Best examples of ASA format methodology section examples for 2024–2025

Short, realistic examples of ASA format methodology section examples

Let’s start with what you actually want to see: concrete text you can model. Each example of an ASA format methodology section is written as if it were part of a real sociology paper. I’ll flag key ASA-style choices as we go.

Example 1: Cross-sectional survey (classic undergrad ASA paper)

Context: Intro sociology paper on social media use and loneliness among U.S. college students.

Methods
This study used a cross-sectional survey design to examine the relationship between social media use and self-reported loneliness among undergraduate students at a large public university in the United States. Data were collected in March 2024 from students enrolled in three introductory sociology courses. After receiving approval from the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), I distributed an anonymous online questionnaire via the course learning management system.

A total of 286 students accessed the survey; 241 completed it in full and were included in the analysis. The final sample was 62 percent women, 36 percent men, and 2 percent nonbinary, with a mean age of 19.8 years (SD = 1.6).

Social media use was measured with items asking respondents to report the number of hours per day they spent on major platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter) on an average weekday and weekend day. Loneliness was assessed using the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (Hughes et al. 2004). Responses were coded so that higher scores indicated greater loneliness.

Descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were estimated using Stata 18. All analyses used two-tailed tests with a significance level of p < .05.

Why this works as one of the best examples of ASA format methodology section examples:

• Clear design label ("cross-sectional survey design").
• IRB/ethics mentioned.
• Sample, measures, and analysis tools are all covered.
• Past tense, straightforward prose, no fluff.

Example 2: Semi-structured interviews (qualitative ASA methods)

Context: MA-level paper on first-generation college students’ sense of belonging.

Methods
This qualitative study relied on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with first-generation college students at a mid-sized public university in the Midwest. Participants were recruited in spring 2024 through flyers posted in residence halls and emails sent via the university’s First-Generation Student Support Office. Students were eligible if they self-identified as first-generation and were enrolled full-time.

I conducted 24 interviews, each lasting between 45 and 75 minutes. Interviews were held in a private conference room on campus or via encrypted video call, depending on participant preference. All participants provided informed consent and were assigned pseudonyms to protect confidentiality.

The interview guide focused on experiences with academic advising, classroom interactions, and peer networks. Interviews were audio-recorded with permission and professionally transcribed. I used NVivo 14 to organize and code the data. Analysis followed an inductive thematic approach, moving from initial open coding to focused coding and memo-writing. Codes and themes were refined through iterative comparison across cases.

This example of an ASA format methodology section shows how to handle:

• Recruitment and eligibility.
• Confidentiality and pseudonyms.
• Software and analytic approach (inductive thematic analysis).

Example 3: Experiment with random assignment (methods-heavy ASA example)

Context: Lab experiment on implicit bias in hiring decisions.

Methods
I conducted a between-subjects experiment to assess how applicant race and gender shape hiring evaluations. Participants were 198 undergraduate students enrolled in sociology and psychology courses at a large research university in the northeastern United States in fall 2024. Students received course credit for participation.

After providing informed consent, participants were randomly assigned to review one of four fictitious résumés that varied by applicant race (Black or White) and gender (woman or man), signaled through names commonly perceived as Black or White and as women’s or men’s names in the United States. All résumés described identical qualifications for an entry-level marketing position.

Participants rated the applicant’s competence, warmth, and hireability on 7-point Likert-type scales. They also indicated the starting salary they would recommend. Demographic information, including participant race, gender, and political ideology, was collected at the end of the survey.

Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and multiple regression models in R (version 4.4). I tested for interaction effects between applicant race and gender and conducted robustness checks that controlled for participant demographics.

If you’re looking for examples of ASA format methodology section examples that lean quantitative, this one hits the core elements: design, randomization, measures, and analytic strategy.

Example 4: Mixed methods (survey + interviews in ASA style)

Context: Upper-level undergraduate or early grad paper on remote work and work–family balance.

Methods
This mixed-methods study combined an online survey with follow-up semi-structured interviews to examine how remote work arrangements shape work–family balance among U.S. parents. In phase one, I administered an online survey to parents recruited through a national parenting organization’s email list in January–February 2025. Respondents were eligible if they were employed at least 30 hours per week and had at least one child under age 18 living at home.

A total of 512 respondents completed the survey. The sample was 68 percent women, 30 percent men, and 2 percent nonbinary, with a mean age of 38.4 years (SD = 6.2). Remote work status was measured with items asking respondents to report the number of days per week they worked from home. Work–family balance was assessed using a five-item scale adapted from Grzywacz and Carlson (2007).

In phase two, I conducted 20 follow-up interviews with a purposive subsample of survey respondents who indicated willingness to be contacted. I selected participants to maximize variation in gender, occupation, and remote work intensity. Interviews focused on daily routines, boundary management, and perceptions of employer support. All interviews were recorded with consent, transcribed, and coded in NVivo 14.

Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression in Stata 18. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Integration of findings occurred at the interpretation stage, where I compared survey patterns with interview narratives.

This is one of the best examples of ASA format methodology section examples for mixed methods because it clearly separates phases but keeps everything in one coherent section.

Example 5: Secondary data analysis (using large datasets in ASA format)

Context: Paper using General Social Survey (GSS) data on attitudes toward immigration.

Methods
I analyzed secondary data from the 2022 General Social Survey (GSS), a nationally representative survey of adults living in the United States conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. The GSS uses a multistage area probability sample to interview noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 and older. Detailed documentation of sampling procedures is available from NORC (NORC 2023).

For this study, I restricted the sample to respondents who completed the immigration module (N = 2,132). The dependent variable was support for increasing immigration, measured with the item asking whether the United States should allow more, the same, or fewer immigrants to come to the country. I coded responses so that higher values indicated more support for immigration.

Independent variables included respondent education, political ideology, race, gender, and age. I also included a measure of perceived economic threat, based on agreement with statements about immigrants’ impact on jobs. All analyses applied the GSS-provided sampling weights to account for the complex survey design.

I estimated weighted logistic regression models using Stata 18, with standard errors adjusted for clustering at the primary sampling unit level.

If you’re searching for examples of ASA format methodology section examples involving big national datasets, this one shows how to acknowledge the original data producer and describe your analytic choices without rewriting the entire technical manual.

Example 6: Content analysis (media or social media data)

Context: Undergraduate research paper on news coverage of climate change protests.

Methods
This study used quantitative content analysis to examine how major U.S. news outlets framed climate change protests between January 2023 and June 2024. I selected articles from the online editions of the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal using the databases ProQuest and LexisNexis. Search terms included “climate protest,” “climate strike,” “environmental activists,” and “youth climate movement.”

After removing duplicates and opinion pieces, the final sample included 214 news articles. I developed a coding scheme that captured three main dimensions: (1) protester portrayal (e.g., as disruptive, responsible, or heroic), (2) issue framing (e.g., economic, scientific, moral), and (3) references to policy solutions. Two trained coders independently coded all articles.

To assess reliability, I calculated Cohen’s kappa for all categorical variables. Kappa values ranged from .74 to .88, indicating substantial to almost perfect agreement (Landis and Koch 1977). Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. I analyzed the coded data using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in SPSS 29.

This is a strong example of an ASA format methodology section because it covers sampling, coding, reliability, and analysis in a tight package.

How to structure your own ASA methodology using these examples

Now that you’ve seen multiple examples of ASA format methodology section examples, you can reverse-engineer the structure. Most solid ASA methods sections hit the same beats:

• Research design: survey, experiment, interviews, ethnography, mixed methods, secondary data, content analysis, etc.
• Sample and recruitment: who, where, when, how they were selected.
• Measures or instruments: scales, question wording, coding schemes, or interview guide focus.
• Procedures: how data were collected (online, in person, lab, archive) and any ethical protections.
• Analysis: software, models, coding strategy, weighting, and significance levels.

If you read back through each example of an ASA format methodology section above, you’ll see those same elements, just adapted to the specific project.

For up-to-date guidance on methods language, it’s worth skimming:

• The American Sociological Association’s style guide (via many university libraries).
• Harvard’s Program on Survey Research for question design tips: https://psr.iq.harvard.edu
• The ICPSR site at the University of Michigan for examples of data documentation: https://www.icpsr.umich.edu

Common mistakes these ASA methodology examples help you avoid

Looking at real examples of ASA format methodology section examples is helpful partly because they show you what not to do. A few patterns to watch:

Being vague about sampling
“Students at a university” is too blurry. The better examples include timing (spring 2024), course level, or recruitment channel.

Forgetting ethics and consent
Even in class papers, it’s smart to mention IRB approval (if applicable), informed consent, and confidentiality. Check your campus IRB guidance (for example, the University of Michigan’s overview: https://research-compliance.umich.edu/human-subjects).

Mixing results into methods
Methods sections describe what you did, not what you found. Notice how every example of an ASA format methodology section above avoids slipping in outcome statements.

Ignoring software and analysis choices
You don’t need a statistics lecture, but you should name the software (R, Stata, SPSS, NVivo) and main techniques (OLS, logistic regression, thematic analysis, chi-square). That’s why the best examples of ASA format methodology section examples always include at least one sentence on analysis.

Not aligning with ASA style expectations
ASA is flexible on headings, but your methods header is usually just Methods or Data and Methods, flush left, bold, same font as the rest of the paper. Citations in the methods section should follow ASA in-text style, as you see in the examples using author-year format.

2024–2025 trends you can reflect in your ASA methodology

If you want your paper to feel current, build in details that match how research is actually done in 2024–2025:

• Online and hybrid data collection: Many projects now combine in-person and online interviews or use online survey panels. The mixed-methods and interview examples of ASA format methodology section examples above show how to mention encrypted video calls or online recruitment without making it a big production.
• Remote work, social media, and AI as topics: If you’re studying contemporary issues (remote work, TikTok activism, AI in education), say how you’re sampling those spaces—hashtags, platforms, or digital communities.
• Updated software versions: R 4.4, Stata 18, SPSS 29, NVivo 14—small details, but they signal that your methodology is current.
• Ethics for digital data: If you’re scraping or analyzing online content, many IRBs now expect a short note on public vs. private data and anonymization. You can mirror the clarity of the content analysis example when describing your own procedures.

For broader methods background, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers helpful overviews of research design and rigor: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility.

FAQ: Short answers based on real ASA methodology examples

How long should an ASA methodology section be?
For an undergraduate paper, one to three pages is typical, depending on the complexity of your design. The examples of ASA format methodology section examples above range from short (survey) to more detailed (mixed methods). Grad-level work and journal articles will usually be longer.

Can I use first person ("I” or “we") in an ASA methods section?
Yes, many sociologists now use first person in methods, especially when describing recruitment, data collection, or positionality. Several real examples of ASA format methodology section examples in recent journals use “we” for team projects.

Do I need subheadings like “Sample,” “Measures,” and “Analysis”?
They’re optional. For short class papers, a single Methods section is fine. For more complex projects, subheadings improve readability. Look at the structure of the best examples in ASA journals you’re citing.

What’s an example of an ASA methodology sentence that mentions IRB approval?
A common wording is: “This study was reviewed and approved by the [University Name] Institutional Review Board.” You can see similar language in the survey and experiment examples of ASA format methodology section examples above.

Where can I find more real examples of ASA-style methods sections?
Browse recent articles in sociology journals through your library’s databases (e.g., American Sociological Review or Social Problems). Their methods sections give you real examples of how professional sociologists write in ASA style.

If you model your own writing on these examples of ASA format methodology section examples—adjusting the details to fit your project—you’ll have a methods section that’s clear, credible, and ready for a demanding instructor or peer reviewer.