The methods section of a research paper in APA style provides the details of the research method and procedures used to conduct the study. It allows readers to examine the internal validity and reliability of the results. This section should provide enough information to allow other researchers to replicate the study if desired.
The methods section typically follows the introduction and precedes the results section. It should be written in past tense and use subheadings to help organize the information. The structure and elements often included in an APA methods section are outlined below along with an annotated sample.
Structure and Common Elements
The structure and elements included in the methods section may vary depending on the type of research but commonly includes:
Participants
Description of the characteristics of participants including how many, gender, age range, criteria for inclusion/exclusion, how they were selected, and any special populations.
Materials/Apparatus
Description of any materials, equipment, questionnaires, surveys, tests, or other instruments used in the study. Brand names and manufacturers should be provided.
Design
Description of the overall research design including experimental, correlational, longitudinal, etc. Specific procedures are described later.
Procedures
Detailed description of the procedures conducted in chronological order including steps taken to administer independent and dependent variables, instructions to participants, deception used (if any), and procedures for collecting data/measurements.
Controls
Description of controls used such as placebos, control groups, random assignment, counterbalancing, etc. Helps rule out alternative explanations for results.
Statistical Tests
Description of the specific statistical tests that will be used to analyze the data including their appropriateness and reasoning.
APA Methods Section Sample
The following is an example methods section for an experiment investigating the effects of aromatherapy on test anxiety in college students:
Method
Participants
A total of 60 undergraduate students (32 female, 28 male) between the ages of 18-22 years (M = 19.57, SD = 1.15) were recruited from a large public university to participate. Participants were required to have a diagnosed anxiety disorder or score higher than 40 on the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983). They were compensated with course credit for participation.
Materials and Apparatus
Two essential oils,lavender and eucalyptus, were used as the aromatherapy conditions. Oil diffusers were used to gently disperse the oils into the air. State anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1 (STAI; Spielberger, 1983). A laptop computer was used to display and administer the STAI questionnaire as well as present study instructions.
Design
A within-subjects experimental design was used. All participants experienced both the lavender and eucalyptus aromatherapy conditions, as well as a no-scent control condition. Order of conditions was counterbalanced across participants using a Latin square design to control for order effects. Dependent variables included state anxiety scores on the STAI administered before and after each condition.
Procedures
After providing consent, participants completed a demographic questionnaire and baseline STAI. They were then randomly assigned to an order condition using a computer algorithm. For the first experimental session, participants were brought into a small, well-ventilated room containing one oil diffuser. The researcher explained they would experience one of the aromatherapy scents for 10 minutes while completing a distraction task on the laptop. After 10 minutes, participants completed the post-STAI and a brief evaluation of the scent experience. A 15 minute break followed where no scents were used, then the procedure repeated for the second condition. During the no-scent control, the diffuser contained no oil. After a 24 hour delay, participants returned to complete the third and final condition.
Statistical Analysis
To test the effects of aromatherapy scent on state anxiety, a one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted on STAI change scores (post-STAI minus pre-STAI) with three levels: lavender, eucalyptus, and control. Follow up paired samples t-tests were used to further analyze significant main effects and explore differences between specific conditions. An alpha level of .05 was used for all statistical tests.
This annotated sample includes the key elements and structure recommended for an APA methods section. It provides thorough details about the research design, participants, materials, procedures, and statistical analyses to give readers a clear understanding of how the study was conducted. Explicit and technical descriptions allow for replication of the experiment. Strong methods sections allow readers to evaluate the credibility of a study’s results.
The methods section is an essential part of research papers that describes how a study was performed. It should provide enough operational detail for readers to understand and evaluate the procedures used. Following APA style guidelines and including key elements like participants, design, measures, and analyses helps ensure methods sections are comprehensive and informative for readers. Strong methodology is essential for establishing the validity and reliability of research findings.
Andrew Stroud