In a scientific paper, which section describes the methods used in the research?

The section that describes the methods used in research is the Methods section. This part of a scientific paper provides detailed information about how the study was conducted, including the experimental design, materials, procedures, and any techniques employed for data collection and analysis. It allows other researchers to understand the approach taken, assess the validity of the findings, and potentially replicate the study.

In contrast, the Results section presents the findings of the research, typically including data in various formats like tables and figures, without interpretation. The Abstract provides a concise summary of the entire paper, including objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, but lacks the detailed procedural information necessary for understanding how the study was conducted. The Discussion section interprets the results, exploring their implications and context, but it does not contain the specifics of how the research was carried out. Therefore, the Methods section is crucial for understanding and verifying the research process itself.