In PROCESS

‘
there’s
PROGRESS
 Write a research paper
following the IMRAD format
(Writing the Materials and Methods Section)
A research study
cannot progress
without having a
methodology or
process to follow.
 It includes specific procedures
and techniques, obtaining
samples, testing them using sets
of methods, obtaining data and
analyzing them in the look for
answers to the established
research questions.
 It includes specific procedures
and techniques, obtaining
samples, testing them using sets
of methods, obtaining data and
analyzing them in the look for
answers to the established
research questions.
It is very important in this phase of your
journey that you know well the specific
laboratory tools you need to use in your
experimentations. It should also be clear in
your mind what testing methods you are
supposed to apply in the kind of study you
have. Remember that a well thought out and
organized research methodology can give you
good results and may lead you to big
opportunities.
So what must be included in the
Materials and Methods section of
your paper? What are the things
you must consider in writing this
section? These questions and
more will be answered as we go
on our lesson.
Knowing
your
Materials and Methods section
• is an important component of a research
paper.
• gives a detailed account of the procedure
that was followed in completing the
experiments discussed in the paper.
• serves as a set of instructions for anyone
desiring to replicate or to use the study as
a basis in the future.
Materials and Methods section
• is an important component of a research
paper.
• gives a detailed account of the procedure
that was followed in completing the
experiments discussed in the paper.
• serves as a set of instructions for anyone
desiring to replicate or to use the study as
a basis in the future.
When it comes to your materials:
• You should have a good understanding
of what do you need for specific
procedures.
• You have to make sure that you are
using the correct tools for the right
functions. (This will make your
experiments more accurate, thus
making your data more valid. )
However, it is important to note that in writing your Materials and Methods section:

You do not need to list all the materials

needed for the experiment, only the most
important ones. Also, bear in mind that
materials and equipment utilized during the
experiment should be mentioned throughout
the procedure as they are used. Enough
details should be included in the description
of the important materials so that the
experiment can be easily reproduced.
 Writing the
Materials and
Methods
The purpose of the materials and methods
section:
• to show how a certain study was
physically performed in order to
obtain results in a paper.
• allows your paper to be replicated
and also applies transparency to
the research that you are
performing.
 Being completely
transparent is important
when publishing scientific
papers because it lends
validity to the content and
results of your study.
Before we proceed, it is important to recall what type
of research you are doing. It could be any of these
three:
Based on the type of research you are doing, you can
choose what type of research design you are going to use in
your study. This could be one of the following:
So how does one
write the materials
and methods
section?
According to De Araujo ((2014) in
his article entitled Detailing the
Writing of Scientific Manuscripts,
the Materials and Methods
section
• should not exceed 750 words
• 6-9 paragraphs
• 5-15 references
You can divide your methods
into sections such as the:
(a)sampling procedures,
(b)experimental design used,
(c)stages of tests/procedures,
(d)evaluation
(e)statistical analysis.
What is materials and methods in research paper?
Generally, this section should include a concise
description of the materials, procedures, and
equipment used, including how the study was
conducted, how data were collected, and what
statistical and/or graphical analyses were
undertaken. The materials and methods outline
WHAT WAS DONE and HOW IT WAS DONE.
DO:

•Example: “We used an x-ray

fluorescence spectrometer to
analyze major and trace elements in
the mystery mineral samples.”
DON’T:

•Example: “We turned on the

machine and loaded in our samples,
then calibrated the instrument and
pushed the start button and waited
one hour. . . .”