The document provides guidance on how to write an effective methods section for a research paper. It suggests describing the methods in logical order so readers can easily follow what was done. Key details to include are the study design, sampling methodology, variables measured, equipment used, protocols followed, and data analyses. The methods should be written in past tense using passive voice. No more than two actions should be described per sentence, and bullets should be numbered if describing a chronological sequence. The document advises assessing the quality of the methods section based on clarity, conciseness, structure, and consideration of reader preferences.

1. 1
Chapter 15
Methods
- What was done?
- Who did it?
- What hypotheses?
- Where was the study carried?
- What characteristics did the location have?
- How was the experiment designed?
- Sampling
- What variable(s) was measured and why?
- Assumptions
- How were materials/subjects handle/ house/treated (care, precautions taken)?
- Equipment
- Protocol
- Analyses
- Statistical procedures
- Mathematical equations
- Software
- Statistical Significance
- Saving time (Referencing others’ procedures)
- Difficulties
- Comparisons of methods to others
- How to justify aims and choices?

2. 2
- It’s somebody else’s method
- What was done and justify choice
 Describe the methods section in a logical order to enable readers to easily follow what
you did (possibility of replication).
How should I begin the methods section?
- It depends on the target Journal.
(a) Making a general statement
(b) Referring to other investigation
(c) Stating the origin of materials used
(d) Origin of subjects
(e) Geographical area of the investigation
(f) By using a table
(g) First step in the procedure
What tense should I use? Should I use the active or passive?
- Simple past tense and the passive voice.
How many actions can I refer to in a single sentence?
- Up to two actions in a sentence
How can I avoid my methods like a series of lists?
- Do not make it as a PP.
- Use a narrative.
Can I use bullets?
- It’s necessary to number bullets if each bullet describes a step that is part of a
chronological sequence.
How can I reduce the word count?
- Combine sentences
- Assume readers possess basic knowledge of the techniques (delete superfluous
information).

3. 3
- Cite references
- Use tables to summarize
- Be concise
How should I designate my study parameters in a way that my readers do not have to constantly
refer backwards?
- Name/number the procedures
- Use names of the process
- Use acronym
Should I describe everything in chronological order?
- Not necessarily
- Present information in a way to make sense
Summary: How can I assess the quality of my methods section?
- Have I described my methods in a way that is easy for readers to follow and which
would enable them to replicate my work? Have I ensured that I have covered every
step? Is my structure clear and complete?
- Have I been as concise as possible? Have I used references to previous works rather
than repeating descriptions that readers could easily find elsewhere?
- Do the individual sentences in each paragraph contain too many, too few, or just the
right manageable number of steps? Have I assured that my sentences don’t sound like
lists?
- Have I thought about the way readers prefer to receive information (no ambiguity, no
back referencing, everything in a chronological order, headings, bullets)?

4. 4
- Have I checked the grammar (infinitive, gerund, allow, thus etc.) with regard to how I
outline how and why I made certain choices?