Writing the method section is a crucial step in scientific manuscripts, ensuring that your experiments can be reliably reproduced by others. Although it may seem straightforward, a clear and detailed method section significantly enhances the credibility and transparency of your research.
Typically, it is most efficient to draft this section once your results are finalized. Gather all relevant documents – protocols, lab journals, and any materials used in your experiments. While this section does not demand creative writing, starting with it can help overcome the initial challenge of beginning your manuscript. Simply transferring detailed notes from your lab journal onto the page fills the blank quickly and effectively.
Use the past tense consistently, as the experiments have already been conducted. Your description should be so thorough that other scientists can replicate your work precisely. Begin by detailing your test system, such as the animal model or cell system used. For animal studies, the ARRIVE guidelines offer a comprehensive framework for reporting essential information, including breeding schemes and housing conditions that might affect outcomes like behavioral tests.
Antibodies
When working with antibodies, provide complete details about primary and secondary antibodies—antigen, host species, order identification, and, if available, the unique antibody ID from the antibody registry. Organizing this information in tables can improve clarity, especially when multiple antibodies or other materials such as patient data, PCR oligomers, or viruses are involved.
If you used commercial kits or previously published methods, cite the original source and briefly describe the procedure to facilitate reader understanding. Avoid citing secondary sources that merely reference the original method, as this complicates verification.
Focus on Relevant Experiments
Focus your description on experiments directly relevant to your manuscript’s results. Including unrelated methods can confuse readers and undermine confidence in your findings. However, mention additional experiments that might influence your results, such as prior behavioral tests affecting animal responses. These can be noted as “data not shown” or included as supplementary material.
Many journals now require submission of raw data and protocols in online repositories or as supplementary files. Consult the journal’s author guidelines for specific options to ensure compliance and transparency.
Following these principles will strengthen your manuscript’s scientific rigor and facilitate peer review and future research replication.
Summary
Write with sufficient details to enable replication
