Results/FindingsThe Results (or Findings) section follows the Methods and precedes the Discussion section. This is where the authors provide the data collected during their study. That data can sometimes be difficult to understand because it is often quite technical. Do not let this intimidate you; you will discover the significance of the results next. Show
DiscussionThe Discussion section follows the Results and precedes the Conclusions and Recommendations section. It is here that the authors indicate the significance of their results. They answer the question, “Why did we get the results we did?” This section provides logical explanations for the results from the study. Those explanations are often reached by comparing and contrasting the results to prior studies’ findings, so citations to the studies discussed in the Literature Review generally reappear here. This section also usually discusses the limitations of the study and speculates on what the results say about the problem(s) identified in the research question(s). This section is very important because it is finally moving towards an argument. Since the researchers interpret their results according to theoretical underpinnings in this section, there is more room for difference of opinion. The way the authors interpret their results may be quite different from the way you would interpret them or the way another researcher would interpret them. Note: Some articles collapse the Discussion and Conclusion sections together under a single heading (usually “Conclusion”). If you don’t see a separate Discussion section, don’t worry. Instead, look in the nearby sections for the types of information described in the paragraph above. ConclusionWhen you first skim an article, it may be useful to go straight to the Conclusion and see if you can figure out what the thesis is since it is usually in this final section. The research gap identified in the introduction indicates what the researchers wanted to look at; what did they claim, ultimately, when they completed their research? What did it show them—and what are they showing us—about the topic? Did they get the results they expected? Why or why not? The thesis is not a sweeping proclamation; rather, it is likely a very reasonable and conditional claim. Nearly every research article ends by inviting other scholars to continue the work by saying that more research needs to be done on the matter. However, do not mistake this directive for the thesis; it’s a convention. Often, the authors provide specific details about future possible studies that could or should be conducted in order to make more sense of their own study’s conclusions. Use these tips for your academic article's Research Results section and organize your findings in line with academic writing requirements This article is part of an ongoing series on academic writing help of scholarly articles. Previous parts explored how to write an introduction for a research paper, literature review outline and format, and how to write a research methodology. Academics and researchers publish their scholarly articles to show the results they have obtained using gathered or collected data. Research papers present the process of testing hypotheses or models and how their findings help shape or advance a particular research topic. Thus, the ‘Results’ section is essential in expressing the significance of an academic article. The findings of your research should be included in a separate section of your academic article, as it is the only section that contains data and results. Aspects to Consider in Writing the Results Section of a Research PaperA good place to start for your results section, it’s to restate the aim and objective of your research paper, so that your readers can refocus on the core of your academic article. So far in your research paper, your readers covered the introduction, literature review, research methodology and now it’s the time and place to bring their attention back to the purpose. A short paragraph is sufficient to restate your paper’s purpose. Then, it’s key to consider that this is main section of your research paper where you present and explain the data you have collected or gathered and the findings of your data analysis and interpretation. The academic writing should be clear, impartial, and objective. Each result, which confirms or refutes your assumptions, should be noted in an unbiased manner to increase the credibility of your study. The results section gives you the opportunity to:
For an organized Research Results section, it’s best to use sub-sections. These sub-sections or divisions can be based on:
How to Clearly Report Your Research FindingsIf you have used statistical analyses in your academic article, and found answers to your research questions, report those facts in relation to your question. A clear, coherent presentation of your research paper’s results should exhibit logical explanations without bias. Confirming or Rejecting Hypotheses in Your Research ResultsWhile defining the section of your research’s outcomes area, it’s important to keep in mind that the research results do not prove or demonstrate anything. Your research findings can only affirm/ confirm or reject the hypotheses and assumptions elaborated upon in your academic article.
Summarizing Key Findings in Your Results SectionIn a coherent results presentation, you should:
For example, in your empirical analysis you notice an uncommon correlation between two variables. In the Results section, it is okay to bring up this outcome, however, posing new hypotheses for this uncommon result should be presented in the Discussion section. Using Tables and Figures to Highlight Research ResultsAny valuable academic article should focus on using tables, figures and/or graphs to:
Instead of using only descriptive text for your scholarly article, consider other visual ways and representations that improve the academic writing of your research paper. Figures, tables and graphs are useful methods for gathering a great deal of information into one place that can then be mentioned in the content of your article. If any research question or hypothesis is confirmed by your data and analysis, you can point to a table or figure that illustrates your finding. When you present tables or figures in your results section, make sure to describe at least some of the data included in these visual representations so that readers can clearly understand how the table works and what interpretations can be concluded from them. You can also use appendices if you have many other helpful figures or tables that cannot be fully included in the text of your academic article. By using a helpful combination of text, figures, and tables, you, as Authors and Academics, can use this section to effectively share your studies’ findings with the scientific community. Presenting Research Findings and Statistical SignificanceA systematic description of your research results and a correct data analysis and interpretation are related to statistical significance, as they help avoid speculations or misinterpretations by readers of your academic article. In a valuable research paper:
Tests of statistical significance should always be presented with your results to show that your research findings objectively confirm or disprove your hypotheses. Even if not all of your research results are confirmed, you should not ignore them. These negative results that do not support a particular hypothesis should be noted in the results section, and then explained in the Discussion section. Writing a Research Results section that do not address the negative results, invalidates the research paper and does not reflect appropriate academic writing. Research Results Comparison with Similar Academic ArticlesThe largest part of interpreting and discussing your research findings should be reserved for the Discussion / Conclusion section. However, there are instances when it is appropriate to compare or contrast your results with findings from previous and similar studies. For example:
Key Aspects for Your Research Results SectionFor a good structure and organization of your research, keep in mind these aspects:
Which aspects do you focus on when writing your research results section?This blog series focuses on useful academic writing tips. Next, we examine the
Discussion and Conclusion section. What section of the research paper includes the findings of the study?The results section of the research paper is where you report the findings of your study based upon the information gathered as a result of the methodology [or methodologies] you applied. The results section should simply state the findings, without bias or interpretation, and arranged in a logical sequence.
What is the discussion section of a research paper?The discussion section contains the results and outcomes of a study. An effective discussion informs readers what can be learned from your experiment and provides context for the results.
What should be included in the discussion section of a research report?The discussion section is where you delve into the meaning, importance, and relevance of your results. It should focus on explaining and evaluating what you found, showing how it relates to your literature review and paper or dissertation topic, and making an argument in support of your overall conclusion.
What chapter is discussion in research?The discussion chapter is where you interpret and explain your results within your thesis or dissertation. This contrasts with the results chapter, where you merely present and describe the analysis findings (whether qualitative or quantitative).
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