The first proper assignment in which we were assigned; Following the context of picking a certain Lab report and Analysing it, here are the instructions for reference:

“This assignment requires both analysis and annotation. Based on your major and your academic interest, locate one lab report using the CCNY Library Database. Annotate and analyze the report and discuss each of the eight elements described in chapter 19. In what ways does the structure of the document follow the format described in this chapter? If the report differs from this format, why do you think the authors chose to present information in the manner they did? 

Your analysis will have an introduction and a conclusion. The assignment itself is NOT a lab report. Therefore, it does not require a method section, etc. Be sure to craft this assignment in APA format.

Be sure to include the original annotated lab reports with the submission.

Minimum 5 pages.

Page count DOES NOT include a cover sheet and bibliography.

Self-Reflection 1-2 pages (due with the second draft).”

Final Draft:

“An Analytical Examination of a Lab Report: “Evaluation of a Study on Reduction of Common

Cold Symptoms”

From: aespino012@citymail.cuny.edu

To: sjacobson1@ccny.cuny.edu

March 3, 2024

Subject: Lab Report Analysis/Essay

Universally known, scientific research serves as the foundation of advancements in the

present known as life, and specific examples of branches deriving from the Esse are such as

medicine and public health. In this vein of research, science goes to drive and attracts progress

by uncovering the behind-the-scenes of disease mechanisms, and with this, developing new

treatments and presenting strategies to counter such parasites. Therefore, through research,

evidence-based practice, and innovation, science gives plenty of benefits such as the ability of

earlier detection, personalized interventions, and an improved healthcare framework overall,

ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals and communities worldwide; and one

method one can use to find such information, is through what’s known as a “Lab Report”. This

present essay will critically evaluate a lab report analyzing a study titled “Reduction of common

cold symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,

double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.” It will go to evaluate the report under critical observation

and will also meticulously assess various components of the study, ranging from its title to the

discussion of results. But it’s not too early to say that through an organized structure and

scholarly approach, the authors of this report, effectively communicated the purpose, methods,

findings, and implications of their research, thereby contributing to the understanding of

preventive strategies for common cold symptoms and highlighting the importance of a well-

informed, specific, and well-written lab report.

To begin, starting from top to bottom, a Lab Report must accordingly cover 10 factors;

the First 5 being “The Title, The Abstract, The Introduction, The Material and Methods, and The

Results”; The title, which clearly describes the content and purpose of the experiment, helps

provide readers with an initial understanding of what the report is about and offers the reader the

choice of whether to be interested or not in such a field. Additionally, it also helps by being

broad, helping readers such as scientists or engineers save time by simply knowing what they are

going to be reading about, compared to an artist for example. “Reduction of common cold

symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,

double-blind, placebo-controlled trial” is the title of today’s lab report, and it simplistically

summarizes the focus and design of the study as well as includes key information such as the

intervention, the condition studied, and the type of trial. All of these provide readers with a clear

understanding of the experiment immediately. Moving on, the abstract, which provides a brief

summary of the entire lab report, including the purpose of the experiment, the methods used, the

key results, and the main conclusions, which allows readers to quickly grasp the essence of the

study without having to read the entire report. In this specific lab report, it effectively outlines

the purpose of the study, stating, “to determine the preventive effect of a dietary supplement

from fruits and vegetables on common cold symptoms” (Roll et al., 2010), additionally, the

methods used found in, a “randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial” (Roll et al., 2010),

the key results stated as, “reduction in days with moderate or severe common cold symptoms”

(Roll et al., 2010), and the main conclusions, “intake of the dietary supplement was associated

with a 20% reduction in symptoms” (Roll et al., 2010). Overall, the abstract provides a quick

overview of the study’s design, findings, and implications, helping readers to decide whether to

read the full report for additional research. Moving accordingly, the Introduction is self-

explanatory. It sets the context for the experiment by providing background information,

explaining the scientific concepts relevant to the study, and stating the objectives or hypothesis.

It’s important because it helps readers understand the purpose and significance of the experiment

at hand. In this specific introduction, the authors provide background information on the

common cold, which goes to highlight its prevalence, symptoms, and economic impact on

society. They then discuss previous research on preventive strategies, for example, dietary

supplements. They also went and justified the need for further investigation; The objectives of

the study are clearly stated overall, along with the hypothesis for using encapsulated juice

powder concentrate from fruits and vegetables as the intervention which we saw from the title

already which helps the reassure readers by showing your methods are reliable and appropriate.

And speaking of methods, next up is The Materials and Methods. This section describes the

materials used in the experiment and the procedures followed in great detail. It’s important

because it allows other scientists to replicate the experiment and serves as a reference for

understanding how the data were collected through difficulties, observations, etc. This section

goes into detail about the study design, including the participant’s selection criteria, the

randomization process, the intervention protocol, and the outcome measures. The authors of the

lab report also describe how participants were recruited, allocated to treatment groups, and

assessed for compliance in their work, which shows a lot of their effort on paper. Additionally,

they provide information on data collection methods, including the use of common cold diaries,

and outline the statistical analysis plan. This section overall was crucial for understanding how

the experiment was conducted and how the data were analyzed, and it was perfectly explained.

Now to end this section, The results, which present the data collected during the experiment, are

often in the form of tables, graphs, or figures which are extremely specific and detailed when it

comes to what information they show. It’s a great way to provide readers with the raw

information obtained and allows them to see the outcomes of the experiment. It also allows the

writer to persuade the readers by using their results to support their claims and hypotheses. Here,

they provide demographic information about the study participants, they also went out of their

way to summarize the primary and secondary outcomes and reports of the results of such

statistical analyses. The findings are presented clearly, with tables and figures to illustrate key

findings, one of these was a bar graph titled, “Encapsulated juice powder and common cold”

(Roll et al., 2010), showing the days of both groups and their cold symptoms along each month.

This goes to show that these authors go to compare outcomes between the intervention and

control groups, and then discuss any statistically significant differences observed.

On to the next section, covering The Discussion, The Conclusion, The

Acknowledgments, The References, and lastly, The Appendices. To commence, the discussion

section follows from the results section, where they are interpreted and analyzed in the context of

the experiment’s objectives and the broader scientific field. This section also discusses any

limitations of the study and suggests directions for future research in case the study went through

some failures. In this case, the authors do go on to discuss the implications of their findings,

including the potential mechanisms underlying the observed effects and their relevance for

public health. And to my surprise, they also acknowledged the limitations of the study, such as

the predominantly female participant population, and suggested directions for future research

alongside improvements they could have made. This overall led to the discussion providing a

comprehensive analysis of the study’s findings and their significance for future works.

Furthermore, The conclusion. It summarizes the main findings of the experiment and explains

their significance. It also restates the original hypotheses or objectives and may suggest practical

implications or applications of the results. In the lab report, the authors briefly did this by

concluding that the intake of encapsulated juice powder concentrated from fruits and vegetables

was associated with a reduction in common cold symptoms, suggesting potential benefits for

individuals exposed to such symptoms. To proceed, there are The Acknowledgments. This

section goes on to acknowledge any individuals or organizations that contributed to the

experiment. It may come in the form of funding sources, technical assistance, or other methods

of support. In this case, the authors detail their roles in the study and affirm that they have no

personal or financial conflicts of interest, which adds transparency and credibility to the report.

Then, there are The references. This section lists all the sources cited in the lab report, such as

scientific papers, textbooks, or other literature the writer may have used to further support their

reports. It allows readers to locate and verify the information presented in the report and

potentially builds the writer a good reputation by using non-misinformative sources. In this

context, the authors indeed cited previous research studies, guidelines, and other relevant

sources, but not to fear, they were all mentioned in this section, demonstrating the scholarly rigor

of their work. Lastly, there’s The Appendices. It contains additional materials that are not

essential to understanding the main content of the report but may provide supplemental

information, such as raw data, calculations, or detailed experimental procedures which may help

the reader clarify any unanswered questions they may have had during their journey through the

report, however, in this Lab Report, there are no signs of Appendices, which doesn’t affect the

Lab Report much, but certainly would have benefit because of it in helping still confused

readers.

To conclude, the analyzed lab report goes to exemplify meticulous attention to detail and

commitment to a scholarly convention in scientific writing. It’s done through a structured

approach where it encompasses sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, materials and

methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgments, and references. Additionally, the

authors effectively communicate the findings of their research on the reduction of common cold

symptoms, informing readings expertly and thoroughly. While acknowledging the report’s

strengths in clarity, organization, and scholarly rigor, it is imperative to recognize opportunities

for enhancement, such as addressing minor spelling errors and expanding on certain aspects for a

more comprehensive analysis, such as including an appendix. Overall, the report stands as a

testament to the significance of persistent scientific learning in advancing our understanding of

strategies for common disorders, thereby making the way for a world with newly improved

public health outcomes.

Works Cited:

Roll, S. N., Nocon, M. N., & Willich, S. N. W. (2010, August 23). Reduction of common cold

symptoms by encapsulated juice powder concentrate of fruits and vegetables: a randomised,

double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. https://www.cambridge.org. Retrieved March 3, 2024,

from https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-

core/content/view/4E3A02A6D1E0EF0A17D0043394E843C4/S000711451000317Xa.pdf/div-

class-title-reduction-of-common-cold-symptoms-by-encapsulated-juice-powder-concentrate-of-

fruits-and-vegetables-a-randomised-double-blind-placebo-controlled-trial-div.pdf”