Description of experimental procedures are extensive in scientific literature. The methods sections of published original research articles are usually brief and may not provide enough information for a researcher to replicate the experiment. Protocols and methods describe experimental procedures in detail. A protocol is most commonly a predefined procedural method in the design and implementation of an experiment. Research methods may be published separately (in method focused journals, books, or dissertations) or included as a supplement to a published article. A good protocol can save you countless hours in the lab with proven methodologies as a starting point for your research.