AIAW-Wk06:Method and Results Sections Quiz

Select the statements about Method sections that are TRUE.

• In the Method section, you should provide information that helps readers understand how and why you did the experiment or research.

• The Method section should allow other researchers to reproduce your study and get similar results.

• The Methods section should be the longest section of the research paper.

• You should only choose and describe innovative methods that have never been used in the field before in the Methods section.

Answer explanation

In the Method section, you explain how and why you did your research. This helps others understand your study and allows them to reproduce it.

The Methods section is usually the shortest part of your paper, with the Introduction and Discussion being longer.

You don't need to use only new methods; established methods are often preferred.

Which of the following should be included in the Methods section? (Select all that apply)

• Justifications for the choice of methods

• Discussion of the limitations of the method

• References to other studies

• Personal opinions of the researcher

Answer explanation

The Methods section should include justifications for the choice of methods, discussion of the limitations of the method, and references to other studies. These elements help readers understand the rationale behind your methods, acknowledge any potential weaknesses, and see how your work builds on existing research.

Personal opinions of the researcher are not appropriate for this section, as the Methods section should remain objective and focused on the research process.

What tense should mainly be used in the Methods section?

• Past tense

• Present tense

• Future tense

• Conditional tense

Answer explanation

The Methods section should mainly use the past tense. This is because you are describing actions and procedures that were completed during your research. Using the past tense helps clearly convey that these steps have already been carried out.

Select the statements about Results sections that are TRUE.

• The purpose of the Results section is to present the data collected in a study.

• In your description of the data, you should discuss every piece of data.

• You can briefly comment on the results in the Results section.

• You must always give a justification for why you collected specific data.

Answer explanation

The purpose of the Results section is to present the data collected in a study. You can also comment on the results to highlight key findings, but keep this brief and leave most of your comments for the Discussion.

You don't need to discuss every piece of data; focus on the most relevant findings.

Additionally, you don't need to justify why you collected specific data in the Results section; this is typically covered in the Method section.

Data presentation in the Results section is ...

• in graphical form

• in textual form

• in tables

• in graphical and textual form

Answer explanation

Data presentation in the Results section is often in both graphical and textual form. Using a combination of graphs, tables, and text helps to effectively communicate the findings. Graphs and tables provide a visual representation of the data, while text offers detailed explanations and highlights key points.

The results section starts with...

• a discussion of the implication of the results

• a comparison of the study's results and those of other studies

• a brief review of the research aim and methodology

• a discussion of the limitations of the study

Answer explanation

The Results section starts with a brief review of the research aim and methodology. This provides context for the data being presented and helps readers understand the purpose and approach of the study before delving into the specific findings.

When describing specific results, you should always refer to the visuals.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

When describing specific results, you should always refer to the visuals. This helps readers easily locate and understand the data you are discussing, making your findings clearer and more accessible.

Which of the following does NOT contain an appropriate location statement?

• As shown in Table 1, results varied...

• These varied results are shown in Table 1.

• Table 1: The results varied wildly.

• The table above (Table 1) shows that results varied wildly.

Answer explanation

A proper location statement should refer to the table within the text, guiding the reader to the visual representation of the data. The other options correctly reference Table 1 within the sentence.

When describing the results themselves (so not when referring to the visual), we usually use the...

• present perfect simple

• past simple

• past perfect continuous

• present simple

Answer explanation

When describing the results themselves, we usually use the past simple tense. This is because you are reporting on findings that were obtained during your research, which has already been completed. Using the past simple tense helps clearly convey that these results are from past actions.

Choose the correct form of the verb:

Nearly 95 percent of the participants _____ unable to estimate how many questions they answered correctly.

• was

• were

Answer explanation

The word after percentages or proportions determines if the verb is plural or singular. If the word is plural (e.g., participants), use a plural verb. If the word is singular (e.g., population), use a singular verb.