Writing Book 7 · Lesson 20
Describing methods — use the words
These phrases announce what a piece of research DID. They are only honest if it did it.
The words
a sample of
a small part taken
data were collected
facts were gathered
participants
the people studied
a control group
the untreated group
variables
things that change
randomly selected
chosen by chance
under controlled conditions
kept the same
Watch how it is built
1a sample of means about the same as a small part taken.
A sample of fifty was tested.
2data were collected means about the same as facts were gathered.
Data were collected each Monday.
3participants means about the same as the people studied.
Participants answered a survey.
Two ways to say it
✗ A sample of fifty was tested. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.
✓ A sample of fifty was tested. — this is how a writer says it.
Ask yourself: “Did I actually do what this phrase says I did?”
Remember
If you cannot say how you did it, you cannot report what you found.
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