The purpose of this section is to describe to the reader how the experiment was designed, conducted and analyzed.  It should not follow the same format as a procedure that you would find in a lab manual.  Instead, it is a delicate balance of providing enough information that the reader could replicate the experiment without including excessive detail.  Assume that your reader has a basic understanding of methods used in the field.

Include:

  • Which organism(s) were studied (plant, animal, microbe, etc.).
  • If you did a field study or worked with samples gathered in the field, state when and where the study was carried out or samples were collected.  Field-based investigations should include a description of the study site, including the significant physical and biological features.
  • If you focused on mechanistic molecular biology, describe the construction of your molecular tools.
  • The experimental OR sampling design (i.e., how the experiment or study was structured). Where appropriate, include controls, treatments, what variable(s) were measured, how many samples were collected, replication, etc.  Include the full design for the data you analyzed, even if you worked in smaller groups to collect data.
  • The protocol for collecting data, i.e., how the experiment was carried out.
    • This should be a description of what you did, NOT instructions.
    • It contains the appopriate level of specifity such that someone can repeat the study.  However, be careful to avoid including details one would assume, like using gloves for a laboratory experiment, etc.
  • How the data were analyzed.  This should include statistical procedures, any data transformation, alpha level (cutoff for significance), etc.

Example

 

**Note that each discipline within biology may have specific stylistic approaches to paper sections.  See Prof. Trapaini’s site for information on writing in neuroscience