What's the Difference Between Lab Reports & Research Papers? While lab report format and structure are similar to that of a research paper, they differ. But unfortunately, we often see them confused in our work. The key differences between lab reports and research papers are: Lab reports require you to conduct a hands-on experiment, while research papers are focused on the interpretation of existing data; A lab report's purpose is to show that you understand the scientific methods central to the experimental procedure – that's why the lab report template is different, too; A lab experiment doesn't require you to have an original hypothesis or argument; Research papers are usually longer than lab reports. How to Do a Lab Report: Outline Like with any other papers, from SWOT analysis to case studies, writing lab reports is easier when you have a clear college lab report outline in front of you. Luckily for you, the lab report structure is the same in most cases. So, here's how to do a lab report – follow this outline (unless your instructor's requirements contradict it!): Title page: your name, course, instructor, and the report title; Abstract: a short description of the key findings and their significance; Introduction: the purpose of the lab experiment and its background information; Methods and materials: what you used during the experiment (e.g., a lab manual, certain reagents, etc.); Procedure: the detailed description of the lab experiment; Results: the outcome of your experiment and its interpretation; Conclusion: what your findings may mean for the field; References: the list of your sources; Appendices: raw data, calculations, graphs, etc.