Writing Strategies for Describe Data Acquisition

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Describe Data Acquisition is a Strategy used to illustrate the process of collecting or recording primary or secondary data and describing those data. We can utilize this strategy to describe how data were obtained, sampled or selected. This strategy can also be used to present methods of data collection and to give a general or detailed description of the acquired data. For instance, we can present certain analysis or recording of different types of data including visual data. Additionally, Describe Data Acquisition helps us elaborate on the characteristics of data, its measurement, units, scales and so on. Considering the nature of data, the abstract qualities of data can also be presented.

One very important writing strategy to consider about describing data acquisition is verb tense. While much of the study choices from the earlier goal of contextualizing the study happen in the past, there is some flexibility in verb usage. In contextualizing the study, some details hold true even after the study, like characteristics of a university setting or participant characteristics. You then have the choice of using present tense or past tense verbs.

When using the Goal – Describe the study, almost all of the choices will have happened in the past, so you will likely consistently refer to the past. To do so, you have the choice of using active and passive voice.

Most research mentors will likely tell you that they prefer the active voice throughout the research article because it adds clarity, as in sentences that start with “Research shows…” and “Findings suggest…” Here, the subject of the sentences “Research” and “Findings” do the action. In Methods sections, however, it is less important “who” does the action and more important “what” action was done. We can assume that you and maybe your co-authors are the ones who conducted the study, so the actor is already implied. This is why we often see the passive voice in the Methods section.

Let us take an example of active voice sentence:

a. The researcher collected data from 921 graduate student writers.

Here, the actor is the researcher, but since we can already assume that the researcher is the one who collected the data, we can eliminate the subject and move the receiver of the action to the subject position. Now, we can see:

b. “Data ________ collected from 921 graduate student writers.”

This instance is where the past tense is needed. You should now insert the “be” verb in the past tense to signify that the action is now complete:

c. “Data was collected from 921 graduate student writers.”

I want to stress again that the passive voice is only common in the Methods section and when talking about actions you completed in the past. Otherwise, you should push yourself to use an active voice. Other verbs that are common in acquiring the data include: collected, sampled, measured, scored, recorded, calculated. Here is another example:

d. “A total of eight classes were sampled in the Spring of 2012.”

Now, let us look at some language use patterns. One very important writing tip to consider about Describe Data Acquisition is verb tense. In the Goal – Describe the Study, almost all of the choices will have happened in the past, so you should consistently utilize past tense verbs. To do so, you have the choice of using what we call active and passive voice. Most research mentors prefer the active voice throughout other sections of the research article because active tense can add clarity and concision. Take the following Language Use patterns from Introduction sections as examples: “Research shows…” and “Findings suggest….” In these patterns what is important to note is that “Research” and “Findings” provide evidence to support a claim. Thus, these agents are important.

In Methods sections, however, it is less important “who” is the agent and more important “what” action was done. We can assume that you and maybe your co-authors are the ones who conducted the study, so the agent is already implied. That is, the agent is the researcher(s). Because the agent is known, the passive voice is commonly used in the Methods section to place importance on the action. Take a look at the following example of an active voice sentence:

e.  The researcher collected data from 921 graduate student writers.

Here, the actor is the researcher, but since we can already assume that the researcher is the one who collected the data, we can eliminate the subject and move the receiver of the action to the subject position. Now, we can see:

f. Data ________ collected from 921 graduate student writers.

This is where the past tense is needed. You should now insert the “be” verb in the past tense to signify that the action is now complete:

g. Data were collected from 921 graduate student writers.

The passive use of were collected is quite common in Methods. Other verbs that are common in acquiring the data include: sampled, measured, scored, recorded, calculated.

The passive voice is only common in the Methods section, when referring to Methods sections, and when talking about actions completed in the past. Otherwise, active voice is often the best option. 

Now, let us look at some Language Use patterns for Describe Data Acquisition: