Methods Section (Manuscript Text)
A distinctive feature of the Power module is the Methods Section generator -- after a calculation, the calculator produces a ready-to-paste paragraph describing the analysis in formal academic prose with appropriate citations. Directly useful for manuscripts, grant applications, theses, and ethics submissions.
What it produces
The Methods Section panel displays a complete paragraph documenting:
- The type of analysis (e.g. "A priori sample size calculation using an independent samples t-test")
- The parameters you entered (mean difference, SDs, proportions, power, alpha, allocation ratio, etc.)
- The computed effect size with conventional interpretation (e.g. "a Cohen's d of 0.500, representing a medium effect (Cohen, 1988)")
- The resulting sample size or power in full sentences
- A platform citation and relevant academic references
Written in impersonal past tense expected in a methods section -- paste directly into a manuscript.
Example output
For the Independent Means calculator:
"A priori sample size calculation was performed for comparing two independent groups using an independent samples t-test. The calculation was based on the following parameters: expected mean difference = [value] units, standard deviation Group 1 = [value], standard deviation Group 2 = [value], desired statistical power (1-beta) = [value]%, significance level (alpha) = [value] (two-sided test), and group allocation ratio = [equal/unequal].
The pooled standard deviation was estimated as [value] units, calculated as: SDpooled = sqrt[(SD1^2 + SD2^2) / 2]. This yielded a Cohen's d effect size of [value], representing a [small/medium/large] effect according to conventional standards (Cohen, 1988).
Based on these parameters, the required sample size was determined to be [n1] participants in Group 1 and [n2] in Group 2, for a total of [N] participants. This sample size provides [power]% statistical power to detect the specified mean difference at the alpha = [value] significance level.
Sample size calculations were performed using E-PICOS (https://e-picos.com)..."
Each calculator generates wording appropriate to its design -- proportions describes Cohen's h and arcsine transformation, survival describes events and hazard ratio, etc.
Copying and live updates
| Feature | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Copy to clipboard | One click copies entire paragraph; button confirms with "copied" state |
| Live update | When you change parameters and recalculate, text regenerates and panel flags "Updated!" |
| Expand/collapse | Panel can be collapsed to save space |
Live-update means you can tune your design and the manuscript paragraph stays in sync.
Citations
Generated text includes:
- E-PICOS platform citation -- "Sample size calculations were performed using E-PICOS (https://e-picos.com), an online statistical power analysis platform"
- Methodological references -- most commonly Cohen (1988), Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, plus design-specific references
Why this matters
A power analysis is only useful in a submission if reported correctly. Reviewers, ethics committees, and funders expect a methods paragraph stating the test, parameters, effect size with justification, and resulting sample size -- with citations. The Methods Section produces exactly this for:
- Grant and funding proposals -- defensible, citable sample-size justification
- Ethics and regulatory submissions -- auditable power-analysis statement
- Journal manuscripts -- methods paragraph meeting reporting standards
- Theses and dissertations -- properly-worded sample-size section
Availability
The Methods Section is implemented across sample-size calculators and several power calculators. Where provided, the panel appears with the result. Numbers are produced by the validated formulas; the generator renders them into publication-ready language with correct citations.