It’s Game Time!

It’s time to pick up where you left off with regards to your research. In the previous unit, your task and goal was to GATHER your data – through the distribution of your survey, conducting your experiment, etc. Now, it’s time to put all of that work and gathered data into a cohesive Methods, Data, or Approach written section for your paper.

We addressed the components and necessary information for this section of your paper in the previous unit. However, as a reminder, a review of this information is included here. Remember – it is ALWAYS valid to go back and re-examine content from previous units to seek clarification and to guide you to a better understanding.

The following information appeared in a previous module, but it is essential that you move forward with a very clear understanding of what is expected in this portion of the paper:

In this section of the paper, your task is to detail the WHAT, the HOW, and the WHY of your data collection and analysis.

You will cover

the research design – this means detailing the structure of your research (qualitative, experimental, quantitative, mixed methods, etc.),
the identification and selection of participants and/or materials and how they were selected – the selection process, demographics, qualifications of participation, sample size, etc
the specific tools used – list and explain all materials, tools, equipment, surveys, software, etc. used, including their validity/reliability if applicable
procedures – a clear, sequential step-by-step of the process (which speaks to replicability)
Data Collection – detail how the data was gathered (surveys, administered online or on paper, interviews conducted, observations recorded, etc.)
Data Analysis – detail the specific statistical tests (ex. T-test, ANOVA) or qualitative analysis techniques (ex. Thematic analysis) used
any and all ethical considerations taken into account, for example, including considerations about things like informed consent, confidentiality, potential risks, and how you mitigated/addressed those concerns
brief mention of limitations of your method(s) would also be appropriate in this section

The actual results of your study are NOT included in this section of your paper; they will appear in the next section (Results, Products, or Findings).

Take a look at this essay sample from 2023 – The Method section, specifically, begins on page 16.

What this student does well is present in a clear and direct manner the details and specifics of what their project entails.

Remember – the formatting of your paper will be determined by the subject/area of study. But you can still note and appreciate the clarity and precision with which this student relayed and presented their information. This student leaves no question as to the details of their design and all of the considerations that went into the design and method used.

Before Moving On

The task for this module is to write this section. At the end of this module, your current module, you will submit your completed Methods, Process, or Approach section of your paper. Your section should be formatted in alignment and agreement with your previously written sections, which should also be formatted to accurately represent how other literature in your field of study is formatted.

PRO TIP – always double-check your formatting. Remember, PurdueOWL is a great online resource that covers the intricacies of many formatting techniques!

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