1、The contents of a research article or thesisAbstract IntroductionmethodologyresultsDiscussion/conclusion2022-6-62022-6-6 Warming up question: what kind of research methods do you use in your field.?2022-6-62022-6-6definition Qualitative a non-numerical data collection or explanation based on the att
2、ributes of the graph or source of data Quantitative the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.2022-6-6purpose To categorize data into patterns (i.e., pattern or thematic analyses) as the primary basis for organizing and r
3、eporting results。 to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to phenomena. 指的是采用统计、数学或计算技术等方法来对社会现象进行系统性的经验考察。这种研究的目标是发展及运用与社会现象有关的数学模型、理论或假设2022-6-6The process of measurement: 定量研究中最重要的过程是测量的过程，因为这个过程根本上连结了现象的“经验观察”与“数学表示”。量化数据包括以统计或百分比等数字形式呈现的各种资料。 central,bec
4、ause it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.2022-6-6Data collection Qualitative data: include interviews and group discussions, observation and reflection field notes, various texts, pictures, and other materials
5、. Quantitative data: any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc.2022-6-6 Difference: For example, if you are asked to explain in qualitative terms a thermal image displayed in multiple colours, then you would explain the colour differences rather than the heats numerical
6、 value.2022-6-6What is the function of a methodology chapter of a research paper? The methodology should contain a detailed description of what you did and/or used. The Methodology should contain sufficient detail for readers to replicate the work done and obtain similar results.Other names Material
7、s and methods Procedure Experiments Experimental simulation Methodology modelGeneral structure of the methods Section Look at the samples and decide the general structure of it Typical feature: Section + subsection -First level heading -Second level heading -Third level heading2022-6-6APA format2022
8、-6-6General structure of the methods Section2022-6-62022-6-62022-6-62022-6-6Building a model 1. Write a short description of what the writer is doing in each sentence. 2. try to make your model general, so that you will be able to use it to generate methodology section in your field. E.g. dont inclu
9、de content words, such as groundwater . Example: sentence4: the writer provides details about what was done and used.Model analysis-Sentence 1 sentence 1. The current investigation involved sampling and analyzing six sites to measure changes in groundwater chemistry. introductory sentence: The write
10、r offers a general view of the entire subsection, including the purpose of the investigation.Model analysis-Sentence 1 Q: Why do I need to introduce the Methodology? A: 1. reader-friendly to start with some introductory material. 2. to make the entry to Methodology smooth for the reader.2022-6-6Mode
11、l analysis-Sentence1 practice: read the 3 examples and decide what are the ways to introduce the Methodology? 3 waysModel analysis-Sentence1 Example1: offer a general view by outlining the parameters of the work, e.g: -the number of tests, -the equipment /material/software used -the purpose of the i
12、nvestigation To help readers to get a general idea of this sectionModel analysis-Sentence1 example2: Provide background information about the materials or about the source of the materials/equipment Relate to the structure of MethodModel analysis-Sentence1 example3: Refer back to something in the pr
13、evious section (introduction), - restate the aim of the project -or the problem you are hoping to address.Model analysis-Sentence2 Sentence 2. The sites were selected from the London Basin area, which is located in the south-east of England and has been frequently used to interpret groundwater evolu
14、tion.2,3,4 The writer provides background information and justifies the choice of location by referring to previous researchModel analysis-Sentence2 Q: Why do I need to justify or give reasons for what I did? Isnt it obvious? A: To communicate with the reader 1. this is exactly what I did/used 2. I
15、had good reasons for those decisions So that readers trust the choices you made.Model analysis-Sentence3 Sentence 3. A total of 18 samples was collected and then analyzed for the isotopes mentioned earlier. The writer provides an overview of the procedure/method itselfModel analysis-Sentence3 Q: If
16、I gave general overview at the start of this subsection, why should I also give an overview of the procedure itself? A:Reasons: 1. sentence3 starts a new paragraph, signaling a new topic 2. to provide a general framework to the reader so that details can be easily slotted. Model analysis-Sentence4 S
17、entence 4. Samples 1-9 were collected in thoroughly-rinsed 25 ml brown glass bottles which were filled to the top and then sealed tightly to prevent contamination. The writer provides details about what was done and used and also shows that care was taken.Model analysis-Sentence4 Q:How much detail d
18、o I need to provide? A:Slightly too much information is better than too little Make sure that other researchers will be able to reproduce your work and obtain similar resultsModel analysis-Sentence5 Sentence 5. The filled bottles were shipped directly to two separate laboratories at Reading Universi
19、ty, where they were analyzed using standard methods suitably miniaturized to handle small quantities of water.5 The writer continues to describe what was done in detail, using language which communicates that care was taken.Model analysis-Sentence6 6. Samples 10-18 were prepared in our laboratory us
20、ing a revised version of the precipitation method established by the ISF Institute in Germany The writer describes what was done by referring to existing methods in the literature.Model analysis-Sentence6 Q:Why should I refer to other research; why not just describe the method I used? A:1. it is unl
21、ikely that you created the entire method you used all by yourself. 2. in many cases, part of it will be taken from a method used by someone else, which may be well known, so if you give the research reference you do not need to give every detail.Model analysis-Sentence7 7. This method obtains a prec
22、ipitate through the addition of BaCL22H2O; the resulting precipitate can be washed and stored easily. The writer provides more detailed information about the method and shows it to have been a good choice.Model analysis-Sentence7 Justification is common throughout this section: Aims: answer possible
23、 criticisms or doubts about your choices, to assure the reader that your choices were made on the basis of good reasons.Model analysis-Sentence8 Sentence 8. The samples were subsequently shipped to ISF for analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The writer provides more details of the metho
24、dModel analysis-Sentence9 9. All tubing used was stainless steel, and although two samples were at risk of CFC contamination as a result of brief contact with plastic, variation among samples was negligible. The writer mentions a possible difficulty in the methodologyModel analysis-Sentence9 Q: Dont
25、 this discuss a result of what was done? A: No. its actually saying that the problems in the methodology didnt affect the results. Model analysis-Sentence9 Q: How can I talk about problems in my work without like a failure? A: use vocabulary that minimises the problem, minimises your responsibility,
26、 maximises the good aspects and suggests a solution. The model 1. The writer offers a general overview of the entire subsection, including the purpose of the investigation. 2. The writer provides background information and justifies the choice of location by referring to previous research. 3. The wr
27、iter provides an overview of the procedure /method itself.2022-6-6The model 4. The writer provides details about what was done and used and also shows that care was taken. 5. The writer continues to describe what was done in detail, using language which communicates that care was taken. 6. The write
28、r describes what was done by referring to existing methods in the literature.2022-6-6The model 7. The writer provides more detailed information about the method and shows it to have been a good choice. 8. The writer provides more details of the method. 9. The writer provides a possible difficulty in
29、 the methodology. We can streamline these so that our model has four basic components. This is a “menu” from which you select items appropriate to your research topic. E.g. if you constructed the equipment yourself, you wont need to give the source of the equipment used in component 1. If there were
30、 no problems, you wont need the fourth component at all. 2022-6-6Vocabulary for the Methodology section 1. provide a general introduction and overview of the materials/methods and give the source of materials/equipment used found in sentence1 The current investigation involved sampling and analyzing
31、 six sites to measure changes in groundwater chemistry. Vocabulary for the Methodology section 2. Supply essential background information Words or phrases used to describe instruments, equipment or locations, Found in Sentence 2 The sites were selected from the London Basin area, which is located in
32、 the south-east of England and has been frequently used to interpret groundwater evolution.2,3,42022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentence(s) is the author providing the source of materials and background information? 1-3Vocabulary for the Methodology section 3. provide specific and precise details
33、 about materials and methods(i.e. quantities, temperatures, duration, sequence, conditions, locations, sizes) This includes verbs which specifically describe what you did/used. Instead of writing only was done or was used, there are many other choices. Sentence4 Samples 1-9 were collected in thoroug
34、hly-rinsed 25 ml brown glass bottles which were filled to the top and then sealed tightly to prevent contamination. 5. The filled bottles were shipped directly to two separate laboratories at Reading University, where they were analyzed using standard methods suitably miniaturized to handle small qu
35、antities of water.5Vocabulary for the Methodology section 4. justify choices made Phrases that introduce the reasons for the choices you made, “in order to” verbs that specify the advantages of the choices you made, “enable, facilitate” Sentence2: The sites were selected from the London Basin area,
36、which is located in the south-east of England and has been frequently used to interpret groundwater evolution.2,3,42022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentences is the author trying to justify the choice made 12) Measurements from a given subject were collected at least two weeks, and in many cases s
37、everal months apart to prevent replication of exact landmark or caliper placement. 2022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentences is the author trying to justify the choice made 14) These precautions minimized the possibility of measurement bias from manually recording (and therefore knowing) the meas
38、urement values as they were being collected.Vocabulary for the Methodology section 5. indicate that appropriate care was taken This includes adjectives (careful) as well as adverbs(carefully) Sentence 4. Samples 1-9 were collected in thoroughly-rinsed 25 ml brown glass bottles which were filled to t
39、he top and then sealed tightly to prevent contamination. Sentence5 The filled bottles were shipped directly to two separate laboratories at Reading University, where they were analyzed using standard methods suitably miniaturized to handle small quantities of water.5Vocabulary for the Methodology se
40、ction 6. relate materials/methods to other studies This provides you with ways to distinguish between procedures/materials/tests which were 1) exactly the same as 2) similar to 3) significantly different from Those used by other researchers. sentence6. Samples 10-18 were prepared in our laboratory u
41、sing a revised version of the precipitation method established by the ISF Institute in Germany. Revised version: similar to 2022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentences the author is referring to other study / method? 5-9Vocabulary for the Methodology section 7. indicate where problems occurred This
42、 includes ways of minimising the problem, minimising your responsibility, maximising the good aspects and suggesting a solution to the problem.Vocabulary for the Methodology section sentence9. All tubing used was stainless steel, and although two samples were at risk of CFC contamination as a result
43、 of brief contact with plastic, variation among samples was negligible.2022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentence is the author indicating a problem? 11 11) No mandibular measurements were collected owing to a lack of osteometric data for these measurements for the five subjects selected for the st
44、udy.2022-6-6 Sample analysis: In which sentence is the author indicating a problem? 14) These precautions minimized the possibility of measurement bias from manually recording (and therefore knowing) the measurement values as they were being collected.What voice/tense shall I use in Methodology? 1.
45、voice: active or passive? Check with the Guide for Authors in the target journal to find out whether passive or active voice is required. In most cases, passive voice is used, agentless passives. What voice/tense shall I use in Methodology? When describing an experiment, there are A ) Standard proce
46、dures: what is normally done or how a piece of equipment is normally constructed B) what you did yourself When you write about what you did and used, you need to be able to distinguish between A and B The reader also needs to separate A from BWhat tense shall I use in Methodology? Example1: A flexib
47、le section is inserted in the pipe. Present simple passive Example2: A flexible section was inserted in the pipe. Past simple passive Which indicates standard procedure? Which indicates what you did yourself? Present simple passive: what is normally done Past simple passive: what you did Example: Sa
48、mples for gas analysis were collected using the method described by Brown(1999), which uses a pneumatic air sampling pump. Try to find the sentence which indicates the standard procedure from the model. What voice/tense shall I use in Methodology? Sentence 7: This method obtains a precipitate throug
49、h the addition of BaCL22H2O; the resulting precipitate can be washed and stored easily. Example: the samples were collected using a suction tube. When citing work by other researchers, how to tell whether the example above is describing the work you did or the work of other researchers? 1. by markin
50、g it with words Example: In this study/in our experiments, the samples were collected using a suction tube. 2. by careful references at the appropriate place in the sentence. example: In Brown(1999) the samples were collected using a suction tube.assignment Read the Method section in your selected a
