The Methods Section and Narrative Voice (How to Avoid It)
The method section is a straightforward description of the materials and procedures of the
experiment. It should include a participants, materials and procedure sub-section. USE
COMPLETE SENTENCES. The last sentences of the method should describe how the
data was measured and the statistical analyses performed.
Students often struggle with the methods section because they are used to writing using
narrative voice.
What is Narrative Voice?
This is the kind of writing that is done when story-telling. It often includes a lot of details
in a sequential manner, using transitions such as “then” or “next.” This kind of structure
is sometimes written in the first person, using “we” and “I.”
How is Science Writing different?
In our methods section, we want to avoid using narrative voice. We want to just give the
factual information without transitions. In other words, you should not tell it like a story.
You should also not include unnecessary details about the equipment, or the color of the
cords. This section should be written like a recipe for a cookbook except it should be in
past tense since it describes the method for your experiment. In a cookbook they may tell
you to “mix the batter and bake at 350.” They do not say, “First, take out a pink bowl and
a wooden spoon. Then put all of the ingredients into the bowl. Then move the wooden
spoon in a circular manner, etc.”
Remember: you need to provide the information that someone would need to reproduce
the experiment and nothing more. So for example, you wouldn’t put that it was run on a
PC, because someone could reproduce the experiment on either a Mac or a PC.
Examples
What NOT to do: An example of a methods section with narrative voice
Here is an example with many instances of narrative voice. First read it and see if you can
catch the mistakes. The same passage graded is on the last page of this document.*
Participants
Participants were 20 undergraduate students at Wofford College (10 males).
Materials
The lab was conducted with the use of a Computer system (Windows XP
containing the IBM software SPSS). First, the system was set up. Each experimenter took
the BIOPAC electrode lead set and connected the blue wires to the module. The lights
were shown via Microsoft PowerPoint.
Procedure
First, the participant was prepared using alcohol wipes to remove any dirt from
their area of their face where electrodes were placed. The red was placed on the right
temple, the white to the left, and the black was placed anywhere on the forehead. Next, a
new file in BIOPAC Science Lab was opened. After the test was run and the results were
found to be correct, the rest of the experiment was continued. PowerPoint was opened
along with BIOPAC. The recording was started in Biopack and the PowerPoint began.
The participants watched the light and answered "Yes" or "No" when prompted if the
color of the light had changed. The experimenter clicked to change the slides.
After the slides were completed by the participant, the experimenters returned to
BIOPAC and clicked suspend in order to stop the recording. Next, they reviewed the data
to make sure it was correct and then they stopped the BIOPAC recording.
What to do: An example of a methods section without narrative voice
Participants
Participants were 20 undergraduate students at Wofford College (10 males).
Materials
This study required BIOPAC disposable vinyl electrodes (EL 503), a BIOPAC
electrode lead set (SS2L), and a computer system running Biopac Student Lab 4.0.
Wavelengths of light used were 400, 500, and 600 nm. The angles of presentation varied
Procedure
The participants were instructed to sit on a stool and focus their eyesight on a
fixed point directly in front of them. The participants were instructed to answer "Yes" or
"No" when prompted if the color of the light had changed. The wavelength and angle
were randomly selected for each trial. The percent correct for each wavelength and angle
were calculated. Mixed factorial ANOVA tests were employed to measure statistical
significance.
*Here is the same passage graded.
Participants
Participants were 20 undergraduate students at Wofford College (10 males).
Materials
The lab was conducted with the use of a Computer system (Windows XP
containing the IBM software SPSS). First, the system was set up. Each experimenter took
the BIOPAC electrode lead set and connected the blue wires to the module. The lights
were shown via Microsoft PowerPoint.
Procedure
First, the participant was prepared using alcohol wipes to remove any dirt from
their area of their face where electrodes were placed. The red was placed on the right
temple, the white to the left, and the black was placed anywhere on the forehead. Next, a
new file in BIOPAC Science Lab was opened. After the test was run and the results were
found to be correct, the rest of the experiment was continued. PowerPoint was opened
along with BIOPAC. The recording was started in Biopack and the PowerPoint began.
The participants watched the light and answered "Yes" or "No" when prompted if the
color of the light had changed. The experimenter clicked to change the slides.
After the slides were completed by the participant, the experimenters returned to
BIOPAC and clicked suspend in order to stop the recording. Next, they reviewed the data
to make sure it was correct and then they stopped the BIOPAC recording.