Saved on this device only — nothing leaves your browser.
Module six of the writing course: describing methods, how to write a clear methods section using passive voice for procedures, simple past for completed steps, and a clear order, with four practice questions, a ranking task, a final self-check with model answers, and tap-for-Japanese help, for Japanese researchers at B1 and B2 levels
Words with a dotted line have help in Japanese. Tap them. 点線のある単語は日本語の説明があります。
Stage 2 · The paper spine · Module 6
Describing methods: how you did the research
The methods section tells the reader how you did your research. It must be clear and detailed enough for another researcher to reproduce it. Academic methods writing often has a steady style: the passive voice for procedures, the simple past for completed steps, and a clear order.
I collected the data and I used SPSS to analyse it. (too personal — focus is on "I")
The data were collected over six weeks and analysed using SPSS. (focus is on what was done)
Four marks of good methods writing
1
Use the passive voice when the procedure is the focus. The attention is on what was done, not who did it. "The samples were heated" rather than "I heated the samples"
2
Use the simple past for completed steps. The work has been done, so the steps are usually described in the past. "were measured", "was recorded", "were divided"
3
Show the sequence clearly. Use order words so a reader can follow each step. "First", "Before", "Once", "After", "Finally"
4
Name the tool or software clearly, often with "using". Say what was used. "measured using a digital scale", "analysed using SPSS"
Make it passive
Rewrite the personal sentence in the academic way. "We interviewed twenty students." becomes:
We did interviews with twenty students.You interview twenty students.Twenty students were interviewed.Twenty students are interviewed.
Choose the right tense
"The solution ______ three times with distilled water." (a completed step)
was washedis washedwashedwill be washed
Signal the sequence
"______ collecting the samples, ethical approval was obtained." (this step came before collecting)
AfterWhileBecauseBefore
Name the tool
"The interviews were recorded ______ a digital audio recorder."
with the help ofusingthanks tothrough
Put these in order — drag the best to the top
All three describe the same step. Drag the best methods sentence to the top.
Best — clear academic methods style
1I measure the temperature with the help of a thermometer.
2We measured the temperature with a thermometer.
3The temperature was measured using a thermometer.
Weakest — personal, wrong tense, wordy
Final self-check — choose the best methods sentence
Three steps from a methods section, each written three ways. For each, tap the version in correct academic methods style. You will see at once if it is right.
Step 1 — passive and past
We gave a questionnaire to each participant.
Each participant was given a questionnaire.
Each participant is given a questionnaire.
Step 2 — naming the tool
The data were analysed using R.
I analysed the data with R.
The data were analysed thanks to R.
Step 3 — showing the sequence
The samples were frozen. The samples were labelled.
The samples were frozen because they were labelled.
After the samples were labelled, they were frozen.
Model answers 1. Each participant was given a questionnaire. — passive, simple past. 2. The data were analysed using R. — passive, with the software named. 3.After the samples were labelled, they were frozen. — the sequence is clear. The test each time: is the focus on what was done (not who did it), is it in the past, and could another researcher follow the steps?
Bonus worksheet
Keep practising away from the screen — download this module’s worksheet as a printable PDF.