example of a methods section in a research paper

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How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper

Writing a research paper is both an art and a skill, and knowing how to write the methods section of a research paper is the first crucial step in mastering scientific writing. If, like the majority of early career researchers, you believe that the methods section is the simplest to write and needs little in the way of careful consideration or thought, this article will help you understand it is not 1 .

We have all probably asked our supervisors, coworkers, or search engines “ how to write a methods section of a research paper ” at some point in our scientific careers, so you are not alone if that’s how you ended up here.  Even for seasoned researchers, selecting what to include in the methods section from a wealth of experimental information can occasionally be a source of distress and perplexity.   

Additionally, journal specifications, in some cases, may make it more of a requirement rather than a choice to provide a selective yet descriptive account of the experimental procedure. Hence, knowing these nuances of how to write the methods section of a research paper is critical to its success. The methods section of the research paper is not supposed to be a detailed heavy, dull section that some researchers tend to write; rather, it should be the central component of the study that justifies the validity and reliability of the research.

Are you still unsure of how the methods section of a research paper forms the basis of every investigation? Consider the last article you read but ignore the methods section and concentrate on the other parts of the paper . Now think whether you could repeat the study and be sure of the credibility of the findings despite knowing the literature review and even having the data in front of you. You have the answer!   

Having established the importance of the methods section , the next question is how to write the methods section of a research paper that unifies the overall study. The purpose of the methods section , which was earlier called as Materials and Methods , is to describe how the authors went about answering the “research question” at hand. Here, the objective is to tell a coherent story that gives a detailed account of how the study was conducted, the rationale behind specific experimental procedures, the experimental setup, objects (variables) involved, the research protocol employed, tools utilized to measure, calculations and measurements, and the analysis of the collected data 2 .

In this article, we will take a deep dive into this topic and provide a detailed overview of how to write the methods section of a research paper . For the sake of clarity, we have separated the subject into various sections with corresponding subheadings.  

Table of Contents

What is the methods section of a research paper ?  

The methods section is a fundamental section of any paper since it typically discusses the ‘ what ’, ‘ how ’, ‘ which ’, and ‘ why ’ of the study, which is necessary to arrive at the final conclusions. In a research article, the introduction, which serves to set the foundation for comprehending the background and results is usually followed by the methods section, which precedes the result and discussion sections. The methods section must explicitly state what was done, how it was done, which equipment, tools and techniques were utilized, how were the measurements/calculations taken, and why specific research protocols, software, and analytical methods were employed.  

Why is the methods section important?  

The primary goal of the methods section is to provide pertinent details about the experimental approach so that the reader may put the results in perspective and, if necessary, replicate the findings 3 .  This section offers readers the chance to evaluate the reliability and validity of any study. In short, it also serves as the study’s blueprint, assisting researchers who might be unsure about any other portion in establishing the study’s context and validity. The methods plays a rather crucial role in determining the fate of the article; an incomplete and unreliable methods section can frequently result in early rejections and may lead to numerous rounds of modifications during the publication process. This means that the reviewers also often use methods section to assess the reliability and validity of the research protocol and the data analysis employed to address the research topic. In other words, the purpose of the methods section is to demonstrate the research acumen and subject-matter expertise of the author(s) in their field.  

Structure of methods section of a research paper  

Similar to the research paper, the methods section also follows a defined structure; this may be dictated by the guidelines of a specific journal or can be presented in a chronological or thematic manner based on the study type. When writing the methods section , authors should keep in mind that they are telling a story about how the research was conducted. They should only report relevant information to avoid confusing the reader and include details that would aid in connecting various aspects of the entire research activity together. It is generally advisable to present experiments in the order in which they were conducted. This facilitates the logical flow of the research and allows readers to follow the progression of the study design.   

It is also essential to clearly state the rationale behind each experiment and how the findings of earlier experiments informed the design or interpretation of later experiments. This allows the readers to understand the overall purpose of the study design and the significance of each experiment within that context. However, depending on the particular research question and method, it may make sense to present information in a different order; therefore, authors must select the best structure and strategy for their individual studies.   

In cases where there is a lot of information, divide the sections into subheadings to cover the pertinent details. If the journal guidelines pose restrictions on the word limit , additional important information can be supplied in the supplementary files. A simple rule of thumb for sectioning the method section is to begin by explaining the methodological approach ( what was done ), describing the data collection methods ( how it was done ), providing the analysis method ( how the data was analyzed ), and explaining the rationale for choosing the methodological strategy. This is described in detail in the upcoming sections.    

How to write the methods section of a research paper  

Contrary to widespread assumption, the methods section of a research paper should be prepared once the study is complete to prevent missing any key parameter. Hence, please make sure that all relevant experiments are done before you start writing a methods section . The next step for authors is to look up any applicable academic style manuals or journal-specific standards to ensure that the methods section is formatted correctly. The methods section of a research paper typically constitutes materials and methods; while writing this section, authors usually arrange the information under each category.

The materials category describes the samples, materials, treatments, and instruments, while experimental design, sample preparation, data collection, and data analysis are a part of the method category. According to the nature of the study, authors should include additional subsections within the methods section, such as ethical considerations like the declaration of Helsinki (for studies involving human subjects), demographic information of the participants, and any other crucial information that can affect the output of the study. Simply put, the methods section has two major components: content and format. Here is an easy checklist for you to consider if you are struggling with how to write the methods section of a research paper .   

• Explain the research design, subjects, and sample details  
• Include information on inclusion and exclusion criteria  
• Mention ethical or any other permission required for the study  
• Include information about materials, experimental setup, tools, and software  
• Add details of data collection and analysis methods  
• Incorporate how research biases were avoided or confounding variables were controlled  
• Evaluate and justify the experimental procedure selected to address the research question  
• Provide precise and clear details of each experiment  
• Flowcharts, infographics, or tables can be used to present complex information     
• Use past tense to show that the experiments have been done   
• Follow academic style guides (such as APA or MLA ) to structure the content  
• Citations should be included as per standard protocols in the field  

Now that you know how to write the methods section of a research paper , let’s address another challenge researchers face while writing the methods section —what to include in the methods section .  How much information is too much is not always obvious when it comes to trying to include data in the methods section of a paper. In the next section, we examine this issue and explore potential solutions.   

What to include in the methods section of a research paper  

The technical nature of the methods section occasionally makes it harder to present the information clearly and concisely while staying within the study context. Many young researchers tend to veer off subject significantly, and they frequently commit the sin of becoming bogged down in itty bitty details, making the text harder to read and impairing its overall flow. However, the best way to write the methods section is to start with crucial components of the experiments. If you have trouble deciding which elements are essential, think about leaving out those that would make it more challenging to comprehend the context or replicate the results. The top-down approach helps to ensure all relevant information is incorporated and vital information is not lost in technicalities. Next, remember to add details that are significant to assess the validity and reliability of the study. Here is a simple checklist for you to follow ( bonus tip: you can also make a checklist for your own study to avoid missing any critical information while writing the methods section ).  

• Structuring the methods section : Authors should diligently follow journal guidelines and adhere to the specific author instructions provided when writing the methods section . Journals typically have specific guidelines for formatting the methods section ; for example, Frontiers in Plant Sciences advises arranging the materials and methods section by subheading and citing relevant literature. There are several standardized checklists available for different study types in the biomedical field, including CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) for randomized clinical trials, PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) for systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) for cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies. Before starting the methods section , check the checklist available in your field that can function as a guide.     
• Organizing different sections to tell a story : Once you are sure of the format required for structuring the methods section , the next is to present the sections in a logical manner; as mentioned earlier, the sections can be organized according to the chronology or themes. In the chronological arrangement, you should discuss the methods in accordance with how the experiments were carried out. An example of the method section of a research paper of an animal study should first ideally include information about the species, weight, sex, strain, and age. Next, the number of animals, their initial conditions, and their living and housing conditions should also be mentioned. Second, how the groups are assigned and the intervention (drug treatment, stress, or other) given to each group, and finally, the details of tools and techniques used to measure, collect, and analyze the data. Experiments involving animal or human subjects should additionally state an ethics approval statement. It is best to arrange the section using the thematic approach when discussing distinct experiments not following a sequential order.  
• Define and explain the objects and procedure: Experimental procedure should clearly be stated in the methods section . Samples, necessary preparations (samples, treatment, and drug), and methods for manipulation need to be included. All variables (control, dependent, independent, and confounding) must be clearly defined, particularly if the confounding variables can affect the outcome of the study.  
• Match the order of the methods section with the order of results: Though not mandatory, organizing the manuscript in a logical and coherent manner can improve the readability and clarity of the paper. This can be done by following a consistent structure throughout the manuscript; readers can easily navigate through the different sections and understand the methods and results in relation to each other. Using experiment names as headings for both the methods and results sections can also make it simpler for readers to locate specific information and corroborate it if needed.   
• Relevant information must always be included: The methods section should have information on all experiments conducted and their details clearly mentioned. Ask the journal whether there is a way to offer more information in the supplemental files or external repositories if your target journal has strict word limitations. For example, Nature communications encourages authors to deposit their step-by-step protocols in an open-resource depository, Protocol Exchange which allows the protocols to be linked with the manuscript upon publication. Providing access to detailed protocols also helps to increase the transparency and reproducibility of the research.  
• It’s all in the details: The methods section should meticulously list all the materials, tools, instruments, and software used for different experiments. Specify the testing equipment on which data was obtained, together with its manufacturer’s information, location, city, and state or any other stimuli used to manipulate the variables. Provide specifics on the research process you employed; if it was a standard protocol, cite previous studies that also used the protocol.  Include any protocol modifications that were made, as well as any other factors that were taken into account when planning the study or gathering data. Any new or modified techniques should be explained by the authors. Typically, readers evaluate the reliability and validity of the procedures using the cited literature, and a widely accepted checklist helps to support the credibility of the methodology. Note: Authors should include a statement on sample size estimation (if applicable), which is often missed. It enables the reader to determine how many subjects will be required to detect the expected change in the outcome variables within a given confidence interval.  
• Write for the audience: While explaining the details in the methods section , authors should be mindful of their target audience, as some of the rationale or assumptions on which specific procedures are based might not always be obvious to the audience, particularly for a general audience. Therefore, when in doubt, the objective of a procedure should be specified either in relation to the research question or to the entire protocol.  
• Data interpretation and analysis : Information on data processing, statistical testing, levels of significance, and analysis tools and software should be added. Mention if the recommendations and expertise of an experienced statistician were followed. Also, evaluate and justify the preferred statistical method used in the study and its significance.  

What NOT to include in the methods section of a research paper  

To address “ how to write the methods section of a research paper ”, authors should not only pay careful attention to what to include but also what not to include in the methods section of a research paper . Here is a list of do not’s when writing the methods section :  

• Do not elaborate on specifics of standard methods/procedures: You should refrain from adding unnecessary details of experiments and practices that are well established and cited previously.  Instead, simply cite relevant literature or mention if the manufacturer’s protocol was followed.  
• Do not add unnecessary details : Do not include minute details of the experimental procedure and materials/instruments used that are not significant for the outcome of the experiment. For example, there is no need to mention the brand name of the water bath used for incubation.    
• Do not discuss the results: The methods section is not to discuss the results or refer to the tables and figures; save it for the results and discussion section. Also, focus on the methods selected to conduct the study and avoid diverting to other methods or commenting on their pros or cons.  
• Do not make the section bulky : For extensive methods and protocols, provide the essential details and share the rest of the information in the supplemental files. The writing should be clear yet concise to maintain the flow of the section.  

We hope that by this point, you understand how crucial it is to write a thoughtful and precise methods section and the ins and outs of how to write the methods section of a research paper . To restate, the entire purpose of the methods section is to enable others to reproduce the results or verify the research. We sincerely hope that this post has cleared up any confusion and given you a fresh perspective on the methods section .

As a parting gift, we’re leaving you with a handy checklist that will help you understand how to write the methods section of a research paper . Feel free to download this checklist and use or share this with those who you think may benefit from it.  

References  

• Bhattacharya, D. How to write the Methods section of a research paper. Editage Insights, 2018. https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-write-the-methods-section-of-a-research-paper (2018).
• Kallet, R. H. How to Write the Methods Section of a Research Paper. Respiratory Care 49, 1229–1232 (2004). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15447808/
• Grindstaff, T. L. & Saliba, S. A. AVOIDING MANUSCRIPT MISTAKES. Int J Sports Phys Ther 7, 518–524 (2012). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474299/

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How to Write a Methods Section for a Psychology Paper

AKA your participants, materials, design, and procedures

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily Swaim is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, and Vox.

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin 

• Why You Need a Method Section
• What to Include
• Parts of the Method Section
• Additional Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

A big part of writing a psychology paper involves documenting exactly *how* you conducted your study or experiment. In other words, you need to share the methods, techniques, and tools you used to reach your conclusions or findings. That's why we call this section of your paper (surprise, surprise) the "method section."

The methods section of an APA format psychology paper provides the methods and procedures used in a research study or experiment . This part of an APA paper is critical because it allows other researchers to see exactly how you conducted your research.

At a Glance

The method section is where you get into the nitty-gritty details of your research. The four main elements that you'll cover in this section are your participants (who they are and how they were selected), your apparatus/materials (items you used to conduct your study), your design (the research design you used), and your procedure (the specific steps and process you followed). One helpful reminder: This section should provide enough information that another researcher could replicate your study.

The Purpose of a Method Section

"Method" refers to the procedure used in a research study. It includes a precise description of how the experiments were performed and why particular procedures were selected. While the APA technically refers to this section as the 'method section,' it is also often known as a 'methods section.'

The method section ensures the experiment's reproducibility and the assessment of alternative methods that might produce different results. It also allows researchers to replicate the experiment and judge its validity.

What to Include in a Method Section

So what exactly do you need to include when writing your method section? You should provide detailed information on the following:

• Research design
• Participants
• Participant behavior

The method section should provide enough information to allow other researchers to replicate your experiment or study.

Components of a Method Section

The method section should utilize subheadings to divide up different subsections. These subsections typically include participants, materials, design, and procedure.

Participants 

In this part of the method section, you should describe the participants in your experiment, including who they were (and any unique features that set them apart from the general population), how many there were, and how they were selected. If you utilized random selection to choose your participants, it should be noted here.

For example: "We randomly selected 100 children from elementary schools near the University of Arizona."

At the very minimum, this part of your method section must convey:

• Basic demographic characteristics of your participants (such as sex, age, ethnicity, or religion)
• The population from which your participants were drawn
• Any restrictions on your pool of participants
• How many participants were assigned to each condition and how they were assigned to each group (i.e., randomly assignment , another selection method, etc.)
• Why participants took part in your research (i.e., the study was advertised at a college or hospital, they received some type of incentive, etc.)

Information about participants helps other researchers understand how your study was performed, how generalizable the result might be, and allows other researchers to replicate the experiment with other populations to see if they might obtain the same results.

In this part of the method section, you should describe the materials, measures, equipment, or stimuli used in the experiment. This may include:

• Testing instruments
• Technical equipment
• Any psychological assessments that were used
• Any special equipment that was used

For example: "Two stories from Sullivan et al.'s (1994) second-order false belief attribution tasks were used to assess children's understanding of second-order beliefs."

For standard equipment such as computers, televisions, and videos, you can simply name the device and not provide further explanation.

Specialized equipment should be given greater detail, especially if it is complex or created for a niche purpose. In some instances, such as if you created a special material or apparatus for your study, you might need to include an illustration of the item in the appendix of your paper.

In this part of your method section, describe the type of design used in the experiment. Specify the variables as well as the levels of these variables. Identify:

• The independent variables
• Dependent variables
• Control variables
• Any extraneous variables that might influence your results.

Also, explain whether your experiment uses a  within-groups  or between-groups design.

For example: "The experiment used a 3x2 between-subjects design. The independent variables were age and understanding of second-order beliefs."

The next part of your method section should detail the procedures used in your experiment. Your procedures should explain:

• What the participants did
• How data was collected
• The order in which steps occurred

For example: "An examiner interviewed children individually at their school in one session that lasted 20 minutes on average. The examiner explained to each child that he or she would be told two short stories and that some questions would be asked after each story. All sessions were videotaped so the data could later be coded."

Keep this subsection concise yet detailed. Explain what you did and how you did it, but do not overwhelm your readers with too much information.

Tips for How to Write a Methods Section

In addition to following the basic structure of an APA method section, there are also certain things you should remember when writing this section of your paper. Consider the following tips when writing this section:

• Use the past tense : Always write the method section in the past tense.
• Be descriptive : Provide enough detail that another researcher could replicate your experiment, but focus on brevity. Avoid unnecessary detail that is not relevant to the outcome of the experiment.
• Use an academic tone : Use formal language and avoid slang or colloquial expressions. Word choice is also important. Refer to the people in your experiment or study as "participants" rather than "subjects."
• Use APA format : Keep a style guide on hand as you write your method section. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the official source for APA style.
• Make connections : Read through each section of your paper for agreement with other sections. If you mention procedures in the method section, these elements should be discussed in the results and discussion sections.
• Proofread : Check your paper for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.. typos, grammar problems, and spelling errors. Although a spell checker is a handy tool, there are some errors only you can catch.

After writing a draft of your method section, be sure to get a second opinion. You can often become too close to your work to see errors or lack of clarity. Take a rough draft of your method section to your university's writing lab for additional assistance.

The method section is one of the most important components of your APA format paper. The goal of your paper should be to clearly detail what you did in your experiment. Provide enough detail that another researcher could replicate your study if they wanted while still keeping this section brief and succinct.

Finally, if you are writing your paper for a class or a specific publication, be sure to keep in mind any specific instructions provided by your instructor or by the journal editor. Your instructor may have certain requirements that you need to follow while writing your method section.

While the subsections can vary, the three components that should be included are sections on the participants, the materials, and the procedures.

• Describe who the participants were in the study and how they were selected.
• Define and describe the materials that were used including any equipment, tests, or assessments
• Describe how the data was collected

To write your methods section in APA format, describe your participants, materials, study design, and procedures. Keep this section succinct, and always write in the past tense.

The main heading of this section should be labeled "Method," and it should be centered, bolded, and capitalized. Each subheading within this section should be bolded, left-aligned, and in title case.

The purpose of the methods section is to describe what you did in your experiment. It should be brief, but include enough detail that someone could replicate your experiment based on this information. Your methods section should detail what you did to answer your research question. Describe how the study was conducted, the study design that was used and why it was chosen, and how you collected the data and analyzed the results.

Erdemir F. How to write a materials and methods section of a scientific article ? Turk J Urol . 2013;39(Suppl 1):10-5. doi:10.5152/tud.2013.047

Willis LD. How to write the methods section of a research manuscript .  Respir Care . 2023;68(12):1763-1770. doi:10.4187/respcare.11437

American Psychological Association.  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.

Eldawlatly AA, Meo SA. Writing the methods section .  Saudi J Anaesth . 2019;13(Suppl 1):S20-S22. doi:10.4103/sja.SJA_805_18

American Psychological Association. APA Style Journal Article Reporting Standards . Published 2020.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Research Project Guide

How To Write The Methods Section of Research Paper In 9 Easy Steps

Master the methods section of your research paper in just 9 easy steps. Get clear guidance to enhance your writing!

Oct 29, 2024

Starting a research project can feel like wandering in a foreign city without a map. You need a plan, a clear path, and tools to guide you through the chaos. That's where the methods section of your research paper comes in. It's your blueprint, laying out the precise steps you took to test your hypothesis and collect your data. This guide will show you how to craft a clear, concise methods section to help understand how to start a research project on the right foot and finish your research quickly and efficiently. 

You'll learn how to choose the correct research methods, describe them in detail, and anticipate any potential challenges you may face. By the end, you'll thoroughly understand how to write a methods section that will help you achieve your research goals and produce a well-organized and easy-to-read paper.

Table Of Contents

What Is The Methods Section of the Research

Correct Order of Methods Section

Examples of methods section of research paper, different formats of methods section, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today, what is the methods section of the research paper.

The methods section of a research paper is indispensable. It’s where you map out exactly what you did, how, and what you used to get it done. This section is about the details—consider it your experimental playbook. After the introduction sets the stage, the methods section takes the baton and runs with it, laying down the steps before getting into results and discussion. You’ll want to state what actions you took, the techniques you used, the tools and equipment involved, and even why you chose specific protocols or software. The aim is to provide a clear, replicable path so that others can follow your footsteps or at least understand how you arrived at your conclusions.

Why is the Methods Section So Crucial?

The methods section holds the keys to understanding the reliability and validity of any study. It allows readers to judge your research's trustworthiness and, if needed, replicate your findings. This section is like a blueprint; it not only supports your study's context and authenticity but also plays a vital role in the success of your paper. If your methods section is lacking, expect early rejections or a slew of revisions during the publication process. Reviewers often scrutinize this section to assess the robustness of your research protocol and data analysis. The methods section is your opportunity to show off your research chops and field expertise.

1. Research Design: Crafting Your Strategy

Your research design is the backbone of your study, defining your overall strategy for addressing your research question. Whether you choose an experimental, observational, qualitative, or mixed-methods approach, explaining why this method is legitimate within your discipline is crucial. Explain why it's the most effective approach to your research questions or objectives. This information may sometimes appear in the opening paragraph of the Methods section rather than as a separate subsection.

2. Ethical Approval: Crossing the T’s and Dotting the I’s

Every study must adhere to ethical guidelines, and you must specify which governing board or regulatory body approved your study. If an Institutional Review Board (IRB) gives the green light, provide the approval number assigned to your project.

3. Setting: Finding the Perfect Spot

Detail how you determined your research location and why it suits your project. If you have any previous connection or institutional affiliation with this spot, mention it here.

4. Participants: Who’s in the Study?

Explain when, where, and how you recruited participants. Were they aware of the study’s true purpose? Describe your selection criteria and demographic characteristics. If applicable, discuss the representativeness of your sample, intended sample size, initial and final sample sizes, and any dropouts.

5. Instruments: Tools of the Trade

Describe the instrument in detail if you used a survey, questionnaire, or interview questions. Specify whether you created or used an existing one, and cite it if applicable. Discuss who administered it, how many questions it included, the topics covered, question types, and measured variables. Provide evidence of the instrument’s reliability and validity. If you used multiple instruments, consider separate subheadings.

6. Procedure(s)/Intervention: What Happened During the Study?

If your study involved an experiment or intervention, provide a comprehensive description. Discuss group divisions, control groups, sorting methods, the experiment’s location, duration, and session count. Explain who delivered the intervention, participant interaction, instructions, apparatuses, and clinical treatments or educational interventions.

7. Data Collection: Capturing the Details

For qualitative studies, describe your data collection protocol . Specify who collected the data, in what form, over what period, and how it was recorded and stored. Address any steps taken to ensure reflexivity consistency and limit bias.

8. Data Analysis: Making Sense of It All

All essential details are whether your data were transformed for analysis, who analyzed and interpreted it, and what software was used. Outline statistical tests, scoring methods, missing data, excluded data, and how coding categories or themes were developed. This information may appear in some fields at the beginning of the results section.

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2. Knowing the Guidelines Inside Out

Before writing your methods section, study the author's instructions for your target journal. Follow the guidelines meticulously. For instance, you might need to change the section heading from “Materials and Methods” to “ Patients and the Method ,” depending on the journal. Some journals may prefer not to disclose the names of institutions in open-label reports. You might also need to adhere to specific style guides, like the APA format. Using standardized checklists for different study types for biomedical research can help ensure you cover all essential details.

3. Weaving a Cohesive Narrative

The experiments in your methods section should be presented logically to help readers understand the development of your study. Organizing methods chronologically is effective. For a clinical trial, you might start with the study’s setting and timeline, then detail patient recruitment, study design, randomization, group assignments, interventions, and data collection and analysis techniques.

4. Aligning with the Results

To enhance readability, align the order of your methods with the results. This coherence will guide readers through your findings more smoothly. 

5. Adding Clarity with Subheadings

Break down the methods section using subheadings for each experiment. This structure aids readers in following along. You can use the specific objective of each experiment as a subheading or the experiment's name if applicable.

6. Details, Details, Details

Include every detail you considered when designing the study or collecting data, as minor variations can impact results and interpretation. For outcome measures, provide information on validity and reliability and cite existing literature to support these measures. Describe materials, equipment, or stimuli used, and don’t forget to mention sample size estimation and potential calculation if relevant.

7. Ethical Considerations

Address ethical approval early in the methods section. Specify whether your study was approved by an ethics committee or institutional review board and whether you obtained informed consent from participants or guardians.

8. Specifying Variables Clearly

Identify control, independent, dependent, and extraneous variables that might influence your study’s results. For example, if your research involves teaching methods, prior knowledge of the topic could be an extraneous variable.

9. Detailing Statistical Analysis

Describe all statistical tests, significance levels, and software used. Consult with a biostatistician, and mention if their recommendations informed your analysis. Provide justification for the statistical methods chosen, such as why you opted for a one-tailed or two-tailed analysis.

Defining Your Participants with Precision

When detailing your Methods section , clarity is critical. Start by describing your sample like this: "We recruited 879 adults, aged 18 to 28, with 56% identifying as female. All participants had completed a minimum of 12 years of education. We obtained ethical approval from the university's board and recruited participants online through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). We targeted a geographically diverse group from the Midwest using a screening survey. Each participant received $5 upon completion."

Calculating Sample Size and Ensuring Power

Determining your sample size is crucial. Explain it clearly: "Using a sample size calculator, we determined that at least 783 participants were needed to detect a correlation coefficient of ±.1 with 80% power and a significance level of .05."

Outlining Your Materials

Describe the tools you used in your study. For example: "Our primary outcome measures were religiosity and trust in science. Religiosity refers to involvement in religious traditions, while trust in science reflects confidence in scientific research. We also examined if gender and parental education levels predicted religiosity."

Measuring Religiosity

Explain how you measured your variables: "We assessed religiosity using the Centrality of Religiosity scale (Huber, 2003), which includes 15 questions across five subscales. An example item is, 'How often do you feel that something divine intervenes in your life?' Responses range from 1 (very often) to 5 (never), with an internal consistency of .83."

Assessing Trust in Science

Describe your other measures similarly: "We measured trust in science using the General Trust in Science index (McCright et al., 2013). This consists of four items rated on a scale from 1 (completely distrust) to 5 (completely trust). An example question is, 'To what extent do you trust scientists to produce unbiased and accurate knowledge?' The index has an internal consistency of .8."

Detailing Your Procedure

Walk readers through your process: "Participants completed the survey online via Qualtrics, which included demographic questions, the Centrality of Religiosity scale , an unrelated anagram task, and the General Trust in Science index. We included the filler task to prevent priming effects, and an attention check was embedded within the religiosity scale."

Analyzing Your Data

Finally, explain your analysis methods: "We used Pearson's correlation coefficient to assess the relationship between religiosity and trust in science. A t-test evaluated the significance of the correlation. We conducted multiple linear regression for the secondary hypothesis to see if parental education and gender predicted religiosity."

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Here are various ways to structure the methods section of a research paper. Your choice will depend on your field, research design, and how you want to communicate your process.

1. IMRAD Format: The Classic Approach

Widely used in science and medical research , this format breaks down the methods into clear subsections:

Participants

Provide details about who was involved, including demographics and how they were chosen.

Materials/Measures

Describe the tools, tests, or questionnaires used.

Outline the steps taken, including any experimental changes.

Explain the methods for statistical or qualitative analysis.

2. Chronological Format: Step-by-Step Guidance

This approach works well for studies that follow a sequence, such as those in social sciences or historical research. Organize the section by the order of each method, specifying timing and duration for phases like data collection.

3. Thematic Organization: Grouping by Themes

This format is ideal for qualitative studies. It groups methods by themes, and it's advantageous in ethnographic research. You can explain data collection and analysis by theme, showing how each area was explored.

4. Comparative Approach: Juxtaposing Methods

Use this format for studies comparing two or more methods, populations, or locations. Describe each method separately, then explain the reasoning behind the comparison and how you conducted it.

5. Subsection Approach: Handling Complexity

Break the methods into subsections for complex studies like mixed methods or engineering research. Describe quantitative and qualitative methods separately and include a section on how these data types were integrated.

6. Diagrammatic Format: Visualizing the Process

Use a flowchart or diagram to summarize your process in fields like engineering or biomedical science. Follow this with detailed explanations of each step, which is helpful if your protocol is complicated.

7. Protocol-Based Format: Sticking to the Script

In clinical trials or laboratory studies, detail the specific protocols or procedures followed. Cite published protocols if applicable, and describe interventions, controls, and how blinding or randomization was handled.

8. Case Study Format: Focusing on Specifics

For case studies, begin with the selection and background of each case. List your data sources, then describe how data was collected and analyzed, often comparing across cases.

Choose the format that best suits your study and communicates your methods to readers.

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APA Methods Section: Guide on How to Write & Tips & Examples

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The methods section of an APA-style paper is where you describe in detail how you conducted your research. This includes details about the participants, materials, and procedures used during the study. APA style provides distinct instructions on how to format your methodology section. 

In this guide, you will learn how to format an APA methods section and see the overall layout. You will also find examples of various elements within the APA methods section as well as explanations of how to structure each element.

APA Methods Section: Overview

Methods section APA also provides information on the methodology of a study. This information shows some results of participants. Along with the name of a methodology used. You should include thorough information on your sample, measurements , and techniques utilized in your paper. So that others may understand and reproduce your study.

Methods Section APA: Major Subsections

APA style methods section includes specific details of research and an approach you used. The techniques and processes employed in a research study or experiment are described in this part of your research paper. This part of an article is crucial. It lets other researchers understand exactly how you did your study. It also allows them to replicate an experiment and evaluate other techniques that could generate different findings. You may need one more blog on how to write a results section APA , you will find it on our platform.

APA Methods Section: Participants

One of the main APA paper methods sections is the participant’s section. Here, a subject, its characteristics, power, and size are described. For example, the number of female (or male) participants. The age range and average age. The percentage of participants who belong to various ethnic groups. It can be "Caucasian," "African American," "Latino/a," "East Asian," "Indian," "Native American," and "other". Ethnic group names should be capitalized because they are proper nouns. When describing a group of individuals, the correct form is to use a term that is widely accepted by that group. Just in case, remember that StudyCrumb's  APA paper writer can figure out the methods section for you at any time.

APA Methodology: Apparatus and Materials

APA Methodology apparatus and materials provide the primary and secondary data or measurements. They allow organically measure the tests conducted on a study. In this part, you should provide a description of any equipment or physical settings that were important aspects of your study. If you are conducting a study that involves precise measurement, you will want to be very specific about equipment you used. For example, if you are measuring how quickly a participant responds to a stimulus on a computer screen, you need to describe some software you are using, important characteristics of a monitor (size, refresh rate, contrast, etc.), and distance of participants from this monitor. Do not bother describing the size of a room you used. Or its general layout unless these are important to your study.

APA Methods Section: Procedure

Writing a methods section APA also constitutes procedure. It includes research, design, and analysis that fully complement the study in question. A researcher offers a step-by-step account of a participants' experience. Do not include any data analysis or other research activity that does not directly involve the participants. Do not know how to format statistics? Use one more blog on our platform that will explain everything about reporting statistics in APA . 

How to Format APA Methods Section

The APA methods section format constitutes intervals, deviations, and specific fonts. It allows for some deeper characterization of study. Subheadings should be used to separate method sections into subsections. Participants, materials, design, and technique are typical subsections. Each subsection has its own heading, proper formatting of which is described in the APA manual.  

APA Methods Section Example

Sample methods section APA has variables and control analysis through quantitative reasoning. You should offer enough information. So that your study can be reproduced in all of its key aspects. However, you should leave out parts of your research that are unlikely to affect the conclusion. Such as exact room temperature, room color, and furniture specifics (assuming they are not independent variables). Furthermore, you should avoid repeating material that has already been provided in another part. Do not describe your questionnaire in the Procedure paragraph if you discuss it in the Materials subsection.

APA Methods Section: Bottom Line

So, methods Section APA has its goal, and rules you should stick to. Its purpose is to clearly display what approaches you used in your experiment. Also, what people participated in it, and what you did in your research overall. It doesn’t have a general format or edition. Yet formatting is done through wider understanding of how APA referencing works.

To get the perfect APA methods section done, use our writing services. And never miss a deadline on your project! Our professional writers can help you deal with your work timely.  

Frequently Asked Questions About APA Methods Section

1. how long should an apa method section be.

To answer how long is methods section APA, it doesn’t have some fixed length but make sure you write in concise words.

2. What tense should I use in APA methods section?

An APA methods section should use past tense. You need to show completed actions of a methodology. Even if you haven't finished your research yet.

3. Where does the methodology section go in a research paper?

Methodology section of any research paper goes between the introduction and the conclusion. Usually, it goes normally in chapter 3 after literature review.

4. What are the differences between an APA methods section and results section?

An APA methods section describes procedure while results section describes some measurements taken.

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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• How to Write Your Methods

Ensure understanding, reproducibility and replicability

What should you include in your methods section, and how much detail is appropriate?

Why Methods Matter

The methods section was once the most likely part of a paper to be unfairly abbreviated, overly summarized, or even relegated to hard-to-find sections of a publisher’s website. While some journals may responsibly include more detailed elements of methods in supplementary sections, the movement for increased reproducibility and rigor in science has reinstated the importance of the methods section. Methods are now viewed as a key element in establishing the credibility of the research being reported, alongside the open availability of data and results.

A clear methods section impacts editorial evaluation and readers’ understanding, and is also the backbone of transparency and replicability.

For example, the Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology project set out in 2013 to replicate experiments from 50 high profile cancer papers, but revised their target to 18 papers once they understood how much methodological detail was not contained in the original papers.

What to include in your methods section

What you include in your methods sections depends on what field you are in and what experiments you are performing. However, the general principle in place at the majority of journals is summarized well by the guidelines at PLOS ONE : “The Materials and Methods section should provide enough detail to allow suitably skilled investigators to fully replicate your study. ” The emphases here are deliberate: the methods should enable readers to understand your paper, and replicate your study. However, there is no need to go into the level of detail that a lay-person would require—the focus is on the reader who is also trained in your field, with the suitable skills and knowledge to attempt a replication.

A constant principle of rigorous science

A methods section that enables other researchers to understand and replicate your results is a constant principle of rigorous, transparent, and Open Science. Aim to be thorough, even if a particular journal doesn’t require the same level of detail . Reproducibility is all of our responsibility. You cannot create any problems by exceeding a minimum standard of information. If a journal still has word-limits—either for the overall article or specific sections—and requires some methodological details to be in a supplemental section, that is OK as long as the extra details are searchable and findable .

Imagine replicating your own work, years in the future

As part of PLOS’ presentation on Reproducibility and Open Publishing (part of UCSF’s Reproducibility Series ) we recommend planning the level of detail in your methods section by imagining you are writing for your future self, replicating your own work. When you consider that you might be at a different institution, with different account logins, applications, resources, and access levels—you can help yourself imagine the level of specificity that you yourself would require to redo the exact experiment. Consider:

• Which details would you need to be reminded of? 
• Which cell line, or antibody, or software, or reagent did you use, and does it have a Research Resource ID (RRID) that you can cite?
• Which version of a questionnaire did you use in your survey? 
• Exactly which visual stimulus did you show participants, and is it publicly available? 
• What participants did you decide to exclude? 
• What process did you adjust, during your work? 

Tip: Be sure to capture any changes to your protocols

You yourself would want to know about any adjustments, if you ever replicate the work, so you can surmise that anyone else would want to as well. Even if a necessary adjustment you made was not ideal, transparency is the key to ensuring this is not regarded as an issue in the future. It is far better to transparently convey any non-optimal methods, or methodological constraints, than to conceal them, which could result in reproducibility or ethical issues downstream.

Visual aids for methods help when reading the whole paper

Consider whether a visual representation of your methods could be appropriate or aid understanding your process. A visual reference readers can easily return to, like a flow-diagram, decision-tree, or checklist, can help readers to better understand the complete article, not just the methods section.

Ethical Considerations

In addition to describing what you did, it is just as important to assure readers that you also followed all relevant ethical guidelines when conducting your research. While ethical standards and reporting guidelines are often presented in a separate section of a paper, ensure that your methods and protocols actually follow these guidelines. Read more about ethics .

Existing standards, checklists, guidelines, partners

While the level of detail contained in a methods section should be guided by the universal principles of rigorous science outlined above, various disciplines, fields, and projects have worked hard to design and develop consistent standards, guidelines, and tools to help with reporting all types of experiment. Below, you’ll find some of the key initiatives. Ensure you read the submission guidelines for the specific journal you are submitting to, in order to discover any further journal- or field-specific policies to follow, or initiatives/tools to utilize.

Tip: Keep your paper moving forward by providing the proper paperwork up front

Be sure to check the journal guidelines and provide the necessary documents with your manuscript submission. Collecting the necessary documentation can greatly slow the first round of peer review, or cause delays when you submit your revision.

Randomized Controlled Trials – CONSORT The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) project covers various initiatives intended to prevent the problems of  inadequate reporting of randomized controlled trials. The primary initiative is an evidence-based minimum set of recommendations for reporting randomized trials known as the CONSORT Statement . 

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses – PRISMA The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses ( PRISMA ) is an evidence-based minimum set of items focusing  on the reporting of  reviews evaluating randomized trials and other types of research.

Research using Animals – ARRIVE The Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments ( ARRIVE ) guidelines encourage maximizing the information reported in research using animals thereby minimizing unnecessary studies. (Original study and proposal , and updated guidelines , in PLOS Biology .) 

Laboratory Protocols Protocols.io has developed a platform specifically for the sharing and updating of laboratory protocols , which are assigned their own DOI and can be linked from methods sections of papers to enhance reproducibility. Contextualize your protocol and improve discovery with an accompanying Lab Protocol article in PLOS ONE .

Consistent reporting of Materials, Design, and Analysis – the MDAR checklist A cross-publisher group of editors and experts have developed, tested, and rolled out a checklist to help establish and harmonize reporting standards in the Life Sciences . The checklist , which is available for use by authors to compile their methods, and editors/reviewers to check methods, establishes a minimum set of requirements in transparent reporting and is adaptable to any discipline within the Life Sciences, by covering a breadth of potentially relevant methodological items and considerations. If you are in the Life Sciences and writing up your methods section, try working through the MDAR checklist and see whether it helps you include all relevant details into your methods, and whether it reminded you of anything you might have missed otherwise.

Summary Writing tips

The main challenge you may find when writing your methods is keeping it readable AND covering all the details needed for reproducibility and replicability. While this is difficult, do not compromise on rigorous standards for credibility!

• Keep in mind future replicability, alongside understanding and readability.
• Follow checklists, and field- and journal-specific guidelines.
• Consider a commitment to rigorous and transparent science a personal responsibility, and not just adhering to journal guidelines.
• Establish whether there are persistent identifiers for any research resources you use that can be specifically cited in your methods section.
• Deposit your laboratory protocols in Protocols.io, establishing a permanent link to them. You can update your protocols later if you improve on them, as can future scientists who follow your protocols.
• Consider visual aids like flow-diagrams, lists, to help with reading other sections of the paper.
• Be specific about all decisions made during the experiments that someone reproducing your work would need to know.

Don’t

• Summarize or abbreviate methods without giving full details in a discoverable supplemental section.
• Presume you will always be able to remember how you performed the experiments, or have access to private or institutional notebooks and resources.
• Attempt to hide constraints or non-optimal decisions you had to make–transparency is the key to ensuring the credibility of your research.
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