Lab Notebook

A laboratory notebook is a tool that gives a permanent record of ideas, concepts, raw data, data analysis, and observations. This presentation aims to learn why a lab notebook is useful and how to use one. The presentation will enhance your capacity to effectively report your experiment, ensure scientific conduct, ensure the originality of your research ideas and results, and reproducibility. According to Todd Garabedian, researchers must embrace the best practices of laboratory records. The laboratory records should generally contain enough information so a technically sophisticated nonexpert can understand what was done.
1. The records should be in a bound and numbered laboratory notebook. An index at the front of the notebook outlining the titles of the experiments is also useful. All entries should be in permanent ink, preferably a single color. Changes or additions to the record should be initialed and dated. Abbreviations and codes should be clearly defined.
2. The dates when an idea was formed and when work on the idea was begun and completed should be recorded. This information is important in establishing a clear date of conception and reduction to practice.
3. Each experiment should start with a clear statement of the objective. An initial statement lets one know what the inventor thought before the experiment took place.
4. Experiments should be chronologically recorded in the notebook on numbered pages. Skipped or blank pages or pages dated out of order can create suspicion of tampering with the record. Pages left intentionally blank should be indicated as such.
In fact, a laboratory notebook is a tool that gives a permanent record of ideas, concepts, raw data, data analysis, and observations. This presentation aims to learn why a lab notebook is useful and how to use one. The presentation will enhance your capacity to effectively report your experiment, ensure scientific conduct, ensure the originality of your research ideas and results, and reproducibility.
Therefore, I share with you in this video some insights and recommendations to prepare your laboratory notebook. The video is a continuation of our series on experimental research design.
1. Introduction 01:53
2. Content and structure 04:00
3. How to use it 06:24
4. Quality assurance and confidentiality 12:10
5. Take away 15:51
Please watch the video or share it with potential interested scientists, scholars, and students.