Before a first lab session, prepare a page for the question you want to test and another for observations. Leave space for a sketch. You may come back with a result that makes little sense without the wiring or fixture beside it.
Separate the plan from the observation
Write the intended procedure before starting. During the session, record what you did, including changes to the plan. A note about a swapped connector can explain a later discrepancy. Put uncertain interpretations in a separate paragraph so you can revisit them.
Use a run identifier on photographs, saved data, and notebook entries. Record the units beside a measurement. If someone helps you diagnose a fault, write down the check they suggested and credit them when you describe the work.
Leave a useful stopping point
At the end of the session, record the hardware state and the next action. Take a photograph before packing away loose parts. A week later, you should be able to start from that note without reconstructing the last hour from memory.
Have a correction or a different result? Write to the editor.
