The results or findings section is an integral part of an empirical research paper where the findings in research are presented. This section systematically details what was discovered through the research process and answers the fundamental question: “What did you find in your research?” Considered to be the very backbone of the research study, the results section lays the groundwork for the discussion section, where explanations, inferences and significance of the findings are discussed. That is why researchers must understand how to write and present this section effectively.
How do we structure the results and findings section?
In writing the results of research, ensure that they are structured logically.
- Introduction: To provide context and ensure a logical progression from the previous section, it is always good to start the results section with a concise re-statement of the research questions or hypothesis. This will help refresh and refocus the reader’s attention on the primary questions and help them interpret the findings in relation to them.
- Presenting the results: To ensure clarity, present the results in a systematic manner, starting with the primary research question and then reporting the findings. For example, the first research question could be: What do teenagers think about counselling services offered by their institutions or universities? In your result section, under the heading “Impression of the counselling services among teenagers”, the results can be presented in the form of a table followed by a contextual description. For qualitative studies, the results can also be structured thematically.
- Text and visuals: To convey the findings effectively and in an easily understandable form to the reader, it is essential to use both written text and visuals. The key, however, is not to clutter the section with a lot of tables and figures, as this can make readers lose focus. Importantly, all visual representations must be numbered correctly and should be consistent with the numbering in the main text. Appropriate captions must be provided, and the design should be such that the information provided is easy for readers to understand.
- Conclusion: This section must present a brief summary of the study’s key findings and provide a logical progression to the discussion section, where the findings are interpreted.
- Publication guidelines: When writing the results sections, researchers must familiarize themselves with the formatting guidelines requested by publishers or universities. Going through other papers in the publication can help you prepare this section in terms of the approach to be taken, the length, visual representations and so forth, as these differ from one journal to another.
What should be included in the results and findings section?
A good results section will have a combination of text and visual representation of the key data and outcomes of the research. It focuses on presenting what was observed, measured, or discovered without delving into interpretations and must typically include the following –
- A summary of the key results and outcomes and how these align with or answer your research questions or hypotheses.
- Visual representation of data through tables, graphs, and charts helps quickly and clearly communicate even complex data in an easy-to-understand way. Here, it is important to ensure that the visuals are correctly labelled and referenced in the text.
- Descriptive and inferential statistics: Include medians, frequencies, or percentages to give readers an overview of your data and, where applicable, provide inferential statistics to indicate the significance of your findings.
Ensure that all data generated regarding the main research questions are presented in this section. Any other results that do not directly address the research question can be avoided in this section. Where the research study involves multiple research questions or hypotheses, it is important to report the findings for each separately, as this makes it easier to understand.
Key tips to keep in mind when writing the results and findings section
- Be clear and accurate when reporting the findings in research. Avoid ambiguous expressions, and ensure that the draft is free from any grammatical or language errors.
- Refrain from providing any interpretation of the findings. Reserve this for the discussion section. Stick to the most significant findings. Use appendices for supplementary data.
- Always adopt an academic and objective tone while reporting research results. The tone should not be biased in any manner. This enhances the credibility of the research paper.
- Always cross-check facts and figures to ensure that they are accurate.
- If there are any negative results, make sure to report these here. This can be explained further in the discussion section.
- Avoid repeating data from visuals in the text; instead, summarize key points and ensure that all data provided is relevant to the research questions.
The results and findings section can effectively communicate the outcomes of your research by focusing on clarity, structure, and transparency, setting the stage for meaningful interpretation and application in the discussion section.
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