Eastern Nazarene College Biology
Department Ecology Lab Field Procedures
Field Notebook/Journal Entry Format
The lab
requirements for ecology and environmental science courses include
keeping a field notebook, sometimes called a scientific journal.
This field notebook should be your constant companion whenever you are
in the field, as you will use these to record observations,
measurements, and other forms of data while working in the field.
As a professional, your field notebooks and journals are considered to
be legal documents, and are regularly used in litigation as
evidence. As such, your journal entries should be complete,
accurate, and concise. Lab instructors may be asked to check your
journal periodically to make sure that you are recording entries
properly.
The following rules will help you keep an effective and useful journal.
Use a blank, bound notebook (not spiral
bound). Pages should not be perforated for removal. A
“Rite-In-Rain” notebook is strongly recommended, as some labs may take
place on rainy days.
Write your name, address, phone number, and email
address on the inside front cover.
Never cut or remove pages from your notebook.
Number all of the pages consecutively (both
sides).
Make all entries in black or blue ink, including
notes, diagrams, drawings, and graphs. Use good spelling and
grammar so that it is understandable for any reader.
Each page should have a date at the top.
Also, each new entry should start with a date. Under a particular
date, only work done on that date should be entered.
Each entry should have an approximate time
recorded.
Never erase any part of an entry. Draw a
line through any material you wish to omit, or if it constitutes an
entire page, draw a single “X” through it.
Do not leave any blank pages in the
journal. Draw an “X” through blank pages to show that later
material has not been added.
Sign all entries at the end of the day, using
initials or a complete signature.
Below is the rubric which will be
used to grade your field notebook.
