Common phrases in Methods section

Common phrases for the 7 moves in Methods

Move 1 – Overview

Move 2 – Research aim

Move 3 – Subject/materials

• Eligible women who matched the selection criteria were identified by…
• All of the chemical compound were commercially available from X company.
• A random sample of patients with … was recruited from …
• Articles were searched from January 1965 until April 2014.
• The sample was representative with respect to gender and …
• Forty-seven students studying X were recruited for this study.
• The sample consisted of 200 students, 75 of whom belonged to minority groups.

Move 4 – Location/condition

Move 5 – Procedure

• All participants were sent…
• The data were normalized using…
• Drugs were administered by injection…
• Data collected using semi-structured interviews in…
• The experiments were run using custom software written in…
• The solution was washed three times with deionized water and…

Move 6 – Limitation

• Further data collection is required to determine exactly how X affects Y.
• Another major source of certainty is in the method used to calculate X.
• In this investigation there are several sources for error. The main error is…
• In particular, the analysis of X was problematic.
• The small size of the dataset meant that it was not possible to…

Move 7 – Analysis

• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.
• Data management and analysis were performed using SPSS 16.0.
• A Pearson correlation analysis was conducted in order to assess the strength of…
• Reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha.
• A p vale < 0.05 was considered significant.

[Reflection] Let’s reading for writing!!!

• Does the Methods section of your model article include all the 7 common move?
• If not, what moves in Discussion can you identify?
• Mark some common phrases used in Methods section of your model article.
• Include the moves and use the common phrases you identify in model articles in your own manuscript!