The technical notebook is one of the basic tools for any experimental work, whether it be basic research, product development, or engineering design. It is primarily for the experimenter's own use, but another person with similar technical background should be able to understand and duplicate any experiment, data, and conclusion, or to prepare a technical report by following only the lab notebook details.

There are many reasons to keep an accurate and complete record of experimental work. Among these are:

1. To establish the authenticity of the work.

2. To defend patents.

3. To act as a basis for technical reports and articles.

4. To avoid duplication of effort.

5. To avoid repetition of erroneous procedures.

The nature of the work and the purpose of the experimenter will influence the content and format of the laboratory notebook. Many companies have rigid internal requirements tailored to their specific needs. The notebook format, which follows on the next page, should not be interpreted as an "industry standard." Rather, it is intended to suit laboratory work in the Electrical Engineering Laboratory courses, and provide experience in following an acceptable format.

GENERAL:

The notebooks should be per the following, or an equivalent.  The notebook should be bound, never loose-leaf, and the pages numbers consecutively, preferably by the printer.

A neat, organized, and complete lab notebook record is as important as the investigation itself.  The lab notebook is the record of what was done.  You should use a hard lead pencil so that your writing does not smear.   Make corrections of any mistakes after you have made a clean erasure.   Neatness is a basic requirement.  Each person will keep his or her own notebook even though you might have lab partners.  Remember the purpose of the lab notebook is to pass information on to another person.  Therefore complete details of what was done and what happened must be included.

Note: In industry, you would be expected to use ink, and write directly in the notebook as the experiment is done.  You will have to date and sing each entry.   Sometimes you may be required to make an entry of no progress made today, just to show that you were working on the project.  If a mistake were made, you would be required to "X" it out and start over.  This leaves the original entry readable and keeps a permanent record of all your work, Which can be used as evidence in a patent court. 

GENERAL FORMAT:

Use all pages.  Avoid leaving any of them blank and avoid leaving blank spaces on any of them.  Date and initial each page at the top as it is used.  Where possible use the left-hand, even numbered pages for wiring diagrams, sketches, graphs and calculations (placed opposite your text).  In industry it is very important to sign and date all work and leave no spaces where additions might be added later in order to preserve the legal integrity of the notebook.

Table of Contents Page Format

Use page 1 of the notebook  for a table of contents for the notebook, with a format as shown below.

EXPERIMENT RECORD FORMAT

For each experiment, you are to adhere to following format which involves seven parts. Each experiment is to be started on a new page with the following information at the top of every page.
 

Then on the first page of each experiment list the names of any partners that worked on this experiment with you.  You may start with a data page to include all the data for the experiment.  This data page must be initialed and dated by the instructor before you leave the lab.  Make sure you include all information that will be necessary for use in the final write up.  Then start on the following page with:

1. Objectives - -Briefly state the major goals of the experiment.

2. Preliminary - -State your approach to the experiment, i.e., how you intend to achieve the objectives.  This should include a brief summary of theory, a few important equations, and/or a reference to some relevant text.

3. Equipment List and Wiring Diagrams -  - Be sure another person can tell exactly how your experiment was constructed.  Include ratings and nameplate data.  Identify the device tested.  All instruments used must be identified by make, model, and serial number.  NOTE: Items 1 through 3 can be completed prior to class, if you have been given information ahead of time.

4. Procedure - -Give essential details on how the experiment was conducted.  DO NOT recopy the hand-out material.  Make sure that this information is complete.  You will be aloud to use your lab notebook while taking lab exams.  Be sure you include all information you will need in order to repeat the same types of measurements on an exam.

5. Data - -The data should be inserted in the procedure description so that it appears near the corresponding procedure. If you recorded the data on a data page at the beginning of the experiment then copy the data into this section.  Tabulate data wherever possible to make it easy to read.  You may use a computer printed data table.

6. Calculations and Results - -Work out one example of each type of calculation.  Start with the equation, then substitute in the values with the correct units then calculate the answer.  If the same equation must be used repeatedly tabulate the results.  Include percent errors and percent deviations. Be aware of the precision of your data and watch the significant digits of the final results.  Do not round the intermediate calculations, this only adds extra round-off errors.  For repeated calculations with the same equations I recommend that you use a computer spreadsheet.  You may then tape the computer printout into the notebook.  You must still show one sample calculation worked out in the notebook.

7. Questions?  Whenever a specific question is asked.  Write the question followed by the answer.

8.  Conclusions - -Write scientific conclusions about the results of the experiment.   Base your conclusions on what you actually did, not on what you think you should have done.  Be factual and concise.  Do not conclude something unless your results actually support that conclusion.  Remember a scientific conclusion is a statement about the behavior of some physical system based on the observation of facts.  Did the experiment confirm or disprove any scientific theories or laws?  Was the accuracy within the expected limits for the measuring equipment used?

CONTENT REQUIREMENTS:

The laboratory notebook must answer the following questions in at least one part of the report.  You can use this as a checklist.

1. WHAT WAS DONE?  This includes the approach to the problem or project, as well as the experimental procedure.  If tests are conducted on some device, clearly identify that device and give theoretical or nameplate characteristics.  Include wiring diagrams and identify measurement equipment.  Another person should be able to repeat the experiment using only the information in your  notebook.

2. WHO DID IT?  List all members of the lab group, including yourself, at the beginning of the write-up.

3. WHEN WAS IT DONE?  It must be obvious or any reader when the experimental work was performed.  Date all entries in the notebook.  It is possible that a single experiment may have 2 or 3 different dates.  Do not leave blank spaces and never "back-date" notebook entries.

4. WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?  Data must be distinguished from calculated values.  It should be obvious which measuring instrument yielded which data.  Examples of each type of calculation must be given.  Graphs must have titles,  Labels and scales are required for both axies.  Do not "freehand" curves.

5. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?  Make observations and draw conclusions from the results of your work. Be precise and concise.  Compare your results to the theoretical (give reference).  Specifically why do you believe or disbelieve the results?  Discuss errors relative to the accuracy of the measurement equipment.
 
 

Your laboratory notebooks MUST contain all the information that would be required for you or someone else to completely reproduce your experiment.  For convenience in the lab you may record all your data on a data page at the beginning of each experiment.  Your actual lab report may then follow your data pages, however as you describe the procedures and results the appropriate data, graphs and calculations MUST be included at the point where you are discussing them.  Graphs and computer printouts must be taped or glued into the notebook at the appropriate point in the description.  Graphs and tables should be placed such that they can be read from the bottom of the page or from the right hand edge of the page.   When there are questions specifically asked in the lab manual or experiment handout you should write the question followed by the answer.  Your conclusions must include logical inferences drawn from the observed facts and supported by the observed data.  All statements must be complete sentences and be written using correct English grammar and spelling.

Graphs must be large enough to be easily read.  If values are to be read off the graph then the graph should usually be full page size.  Most graphs should be computer generated.  All graphs and Tables should have appropriate titles and labels.  If a graph has multiple curves each one should be clearly identified.  Identifying a curve as ch1 for an oscilloscope output is not acceptable.  It must be clear which physical variable each curve represents.  Scales on graphs should be identified including the proper units.  The scale increments should multiples of 1, 2, or 5.  One exception to this is scales for angles measured in degrees where multiples of 15, 30, 45, or 90 may be used.   The scale should be adjusted so that few if any leading or trailing zeros are required in the printed scale values.  e.g. plot in kA, mA or µA instead of A to fit the range of values to be plotted.

Sample Graphs

GRADES  

The grades on each experiment will be weighted as shown in the following tabulation:

A. Correctness of data recorded and calculations 50%

B. Procedure, general write-up, and format 30%

C. Conclusions and comments 10%

D. Legibility and neatness 10%