Recording details of project work

The recommended system is one where you make a dual record.

Primary record
The primary record is made at the bench and you must concentrate on the detail of materials, methods and results. Include information that would not be used elsewhere, but which might prove useful in error tracing: for example, if you note how a solution was made up (exact volumes and weights used rather than concentration alone), this could reveal whether a miscalculation had been the cause of a rogue result. Note the origin, type and state of the chemicals used. In the experimental section, the basic rule is to record enough information to allow a reasonably competent scientist to repeat your work exactly. You must tread a line between the extremes of pedantic, irrelevant detail and the omission of information essential for proper interpretation - better perhaps to err on the side of extra detail to begin with. An experienced worker can tell you which subtle shifts in technique are important (e.g. batch numbers for an important chemical, or when a new stock solution is prepared). Many important scientific advances have been made because of careful observation and record taking and because coincident data were recorded that did not seem of immediate value. Make rough diagrams to show the arrangement of replicates, equipment, etc. If forced to use loose paper to record data, make sure each sheet is dated and taped to your lab book, collected in a ring binder, or attached with a treasury tag. The same applies to traces, printouts and graphs.

The basic order of the primary record should mirror that of a research report, including: the title and date, brief introduction, a comprehensive experimental section, the data and short conclusions.

Secondary record
You should make a secondary record concurrently or later in a bound book and it ought to be neater, in both organization and presentation. This book will be used when discussing results with your supervisor, and when writing up a report or thesis, and may be part of your course assessment. Writing a second, neater version forces you to consider again details that might have been overlooked in the primary record and provides a duplicate in case of loss or damage. While these notes should retain the essential features of the primary record, they should be more concise and the emphasis should move towards analysis of the experiment. Don't repeat the experimental section for a series of similar experiments; use devices such as 'method as for Expt B4'. A photocopy may be sufficient if the method is derived from a text or article (check with your supervisor). Outline the aims more carefully at the start and link the experiment to others in a series (e.g. 'Following the results of Expt D24, I decided to test whether .. .'). You should present data in an easily digested form, e.g. as tables of means or as summary graphs. Use appropriate statistical tests to support your analysis of the results. Always analyse and think about data immediately after collecting them as this may influence your subsequent activities. Write down any conclusions: sometimes those which seem obvious at the time of doing the work are forgotten when the time comes to write up a report or thesis. Likewise, ideas for further studies may prove valuable later. Even if your experiment appears to be a failure, suggestions as to the likely causes might prove useful.

Using communal records
If working with a research team, you may need to use their communal databases. These avoid duplication of effort and ensure uniformity in techniques. They may also form part of the legal safety requirements for lab work. They might include:

1. a shared notebook of common techniques (e.g. solutions or calibration technique);
2. a set of simplified step-by-step instructions for use of equipment;
3. an alphabetical list of suppliers of equipment and consumables;
4. a list of chemicals required by the group and where they are stored;
5. the risk assessment sheets for dangerous procedures;
6. a record of the use and disposal of chemicals and solvents.