etc.

➢ Sketch of Labeled diagram of experimental➢ Apparatus arrangement. Simple line diagram

usually sufficient.

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Laboratory NotebooksTypical Layout for Each Experiment

➢ Experimental Details of how the work was performed.➢ Method➢

➢ Measurements Direct recordings of instrument readings etc. (Do not first write onto scraps of paper.)

➢ Use tables, with the measurement units clearly shown.

➢ Show estimate of errors, if possible.

➢ Graphs Best plotted during the experiment so that anomalies can be detected

immediately.

➢ Correctly title axes and annotate if more than one curve shown.

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Laboratory NotebooksTypical Layout for Each Experiment

➢ Calculations If needed, state formula used. Clearly describe steps taken.

➢

➢ Conclusions This section not usually needed in a logbook. Can be used to briefly state what is

claimed to have been established.

➢ Conclusions must only be drawn that are justified by the experimental

evidence.

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Technical Reports

See Kirkup, “Experimental Methods”, Chapter 7.

Type of Reader ?

A good technical report should present information in such way that it

can be quickly and easily absorbed by the following classes of reader.

1. Captive

2. Professional

3. Casual

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Technical ReportsTypes of Reader

1 Captive reader

e.g. member of staff (or marker), engineering departmental manager etc

Will read all of the report - especially the technical content.

Make the job of reading easier by drawing clear diagrams and graphs, and by writing concisely and clearly.

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Technical Reports-Types of Reader

2 Professional reader

- e.g. someone working in the area of activity of the report.

Will be mainly interested in results and conclusions. Present these topics clearly to attract professionals.

3 Casual reader

- e.g. a professional reader whose attention you are trying to attract.

Concentrate on attractive layout, and short and to-the-point abstract and summary.

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Technical Report StructureThe structure of the report may vary.

Read the instructions.

A typical report comprises.

1. Title

2. Abstract

3. Introduction/Background

4. Method

5. Results

6. Discussion/Conclusions

7. References

8. Appendices

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Report StructureThe Title

To give a true impression of the subject of the report.

Author’s Name and Date

Should be obvious, but is often forgotten.

Abstract

Should be concise and show full scope of report, including objectives and conclusions.

Should enable reader to decide if report would be of interest.

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Technical ReportsSymbols & Introduction

List of Symbols

All symbols, abbreviations and acronyms used in the report should be listed and described.

Introduction

Brief outline of background material (i.e. previous work in the area, information from references etc).

Used to help reader understand the purpose of the work reported.

It is not a section giving a “procedure”.

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Technical ReportsTheory Section

Theory

Theory relevant to the work should be included.

Equations can be quoted provided you reference the source.

Make sure there is enough information for the reader (define symbols etc)

Detailed mathematical derivations should be put in an Appendix.

Try to understand the theory yourself.

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Technical ReportsInvestigation

The Investigation

Gives clear and unambiguous statement of the work being reported.

Actual title of this section will depend on the work being described.

Do not title this section “Body of the Report”.

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Technical ReportsAnalysis of the results & Conclusion

Analysis of Results Discusses the data obtained, making reference to graphs and

theoretical predictions.

Mentions any estimated experimental errors and statistical confidence limits.

Conclusions

This is where authors make their point and state what they claim has been established.

Conclusions must only be drawn that are justified by the experimental evidence described in earlier sections.

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Technical ReportsOther stuff . . .

Acknowledgments

Expresses thanks where necessary.

References

List in the numerical order in which they appear.

Use the “Numerical Method”. See Library publication “A guide to citing references” (on web).

Bibliography

Further literature on associated work that has not been used or mentioned in the report.

Appendices

Supplementary mathematical details and derivations. Supplementary tables of data.

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Technical ReportsLayout and Text

Layout should generally follow order for structure given above.

Graphs, tables, diagrams etc. should all be given figure numbers (so that they can be referred to in the text) and brief titles.

Ideally, text should written in the third person and past tense (see Kirkup for examples).

Leave adequate margins. Break text up into convenient paragraphs, sub-sections and sections, as necessary.

Study formal IEE papers or course lecture notes to get an idea of professional layout and writing style.

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Some advice

● Read any instructions thoroughly.

● Make sure you know what the tutor wants.

● If there are guide lines follow them.

● For example if there are marks for an “Aardvark opinion poll”. Make sure your report has a section on this.

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Acronyms

● Over use of acronyms can make a report hard to read.

● If you are going to use yet another acronym (YAA) make sure you define it.

● A table of acronyms is useful.

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Style✔ Write in the third person.

✔ “The experiments were conducted” NOT “I conducted the experiments”

✔ No personal opinions

✔ “The results were excellent”

✔ Do not use non-quantifiable descriptions

✔ “The diode got very hot”

✔ Typically use the past tense (the reader will suspect something if you use the future tense!!!!)

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Style

Be clear and concise

Use short simple sentences.Avoid saying the same thing twice.Only say things one time.

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Summary

How to write lab books and technical reports. What is a lab book / technical report What is it's purpose. The structure. The content. Style.

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THE END

Thank you for your attention.

Any questions?