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Materials and Methods

The purpose of this section is to present in a simple and direct manner what has

been done, how, and when, and how the data were analyzed and presented. This

section should provide all the information needed to allow another researcher to judge

the study or actually repeat the experiment. The simplest way to organize this section is

chronologically; include all necessary information, but avoid unnecessary details that the

readers are supposed (ought) to know.

The section should include the following though not necessarily in this order:

• Description of the study location (climate, soil—by US Soil Taxonomy and/ or

FAO system, vegetation, etc., to the extent such information is relevant to the

study)

• Design of the experiment with number of replications and sampling proce- dures

used

• Materials used, with exact technical specifications and quantities and their source

or method of preparation. Generic or chemical names are better than trade

names, which may not be universally recognized. Some journals as well as

companies require that the company’s name is included in parentheses after the

material is mentioned

• Assumptions made and their rationale

• Statistical and mathematical procedures used to analyze and summarize the


data.

Methods followed should be described, usually in chronological order, with as much

precision and detail as necessary. Standard methods need only be mentioned, or may

be described by reference to the literature as long as it is readily available. Modifications

of standard techniques should be described. If the method is new it should be described

in detail. Do not include excessive description of common procedures. Keep in mind and

respect the general level of the readers’ understanding and familiarity with your

procedures. For example, in a manuscript for a journal targeted at researchers in

biophysical aspects of agroforestry, it is not necessary to narrate all minute details of

how sampling materials/sites were selected, and how samples were drawn and prepared

for analysis, and so on. Remember, however, that the journal’s editors may ask for

additional details of any item.

Special attention may be paid to ensure that:

1. Ambiguities in abbreviations or names are avoided

2. All quantities are in standard units

3. All chemicals are specifically identified so that another scientist can match 
them

exactly in repeating the work

4. Every step is explained, including the number of replications

5. All techniques are described, at least by name if they are standard, or in as


much detail as needed if you have modified a standard technique or devised a


new one

6. Irrelevant and unnecessary information that does not relate to the results or


confuses the reader is avoided. 


The Materials and Methods section is presented in past tense. There is no standard

‘‘rule’’ on the use of active or passive forms (‘‘I/we took ten samples’’ vs. ‘‘Ten samples

were taken’’); follow the journal’s norms, and if the journal is not strict about it, use your

personal preference.

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The SI system (Le Système International d’Unités) is used for reporting measurements

in all research publications. But this general rule has some exceptions especially when it

comes to applied disciplines such as agroforestry. For example, in scientific publications

with a regional focus, locally popular, non-SI units may be used if that would help clarify

interpretation or understanding of the data, but such units should be explained in relation

to SI units at their first mention in text.

Comprehension Questions

1).What is the purpose of the ‘Methods’ section?

2). What information should be included in this section?

3). How much information should you give about techniques that are common in your

field? Uncommon techniques? New techniques?

4). Name three pieces of information usually included in this section of the paper

5). What tense is (usually) used to write this section?

6). What kind of units should be used to describe measurements? Why?

Content adapted from article: P. K. R. Nair and V. D. Nair, Scientific Writing and Communication 13 in Agriculture and

Natural Resources, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-03101-9_2,
Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014