Organizing and Writing Clear Methods Sections

What is it about?

In writing nay scientific paper, there is the need to tell the story by answering questions. If I extended that concept by asking what question(s) the Methods section of a paper answers, the first response that comes to my mind is “How did I perform the study?” Yet “how” is just one of the main ingredients in the recipe for a successful Methods section. An informative Methods section also starts with 1 part what, 1 part when, 1 part where, 1 part who, and 1 part why. As with any recipe, the proportions of each can be modified to taste, depending on the study type and journal format, but each must be added lest someone notice that something seems to be missing from the final product. The Methods section is also called the Materials and Methods, Patients and Methods, Study Design, or Experimental section. The goals of this section are to allow readers to (a) understand how and why the experiments were performed, (b) better understand the remainder of the paper and how the results and conclusions derived from the experiments, (c) be able to reproduce the study with an expectation of success, and (d) acknowledge that the results and conclusions are valid based on the strength of the methods and study design. Making sure to include the important details about who, what, when, where, how, and why in the study can help achieve these goals. I provide in thi article a list of some example questions that, depending on the study, might be important to answer for the reader. In the remainder of this article I discuss other important ingredients that can help you develop a winning recipe for your Methods sections.

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Why is it important?

The way (and order) in which methods, protocols and procedures are described has a dramatic affect on how your work is received and perceived. A good methods sections adds cerdibility to your study and your results.