AJE BEST PRACTICES SERIES | MICHAEL BENDIKSBY, PHD

SETTING THE SCENE:

BEST PRACTICES FOR WRITING MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Materials and Methods (hereafter “Methods section”) is the section of a research paper that provides the reader
with all the information needed to understand your work and how the reported results were produced. Having read
the Introduction, the reader already knows why your work is important, so the next step is to connect that section to
the experimental design used to address your research questions.

Depending on the type of paper, the Methods section can more easily understand the procedures that follow.
encompass anything from the parameters of a literature
The underlying principle for what information to
search to the methods employed in a field study to the
provide in the Methods section is that the reader
details of bench work in the lab. The common feature
should be able to replicate your study. This section
is that the information needs to be presented in a way
must explain the methods used with enough detail to
that is clear and familiar to the reader. It is important
answer any of the reader’s questions about how the
to note that the purpose of the Methods section is
study was performed. Because the Methods section
not just to convey what you did; a thorough and well-
is meant to convey how the research was conducted,
organized Methods section reflects your knowledge and
conforming to the accepted conventions of the field is
understanding of appropriate research techniques and
extremely important.
increases the reader’s confidence in your work.
Generally, the Methods section should assemble familiar
PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE.
concepts and research activities into a logical series
The Methods section is easiest to follow when it begins by of events. Terminology and sentence structure should
providing a clear context for the detailed descriptions of be consistent within the paper and conform to the
the methods and materials used in the study. This context conventions of the field, and repetition is accepted or
is best achieved by beginning with general characteristics even expected. Because Methods sections often rely on
and parameters (e.g., identification of sample sources lists of information, consistency - i.e., the presentation
or populations, descriptions of geographic areas, or of like elements using the same terminology, notation,
characterizations of study participants). A reader who and sentence structure - is especially important.
understands the foundation of your experiments will

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT?

Present your information in a way that is clear and familiar to the reader.

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The information in the Methods section should follow the order of execution as closely as possible, although
similar procedures should be presented together. For example, descriptions of sample or data collection should
be described together, even if these are performed at different times or with intervening analysis, because a purely
chronological account would mean switching back and forth between procedures.

KEY INFORMATION. All the information should be provided in the most

easily recognizable form; for example, solutions should
Any procedure described in the Methods section
be provided as a concentration, not the amount
should be included to address a specific question and
of solute, and centrifugation parameters should be
to yield meaningful information. Hypotheses should be
presented not in rpm, as different rotors subject
testable and falsifiable, quantities should be measurable
samples to different forces at the same rotor speed, but
and comparable (e.g., by using consistent units), and
in units of linear acceleration (typically x g).
all influencing factors should be explicitly described or
controlled. In short, the key to writing a great Methods EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS CITATIONS.
section is to include all the relevant information without
Because the reader should be able to replicate our
providing excess or unnecessary detail.
work from the information in the Methods section, any
Journals typically provide guidelines on what to include, materials, quantities, procedures, and equipment that
but certain information should always be provided. All are essential to the study or that could influence the
experimental procedures should be mentioned, even if results should be specified. The guiding principle for
only in a single sentence with a citation of a previous determining when to provide specific information and
publication, and all human or animal studies should manufacturer citations for the equipment used is when
include an ethics statement naming the body that it is integral to a procedure.
approved the experimental protocol.
For example, the manufacturer of the light microscope
NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY. used for cell counts does not need to be identified,
but the make, model, and manufacturer of an electron
Methods should be presented using accepted
microscope should be included; the details about
conventions, terminology, and units so that the reader
the glassware used to prepare culturing agar can be
can focus on the protocols instead of trying to relate
omitted, but types of flasks should be specified for a
the name of a technique to something familiar or trying
study that compares them; and the provider of the
to convert units to something more recognizable. The
sodium chloride used to mix physiological saline is
common convention is SI units, but because accepted
unimportant, but the provider of any experimental
conventions for presenting quantities can vary across
grade compounds or pharmaceuticals should be cited.
fields, you should follow the conventions of your field or a
journal’s preferences where SI units are not standard.

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Furthermore, any equipment that is important enough to mention by name will generally require a manufacturer
citation, including location details at the first mention of the manufacturer.

ACQUISITION AND DEFINITION OF THE findings, their rationale should be presented in enough
RESULTS. detail for the reader to evaluate their applicability and use.

The format of the results should be clear from the In particular, this part of the Methods section should
description of their acquisition, and you should address include the specific tests used for the different types
any potential ambiguity before moving on to present the of data, what prerequisites (e.g., distribution normality)
results themselves. were tested, what significance or confidence interval
levels were used, and which post hoc tests were applied.
It should be clear how measurements are taken, how they
An additional benefit to thoroughly addressing the
are processed, and how data are stored. For example, the
statistical methods here is that the statistical criteria will
equipment used to register data, the relevant inclusion/
likely not need to be reiterated throughout the Results
exclusion criteria, and the form of combined data (e.g.,
section.
means ± SE) should be presented. Of particular importance
is clearly defining any study-specific criteria; for example, if CONCLUDING STATEMENT.
air temperature in a meteorological study is to be classified
By its nature, a Methods section is highly factual and does
as cool, intermediate, or warm, then thresholds for these
not need to flow or engage the reader like an Introduction
categories should be stated in the Methods section.
or Discussion. Nonetheless, the Methods section is
STATISTICAL METHODS. critical in helping a reader fully understand your work.
A clear and well-organized Methods section prepares
Statistical tests are an integral part of most studies and
readers for the results of your work and allows them to
should be described as thoroughly as any other procedure,
proceed through the paper without being distracted by
usually at the end of the Methods section. Because
questions about the origins of those results.
statistical tests strongly influence the veracity of a study’s

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Bendiksby received a Bachelors in Pharmacology in Scotland, a Neuroscience Cand. Scient.
in Norway, and his PhD from Duke University studying visual perception and the cognitive
processing of attention and reward in rhesus macaques.

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