This is a complete guide on how to write a method section of a research paper.
Like the other parts of the research project, this section presents information on the validity and reliability of your study.
The method section gives other research a clear insight into how you did an experiment and why you picked a specific experimental procedure. You have to show what you did and how so as to answer the research question. Also, the method section should include a justification of the experimental design and show how you analyzed results.
The aim of the method section of a research paper is to make it easy for other researchers who are interested in the same field of study to learn exactly how you conducted your research, reproduce your experiment, and assess other methods that may lead to different results.
How to Write the Method Section of a Research Paper
The method section of your research paper should include detailed information on participants, actions by participants, research design, and equipment (or materials).
Make sure the information is substantial enough such that other researchers can easily replicate your experiment.
1. Design
The method section of a research paper begins by describing the design used in the experiment.
In this subsection, you specify variables and their levels, making sure you clearly define dependent, independent, and control variables.
2. Participants
The method section of your research paper should show who took part in your research study or research experiment.
Your research paper needs to state the number of participants and explain exactly how you selected them. Some research assignments tend to utilize the concept of random selection.
If that’s the case with your research question, make sure to state that you used random selection to pick participant for the experiment.
Go a step further and describe exactly who your participants are. At least, state basic information about them.
When evaluating the participants, your professor should know their demographic characteristics such as religion, sex, and age.
Furthermore, specify the features that make them unique for the experiment. Also, make sure to identify the participation restrictions that the selected population have.
Don’t forget to state why you selected the participants to take part in your research study.
3. Materials, Data, or Apparatus
The focus here is one the resources used in the experiment. You have to describe the equipment, stimuli, materials, and measures used in the study.
Your research study may sometimes involve psychological assessment and sophisticated equipment. Should that be the case, mention it in this section.
You’ll use specialized and standard equipment in your research. So it’s important to know how to include them in the method section of your research paper.
1. Specialized Equipment
A specialized equipment can be either complex in stricture or something created for a niche purpose.
In this case, you’re required to state the equipment and provide more information about it.
Another kind of special equipment common in research is one that you’ve created from custom materials or apparatus for the research experiment.
It’s best to illustrate the item in the appendix and then reference it in the method section of the research paper.
2. Standard Equipment
Note that standard equipment, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, don’t require explanations. You only have to state the name of the device and end it at that.
Let’s say you used a tablet to collect data from an online poll.
You only have to state that you used a smartphone for data collection. However, you need to make sure you explain the type of data collected for the research study or experiment.
4. Procedure
In this subsection of the section of the research paper, you have to provide in-depth details about the procedures that you have used in the experiment.
This is where you let your readers understand how you collected data, how you involved your population in the research process and what they did, and the order in which you did your experiments.
The most important thing to keep in mind when working on the procedure section is to write only the most important details.
There’s no minimum or maximum expected word count. However, don’t make the procedure so short that readers begin to have questions about the accuracy of the steps involved in the experiment.
Also, don’t write many words because doing so can easily overwhelm your readers with too much information. Write only what’s necessary, making sure that the subsection concise yet highly detailed.
5. Data Rr Information Analysis
This is the results section and it’s where you present the outcome of your research.
You have to make your reader understand how the results from your experiment fit with your investigation.
In some cases, it may be necessary to have a preliminary discussion about the population involved in the study.
Moreover, you have to make it clear whether your experiment met the conditions of your study.
As for the data analysis, you need to make sure that the information you provide is precise and written in a language that readers can understand.
In the case where your research assignment requires non-conventional analysis, your explanation should provide sufficient justification.
When it comes to presenting your results, it’s important to use a pattern that ensures the clarity of the information that you provide in the paper.
Consider using Bem (2006) recommendation because the pattern ensures a higher level of clarity when writing the results in the method section of a research paper.
The pattern proposes that you:
- Remind your readers about the research question or the conceptual possible outcome you’re testing
- Make sure that all the statistics used to support your research are in plain English so readers can understand them fast
- Reinstate on the operation you performed or behavior analyzed
- Make sure that you write your answers in simple English so that every reader can understand what you’re trying to communicate
- In the case where it’s absolutely necessary, you should qualify the overall conclusion of your research experiment.