The Methods Section: Data Analysis Subsection
The data analysis subsection of your methods chapter tells readers exactly which statistical procedures you used and why. Thesis committees and journal reviewers assess methodological rigor here. A well-written data analysis subsection prevents vague or unjustifiable analytical choices.
What Must Be Included
- Statistical software and version (e.g., IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0; R version 4.3.0)
- Significance level adopted (α=.05)
- Assumption tests conducted (normality, homogeneity) and how test selection was guided by results
- Reliability analysis (Cronbach's Alpha) if applicable
- Every statistical test used, with a brief justification for its selection
APA 7 Table Standards
Tables must be self-contained — readable without reference to the text. Key rules:
- Table number and title appear above the table; title is in italics.
- No vertical lines; horizontal lines are minimal (top/bottom borders and below column headers).
- Notes appear below the table after the word "Note." in italics.
- Minimum content: n, M (mean), SD (standard deviation).
- Statistical values: t(98)=3.42, p=.001 — two decimal places throughout.
Reporting P-Values in APA 7
APA 7 requires exact p-values, not inequality statements. Report p=.032, p=.001 — not "p<.05." The only exception: when p is smaller than .001, write p<.001. Never write p=.000.
Effect Size Is Now Mandatory
APA 7 standardizes the requirement for effect size reporting alongside every significant result. Common measures: Cohen's d (t-tests), r (correlations), η² or η²p (ANOVA), f² (regression). Without effect size, readers cannot judge practical significance.
Results Write-Up Example
To test the first hypothesis, an independent samples t-test was conducted. Results indicated a statistically significant difference between the experimental group (M=74.6, SD=8.3) and the control group (M=68.2, SD=9.1), t(98)=3.58, p=.001, d=0.72. This finding supports the first hypothesis, indicating a large practical effect.