Methods ........................................................................................ |
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Here is a basic framework to use when writing your materials and methods section. http://www.uow.edu.au/research/current/ThesisWritingResources/Methods/MethodsOverview.pdf Social Sciences and
Pure and Applied sciences differ dramatically in Method sections. In
social
sciences the method should be explained in great detail. Often the
method needs
to be justified. In sciences there are often standard procedures that
do not
need to be detailed. Social
Sciences paper method sections tend to need more detail and
justification than
science or engineering papers were procedures are often more
standardized. Here
are some examples: the demographic characteristics of respondents, how
surveys
were distributed exactly, the exact response rate not only the total
number of
surveys collected, etc. Explain your choices
or methods if they are not standard TASK: Read the method
section in your paper. Put a P over sentences that are passive and an A
over
active tenses. Is there any logical reason for the choice? There is a
tendency
for passive sentences to indicate procedures while active indicates
new,
important or unexpected procedures (Swales & Feak 1994 pg. 161). Review of active and
passive verb tenses: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/esltensverb.html Links on Methods sections
including Biology and Engineering http://www.uow.edu.au/research/current/materials.html Checklist
I explained any
special criteria for choosing any special materials/equipment.
___ I have examined the
use of passive and active sentence structure in a paper in my field. I
understand that active sentence structure is used when the researcher
wants to
demonstrate their own decision-making or their own choice of method
while
passive sentences are used for routine procedures or sentences where
the
subject is not important.___ I have provided enough
information so that another researcher
could replicate (do) the same experiment with the same results. (This is not always possible in many fields
these days but it is a worthwhile goal in science) ____ I justified and explained
any uncommon or unusual methods I used.
____ My
Method section format matches that of my model paper: short passive
sentences
mainly describing procedures or a longer method section that justifies
the
choices.___ I
not only describe the procedure
but I explain the reasons for my methods where necessary using
sentences
beginning with “To …” or “In order to…” _____ |
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