Notes on notebooks and protocols

How lab notebooks should be kept

Lab notebooks aren't just a high school exercise. In every laboratory, there are lab notebooks and they are the most important record of your work. A lab notebook is the authoritative record of how experiments were performed, and the data they generated. Here are some points to remember for our lab notebooks.

Note

A notebook is not your own. In a laboratory the notebook belongs to the PI (primary investigator), the person who runs the laboratory.

  1. Notebook entries should be neatly written in pen (not pencil). If needed, the notebook may also be typed. If an error is made, it should be neatly crossed out. The point is that there should be a permanent record that is unalterable. In cases of scientific fraud notebooks may be checked.

  2. Every page of the notebook (or every new entry) should have a date. We will also have a title for the various entries in our lab notebooks. There are usually two types of entries:

    • Lab demos: Are demonstrations of techniques. You will take notes but not not necessarily do the experiment yourself.

    • Labs: These are full labs where you and lab partners will preform the experiment.

  3. In many cases you will be provided a protocol for the lab. You should still copy the protocol into your notebook with annotations as to what you observed and notes if the protocol is modified in any way.

  4. Photos, sketches, and any other records or results should be entered in your notebook.

How to use protocols in this camp

Protocols posted here are typically outlines, meaning that while they contain high-level details, they are not a substitute for taking your own notes during lab. You should copy protocols into you notebook, leaving ample room for your own notes.

Note

Unless otherwise noted, protocols are from/adapted from the DNA Learning Center.

Questions your lab notes should answer

  1. For major steps, include your notes on what is happening; what is the purpose of this step?

  2. Include your observations; is there a color change? can I sketch or include a photo of what is happening? Don't just say what you did, say what you saw.

  3. Document differences. Did the instructor say I should expect to see something I am not seeing? Did I make a mistake and add too much/little of a reagent? Include details so if something goes wrong, you can work out why that might be.

  4. Be objective; when I make descriptions am I giving estimates using objective measurable terms? For example: "I see a ~ 3 mm pellet", "I collected a sample of approximately 10 grams". Even if you don't have a scale or ruler you can give your best detailed estimates. Include your results in your notes!