Reproducible research is the cornerstone of scientific integrity. But for other researchers to reproduce and therefore validate your study’s findings, you need to clearly outline your method.

This involves breaking down your methodology into clear subsections that provide a narrative for others to follow whilst also being transparent about protocols and materials used. Other elements, such as tone and tense, are also important when it comes to knowing how to write a methods section.

What is a Methods section in science?

The Methods section in science is a detailed outline of the methods of a study and how it was conducted by those responsible for them.  

This section must sufficiently describe any methods, materials, and protocols used in the study. An explanation of why certain methods were employed over others may also be useful to readers.

Why is this section important?

The history of the scientific method dates back centuries, with natural philosophers publishing in scientific journals in the 17th century realising that for experimental findings to be accepted, a clear narrative explaining how the conclusions were arrived at was necessary to persuade others.

Today, the Methods sections is a required element of the IMRaD structure formalised by the American National Standards Institute in the 1970s. A standardised Methods section is necessary for confirming the validity of science. Without this section, other researchers cannot reproduce the findings of a study, which raises doubts as to whether the original findings are scientifically accurate.  

Clarity of methods as well as transparency of data and results are equally important in a Methods section. Clear descriptions help with general understanding and editorial assessments of the content. Making data and results open and available to others shapes the study’s scientific value whilst also upholding research transparency and public trust in science.

How to write a Methods section

Generally, a Methods section is a concise but sufficiently detailed description of what you did to perform the study. It should be around 15–20% of your research paper. Because it is describing past actions objectively, it should be written in the past tense using a passive voice and without the inclusion of personal opinions.

Knowing how to write a Methods section depends on becoming familiar with the general structure, and how this may change according to the type of research being described. 

Structure 

You should always approach the writing of a Methods section with a reproducibility-first mindset. The question to ask yourself is: How can I give the reader the knowledge needed to reproduce these findings independently in a similar controlled setting? 

The way you structure your Methods section – or, in other words, narrate your steps and protocols – is key to achieving this. Typically, a Methods section will include the following subheadings: 

• Study design 

• Participants/subjects 

• Materials and equipment 

• Data collection 

• Data analysis

Study design 

A study’s design is the overarching framework used for collecting, measuring, and analysing data. The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine describes two study design types: non-analytic or descriptive and analytic.  

Non-analytic or descriptive studies do not attempt to quantify relationships between variables but instead provide information about what is occurring within a population sample; this information may be open-ended and subject to interpretation. Analytic studies do attempt to quantify the relationship between two variables, usually as an effect of an intervention or exposure.  

Describing your study design prepares the reader for what to expect in the other subsections of your Methods section. 

Participants/subjects and selection criteria and methods 

This subsection should clearly provide information about human participants, animals, or specimens studied. This includes any exclusion or inclusion criteria used to obtain the sample group.  

A clear explanation of any ethical considerations in the selection of human participants and animals is also mandatory.

Materials and equipment  

List all scientific equipment, name and version of software, biological materials etc. used to complete the study. Include the full technical name, manufacturer, and location of manufacturer upon first mention.  

For software, make clear whether computer code used is available. Include any pre-registration codes.

Data collection 

Outline the specific steps taken in chronological order to complete your experiment and collect data. 

Make sure to establish the parameters. This involves outlining how variables were defined and what measurements were used and how often. 

New methods and protocols should be described in detail. Well-established methods can be briefly described and appropriately cited. 

Where applicable, authors are required to disclose how GenAI has been used in the paper (e.g., to generate text, data, or graphics or assist in study design or data collection, analysis, or interpretation). The use of GenAI for superficial text editing (e.g., regarding grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting) does not need to be declared.

Data analysis 

Describe the statistical methods used for data analysis, including the types of variables analysed (e.g., means or medians). State the specific software and version used for analysis.  

If necessary, state how missing data or outliers were handled.

Ensuring your research paper is submission-ready 

When writing a Methods section, always consult with submission guidelines for the journal you are submitting to. See MDPI’s Instructions for Authors for more information on completing research manuscript sections.  

Need help with the structure of your research paper, including your Methods section? At MDPI Author Services, we specialise in helping researchers prepare their manuscripts for publication. Our Academic Editing Service provides subject-specific expertise and in-depth technical refinement during the manuscript preparation phase, helping to improve the scientific content and structure of the paper as the author is guided from pre- to post-publication.  

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