APA Writing Style American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5 th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.

Method Section (1.09)  Method section always follows Introduction section immediately, do not begin a new page  “Method” heading is centered and not italicized (3.32)

Method Continued (1.09)  “The Method section describes in detail how the study was conducted. Such a description enables the reader to evaluate the appropriateness of your methods and the reliability and the validity of your results. It also permits experienced investigators to replicate the study if they so desire.”

Method Cont.  Generally, a Method section is divided into 3 subsections: Participants or Subjects, Apparatus or Materials, and Procedure  The subsections titles are left justified and italicized

Participants or Subjects (1.09)  “Appropriate identification of research subjects and clientele is critical”  The procedure for selecting and assigning Participants or Subjects should be thoroughly described, and in the case of human participants any agreements or payments should be disclosed.

Participants or Subjects (1.09)  For humans, “Report major demographic characteristics such as sex, age, and race/ethnicity, and, where possible and appropriate, characteristics such as socioeconomic status, disability status, and sexual orientation.” If a particular demographic characteristic is important for interpretation of results, describe the characteristic specifically.

Participants or Subjects (1.09)  “When animals are the subjects, report the genus, species, and strain number or other specific identification, such as the name and location of the supplier and the stock designation. Give the number of animals and the animals’ sex, age, weight, and physiological condition.” Also specify essential details of treatment and handling.

Apparatus or Materials  Briefly describes the apparatus or materials used and their function in the experiment.  Identify specialized equipment obtained from a commercial supplier by the model number of the equipment and the supplier’s name and location.  Complex or custom-made equipment may be illustrated by a drawing or photograph.  A detailed description of complex equipment may be included in an appendix.

Procedure  Procedure summarizes each step in the execution of the research. Include the instructions to the participants, the formation of the groups, and the specific experimental manipulations. Describe randomization, counterbalancing, and other control features in the design.  Procedure should tell the reader in sufficient detail so that the reader could reasonably replicate the study.

Examples  An excellent example of a method section of a sample paper can be found in APA section 5.29, beginning on page 308.