The complementary roles of laboratory notebooks and laboratory reports

Experiments can be documented by the complementary use of both laboratory notebooks and laboratory reports. The notebook serves as a chronological repository for experimental details, while the report presents a logical summary of the experiment. Emphasis on proper format and logical content in both notebooks and reports encourages the successful development of technical writing skills. When properly used, laboratory notebooks and laboratory reports interact to improve the quality of both. The authors outline the contents of laboratory notebooks and laboratory reports, and explain how the complementary use of these instruments at the Air Force Academy has resulted in better student writing, better design documentation, and more efficient use of laboratory and computer resources that should carry over into future engineering practice