1、The contents of a research article or thesis,2018/4/12,Warming up question: what kind of research methods do you use in your field.?,2018/4/12,2018/4/12,definition,Qualitative a non-numerical data collection or explanation based on the attributes of the graph or source of data,Quantitativethe system
2、atic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.,2018/4/12,purpose,To categorize data into patterns (i.e., pattern or thematic analyses) as the primary basis for organizing and reporting results。,to develop and employ mathematical models
3、, 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,2018/4/12,The 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,because it provides the fundamental connection between empir
4、ical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.,2018/4/12,Data collection,Qualitative data:include interviews and group discussions, observation and reflection field notes, various texts, pictures, and other materials.,Quantitative data: any data that is in numerical form
5、 such as statistics, percentages, etc.,2018/4/12,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 value.,2018/4/12,2018/4/12,What is the function of a
6、 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,Materials and methodsProcedureExperimentsExperim
7、ental simulationMethodologymodel,General structure of the methods Section,Look at the samples and decide the general structure of itTypical feature:Section + subsection -First level heading-Second level heading-Third level heading,APA format,2018/4/12,General structure of the methods Section,2018/4/
8、12,2018/4/12,2018/4/12,2018/4/12,2018/4/12,Building 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 include content words, such as groundwa
9、ter .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 writer offers a general view of the ent
10、ire 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.,Model analysis-Sentence1,practice: read the 3
11、examples and decide what are the ways to introduce the Methodology? 3 ways,2018/4/12,Model 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 investigationTo help readers to get
12、a general idea of this section,Model analysis-Sentence1,example2: Provide background information about the materials or about the source of the materials/equipmentRelate to the structure of Method,Model analysis-Sentence1,example3:Refer back to something in the previous section (introduction), - res
13、tate 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 evolution.2,3,4The writer provides backg
14、round information and justifies the choice of location by referring to previous research,Model analysis-Sentence2,Q: Why do I need to justify or give reasons for what I did? Isnt it obvious?A: To communicate with the reader1. this is exactly what I did/used2. I had good reasons for those decisionsSo
15、 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 itself,Model analysis-Sentence3,Q: If I gave general overview at the start
16、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 topic2. to provide a general framework to the reader so that details can be easily slotted.,Model analysis-Sentence4,Sentence 4. Samples 1-9 were collected in
17、 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 do I need to provide?A:Slightly too much
18、 information is better than too littleMake sure that other researchers will be able to reproduce your work and obtain similar results,Model analysis-Sentence5,Sentence 5. The filled bottles were shipped directly to two separate laboratories at Reading University, where they were analyzed using stand
19、ard methods suitably miniaturized to handle small quantities of water.5The 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 using a revised version of the precipitati
20、on 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 unlikely that you created the entire method
21、 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 precipitate through the addition of BaCL22H2
22、O; 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 criticisms or doubts about your choices
23、, 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 method,Model analysis-Sentence9,9. All tubin
24、g 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 methodology,Model analysis-Sentence9,Q: Dont this discuss a result of what was don
25、e?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, maximises the good aspects and suggests
26、 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 writer provides an overview of the procedure
27、 /method itself.,The 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 writer describes what was done by referring to existing
28、methods in the literature.,2018/4/12,The 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 the methodology.,2018/4/12,We can streamline thes
29、e 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 no problems, you wont need the fourth com
30、ponent at all.,2018/4/12,Vocabulary 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 sentence1The current investigation involved sampling and analyzing six sites to measure changes in groundwa
31、ter chemistry.,Vocabulary for the Methodology section,2. Supply essential background informationWords or phrases used to describe instruments, equipment or locations, Found in Sentence 2The sites were selected from the London Basin area, which is located in the south-east of England and has been fre
32、quently used to interpret groundwater evolution.2,3,4,Sample analysis:In which sentence(s) is the author providing the source of materials and background information?1-3,2018/4/12,Vocabulary for the Methodology section,3. provide specific and precise details about materials and methods(i.e. quantiti
33、es, 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.,Sentence4Samples 1-9 were collected in thoroughly-rinsed 25 ml brown glass bottles which w
34、ere 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 quantities of water.5,Vocabulary for the Metho
35、dology section,4. justify choices madePhrases 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, which is located in the south-east of England
36、and has been frequently used to interpret groundwater evolution.2,3,4,Sample analysis:In which sentences is the author trying to justify the choice made12) Measurements from a given subject were collected at least two weeks, and in many cases several months apart to prevent replication of exact land
37、mark or caliper placement.,2018/4/12,Sample analysis:In which sentences is the author trying to justify the choice made14) These precautions minimized the possibility of measurement bias from manually recording (and therefore knowing) the measurement values as they were being collected.,2018/4/12,Vo
38、cabulary for the Methodology section,5. indicate that appropriate care was takenThis 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 the top and then sealed tightly to prevent conta
39、mination.,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.5,Vocabulary for the Methodology section,6. relate materials/methods to other stu
40、diesThis provides you with ways to distinguish between procedures/materials/tests which were1) exactly the same as2) similar to 3) significantly different fromThose used by other researchers.,sentence6. Samples 10-18 were prepared in our laboratory using a revised version of the precipitation method
41、 established by the ISF Institute in Germany.Revised version: similar to,Sample analysis:In which sentences the author is referring to other study / method?5-9,2018/4/12,Vocabulary for the Methodology section,7. indicate where problems occurredThis includes ways of minimising the problem, minimising
42、 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 of brief contact with plastic, variation among sam
43、ples was negligible.,Sample analysis:In which sentence is the author indicating a problem?1111) No mandibular measurements were collected owing to a lack of osteometric data for these measurements for the five subjects selected for the study.,2018/4/12,Sample analysis:In which sentence is the author
44、 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.,2018/4/12,What voice/tense shall I use in Methodology?,1. voice: active or passive?Check with the Guide for A
45、uthors 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 areA ) Standard procedures: what is normally done or how a piece of equipme
46、nt is normally constructedB) what you did yourselfWhen you write about what you did and used, you need to be able to distinguish between A and BThe reader also needs to separate A from B,What tense shall I use in Methodology?,Example1:A flexible section is inserted in the pipe.Present simple passive
47、Example2: A flexible section was inserted in the pipe.Past simple passiveWhich indicates standard procedure?Which indicates what you did yourself?,Present simple passive: what is normally donePast simple passive: what you didExample:Samples for gas analysis were collected using the method described
48、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 through the addition of BaCL22H2O; the resulting precipitate can be was
49、hed 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 marking it with wordsExample: 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.,
