How to report materials and methods without plagiarizing?

Question

I'm am researching and writing up information on hormone assay techniques. I need to be specific and report details such as materials and methods, but how do you do that without plagiarizing?

Answer 1

In science you don't ever want to quote anything directly, but you do need to cite your sources.  Describe the methods from your sources, but don't quote them directly.  Give the authors and publication credit by citing them intext and in a full reference page.

Here's an example.  Say you followed standard methods for the hormone assay that you found in a published article.  You could write:

The standard method for hormone assays are to extract hormones with solution A (Author and Subauthor, 2001).  The hormones are analyzed using this technique and equipment (Author et al. 1996).

You intext citations should include (Author' last name, Year), in that format.  et al. means and others, use it when there are more than 3 authors.  You full reference page should be consistent, but may vary on what format your teacher wants.

Answer 2

You can always just do a bibliography. Then there are APA and MLA. It would usually depend on what schooling you are in.. and what your teacher prefers.. anything past high school usually wants APL where lets say you reference something word for word at the end of the sentence you reference back to the source in paranthesis. I am a journalism/ English major and Have to write way to many papers, this website below has helped me with every paper I have it bookmarked on my computer.. LOL, It has how to reference, magazines, books, online, everything. HOPE THIS HELPS.

http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/Doc...

Answer 3

All scientific research builds upon the work of others.

Do you think Watson and Crick just sat up one day, and shouted, "Double Helix!!!!"?

I suggest that you look at a published article and examine their materials and methods section.  They will cite the sources for each experimental technique that they used.  Hardly anyone has actually invented their own techniques!  When you cite your source, it is never plagiarism.