Introduction. The article is devoted to solving the problems of forming independent work skills among students of pedagogical directions within the discipline “General physical practical work” on the example of laboratory work in molecular physics. The aim of our work is to create a methodology that will help to increase the proportion of independent student work while making study research. This will help to form research skills. Materials and Methods. Based on the teachings of A. M. Novikov on the methodology of scientific research, we have developed a structure of laboratory works, which includes phases (design phase, technological phase, reflexive phase) and the stages of preparation, execution and delivery of work in molecular physics. Results of the research. The workbook was elaborated, including laboratory works that correspond to this structure, allows reflecting the components of the scientific method of research when performing a physical experiment. We successfully use this workbook at carrying out of laboratory practical work at studying the course “Molecular physics”.The article gives an example of one of the laboratory works from a workbook describing the performance of the work. Conclusion. The proportion of independent work increases, students set the purpose and tasks of the laboratory experiment as physical research, formulate a hypothesis, plan the sequence of work performance and analysis of its results. These tasks give the intention to students to prepare their tasks carefully. This, in turn, should lead to mastering the methods of scientific knowledge of physical phenomena, the acquisition of skills and knowledge of their practical use.