Video: Methods Section Explained: How to Write It Correctly in a Research Paper

The Methods section is the backbone of your research paper. It explains exactly how you conducted your study to help others replicate your work. In this video, Dr. Raffaella Gozzelino (NOVA Medical School, Lisbon) breaks down everything you need to know about writing a clear, detailed, and professional Methods section. Learn how to describe your experimental design, protocols, instruments, and statistical analyses with enough precision and clarity to impress editors, reviewers, and readers.  

Here’s what the video offers:  

• How to structure your Methods section: Learn what details to include, from technologies used to sample size, reagents, controls, and equipment.  
• How to write about your experiments: Describe in a step-by-step format explaining what you did, how you did it, and why you did it. 
• Why reproducibility matters: Understand why this section helps other researchers replicate your study and validates your scientific credibility.  
• Writing style and verb tenses: Learn when to use past tense, when active voice works best, and when to use present tense for describing data.  
• Tips for visual clarity: Use tables and figures, like flowcharts or graphical representations, to show procedures and experimental steps.  
• Ethical and institutional details: Mention funding sources, approvals, and trial registration details if applicable.  
• Statistics and analysis: Reviewers focus heavily on your statistical choices. So, explain them properly to strengthen your Methods section.  

Furthermore, the video shares practical writing advice. For instance, start writing your paper with the Methods section as it is based on what you have already written in your lab notes. You will also get tips on how to turn those notes into a clear, publishable manuscript. Learn the difference between figures used in the Methods section (for clarity) and those used in the Results section (for findings). By the end of this video, you will understand how to write a Methods section that’s specific, reproducible, and professional. 

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