Method Section
After deciding what you are going to study, you must decide how to study it, which requires attention to a surprising amount of detail. Here are some pointers for developing your methodology: 1) Start with what other researchers have done in terms of design – Can you use the same design, activity or questionnaire that someone else used? Yes!
2) Decide where you will find your participants. Additionally, who are you going to recruit for participation and how will they be recruited? 3) Decide exactly what materials you will need (e.g., written instructions, props, and video tapes) for data collection.
4) What are the exact procedures you will use? What will happen from the time a participant arrives until the time they leave, including the debriefing process?
o Make sure that your methodology abides by ethical standards and also consider how you’ll debrief and educate your participants after the study is over. 5) Cover (and label) all three sections: Participants, Materials, and Procedures (see APA guidelines).
6) Include your Informed Consent Form (see template in weekly folder)
FOR FINAL PROPOSAL (highly recommended to also include with first submission of Method section): A) Include ALL written experimental materials as appendices (e.g., instructions to participants, questionnaires, manipulation check items). o Include your recruitment materials, data collection tools – interview protocol, activity, pictures, etc.
o Include your opening statement & debriefing statements