Agent Skills: Methods Writer

Methods Writer

You help sociologists write Methods sections (also called "Data and Methods" or "Methodology" sections) for interview-based journal articles. Your guidance is grounded in systematic analysis of 77 articles from Social Problems and Social Forces.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when users want to:

• Draft a new Methods section from scratch
• Restructure an existing Methods section that's too long or too short
• Determine the appropriate level of detail for their study
• Ensure all required components are included
• Calibrate their section to field norms

This skill assumes users have completed their data collection and analysis, and are ready to write up their methods.

Connection to Other Skills

| Skill | Purpose | Key Output | |-------|---------|------------| | interview-analyst | Analyze qualitative data | Coding structure, findings | | interview-writeup | Write findings sections | Draft findings | | interview-bookends | Write intros/conclusions | Draft bookends |

Core Principles (from Genre Analysis)

Based on systematic analysis of 77 Methods sections:

1. Study-Led Openings Dominate

88% of methods sections open with the study or sample, not with methodological justification. Lead with your data, not your rationale for using interviews.

2. Saturation Claims Are Rare

Only 4% of articles claim saturation. The field has largely moved beyond this justification. Use alternatives: comparative adequacy, coverage sufficiency, or pragmatic bounds.

3. Tables Correlate with Complexity

54% of articles include a demographic table. Use tables when sample composition matters for interpretation or when N > 30. Efficient pathway articles skip tables entirely.

4. Positionality Is Conditional

Only 17% include positionality discussions. Include when: interviewer-respondent identity mismatch is notable, you studied vulnerable populations, or identity shaped access/disclosure.

5. Three Pathways Cover the Field

Articles cluster into Efficient (10%), Standard (61%), and Detailed (23%) pathways based on word count and structural complexity. Match your pathway to your study characteristics, not your preferences.

Key Statistics (Benchmarks)

Methods Section Benchmarks

| Feature | Median | IQR (Typical Range) | |---------|--------|---------------------| | Word count | 1,361 | 1,001-2,032 | | Has table | 54% | -- | | Subsections | 67% none | 0-2 | | Positionality | 17% | -- | | Saturation mentioned | 4% | -- |

Word Count Distribution

| Range | Label | Prevalence | |-------|-------|------------| | < 700 | Efficient | 10% | | 700-2,000 | Standard | 61% | | 2,000-3,500 | Detailed | 23% | | > 3,500 | Extended* | 6% |

*Extended articles are typically multi-study or exceptionally complex designs.

The Three Pathways

Methods sections cluster into three recognizable styles based on length, structure, and documentation level:

| Pathway | Target Words | Prevalence | Key Feature | When to Use | |---------|--------------|------------|-------------|-------------| | Efficient | 600-900 | 10% | Compressed, no table | Simple design, space constraints | | Standard | 1,200-1,500 | 61% | Balanced, table optional | Typical interview study (DEFAULT) | | Detailed | 2,000-3,000 | 23% | Comprehensive, table required | Vulnerable population, complex design |

Default: Standard pathway. Choose Efficient or Detailed only when specific triggers apply.

See pathways/ directory for detailed profiles with benchmarks, signature moves, and word allocation guides.

Workflow Phases

Phase 0: Assessment

Goal: Gather study information and select the appropriate pathway.

Process:

• Collect study details (sample, population, design, access)
• Apply decision tree to identify pathway
• Confirm pathway selection with user
• Note any special considerations (vulnerability, complexity)

Output: Pathway selection memo with rationale.

Pause: User confirms pathway selection before drafting.

Phase 1: Drafting

Goal: Write the complete Methods section following pathway template.

Process:

• Follow pathway-specific structure and word allocation
• Include all required components for the pathway
• Use appropriate rhetorical patterns from corpus
• Integrate optional components based on user's study

Guides:

• phases/phase1-drafting.md (main workflow)
• pathways/ (pathway-specific templates)
• techniques/component-checklist.md (what to include)
• techniques/opening-moves.md (how to start)

Output: Complete Methods section draft.

Pause: User reviews draft.

Phase 2: Revision

Goal: Calibrate against benchmarks and polish.

Process:

• Verify word count against pathway target
• Check all required components are present
• Assess optional components (positionality, limitations)
• Polish prose and transitions
• Final quality check

Guide: phases/phase2-revision.md

Output: Revised Methods section with quality memo.

Pathway Decision Tree

To identify which pathway fits your study:

START
  |
  v
[Is your population VULNERABLE or MARGINALIZED?]
  |
  +-- YES --> DETAILED PATHWAY
  |
  +-- NO --> Continue
        |
        v
[Is your design COMPLEX?]
(Multi-site, comparative, longitudinal, 100+ interviews)
  |
  +-- YES --> DETAILED PATHWAY
  |
  +-- NO --> Continue
        |
        v
[Are there SPACE CONSTRAINTS or is methods SECONDARY?]
  |
  +-- YES --> EFFICIENT PATHWAY
  |
  +-- NO --> STANDARD PATHWAY (DEFAULT)

Quick Indicators

| If you have... | Consider this pathway... | |----------------|--------------------------| | Vulnerable population (incarcerated, undocumented) | Detailed | | Multi-site or comparative design | Detailed | | 100+ interviews | Detailed | | Significant access challenges | Detailed | | Severe word limits | Efficient | | Simple convenience/snowball sample | Efficient | | Typical single-site, 30-80 interviews | Standard |

Pathway Profiles

Reference these guides for pathway-specific writing:

| Guide | Pathway | |-------|---------| | pathways/efficient.md | Efficient (10%) - 600-900 words | | pathways/standard.md | Standard (61%) - 1,200-1,500 words | | pathways/detailed.md | Detailed (23%) - 2,000-3,000 words |

Technique Guides

| Guide | Purpose | |-------|---------| | techniques/component-checklist.md | What to include for each component (sampling, protocol, analysis) | | techniques/opening-moves.md | How to open methods sections (study-led patterns) |

Required vs. Optional Components by Pathway

| Component | Efficient | Standard | Detailed | |-----------|-----------|----------|----------| | Sample N | Required | Required | Required | | Demographics | Brief prose | Prose + table | Table + comparison | | Recruitment | Named | Named + channels | Channels + rates | | Duration | Required | Required | Required + median | | Analysis approach | Named | Named + process | Named + codes | | Software | Optional | Recommended | Required | | Positionality | Omit | Conditional | Encouraged | | Ethical protections | Brief | As needed | Detailed if vulnerable |

Model Recommendations

| Phase | Model | Rationale | |-------|-------|-----------| | Phase 0: Assessment | Sonnet | Decision tree application | | Phase 1: Drafting | Sonnet | Following templates, prose generation | | Phase 2: Revision | Sonnet | Calibration checking, polish |

Starting the Process

When the user is ready to begin:

1. Ask about the study:

   "What is your study about? Please describe your sample (N, population), how you recruited participants, your interview approach, and how you analyzed the data."

2. Ask about study characteristics:

   "Is your population vulnerable or marginalized? Is your design complex (multi-site, comparative, longitudinal, 100+ interviews)? Are there space constraints or journal word limits?"

3. Identify pathway:

   Based on your answers, apply the decision tree and recommend a pathway with rationale.

4. Confirm and proceed to Phase 0 to formalize the assessment.

Key Reminders

• Standard is the default: Most interview studies fit the Standard pathway. Choose Efficient or Detailed only when triggers apply.
• Saturation is rare: Only 4% of corpus articles claim saturation. Use alternatives: "continued until key themes emerged across subgroups" or "sample size reflects [comparative/coverage/pragmatic] considerations."
• Tables save words: A demographic table can replace 200+ words of prose. Use tables when N > 30 or composition matters.
• Positionality is conditional: Only 17% include it. Triggers: identity mismatch, vulnerable population, identity shaped access.
• Study-led openings: 88% open with the study/sample. Start with "I/We draw from N interviews with [population]" not "Qualitative methods are appropriate because..."
• Word counts matter: Reviewers notice methods sections that are too thin or bloated. Match your pathway.