Laboratory practice
A useful laboratory record captures the setup, procedure, observations and limits of an investigation.
Overview
A reference sample supports comparison.
Method
A procedure should identify the variables it changes.
Observations
An observation is distinct from an interpretation.
01. Establishing a reference
A useful laboratory record captures the setup, procedure, observations and limits of an investigation. A reference sample supports comparison. A useful working note records the context and the purpose of the study. Keep the details that explain what was noticed, and distinguish them from ideas that emerged later.
A reference sample supports comparison. This point should be read together with the stated reference and the conditions of the record.
02. Describing the setup
A procedure should identify the variables it changes. When revisiting a series of observations, begin with the original context. Record the order of the work and keep the first descriptions alongside any later interpretation.
A procedure should identify the variables it changes. This point should be read together with the stated reference and the conditions of the record.
03. Reading the first observation
The next pass through laboratory practice focuses on comparison. An observation is distinct from an interpretation. Look for the relationships between the details and retain enough context for another reader to understand the study.
An observation is distinct from an interpretation. This point should be read together with the stated reference and the conditions of the record.
record:
topic: laboratory
reference: stated
conditions: recorded
method: comparison
values: illustrative
interpretation: separate