How to Write the Results Chapter of a Thesis: A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• The results chapter must describe findings factually and objectively; interpretation, speculation, and comparison with literature belong in the discussion chapter.
• Choose an organizing structure, such as by research question, theme, method, or chronology, that best reflects the nature of your data, and apply it consistently.
• Tables and figures should stand on their own with clear titles and labels; the surrounding text should highlight key points rather than repeat what is already shown.
• Every result must connect back to a method described earlier in the thesis, and every method must have a corresponding result; nothing should be presented without purpose.

Glossary of Key Terms

What Is the Results Chapter of a Thesis?

The results chapter is the part of a thesis that factually and concisely reports what was observed or measured during a study (follow the methods chapter), without interpreting what those findings mean. It presents evidence in a logical order that answers the research questions or tests the hypotheses set out earlier in the thesis.

This chapter forms the evidentiary core of the thesis. Because it carries so much weight, clarity, accuracy, and structure matter more here than in almost any other chapter. Examiners read this section closely to judge whether the research was conducted rigorously and whether the data genuinely support the claims made later in the discussion.

Why Does Structure Matter So Much in This Chapter?

Structure matters because it determines whether examiners can follow complex findings without confusion. A clear structure helps you achieve several things at once.

• Highlight important findings instead of burying them in raw data.
• Show direct, traceable connections to your research questions or hypotheses.
• Avoid overwhelming readers with unnecessary detail.
• Prepare a smooth, logical transition into the discussion chapter.
• Demonstrate the scholarly maturity expected at thesis level.

What Should the Results Chapter Include and Exclude?

Knowing what belongs in this chapter, and what does not, prevents two common problems: an overloaded chapter that buries key findings, and a thin chapter that leaves out evidence examiners expect to see.

What to Include

• All relevant results presented as text, tables, or figures.
• Results of subject recruitment and data collection, including response rates and sample characteristics.
• For quantitative studies, both descriptive and inferential statistics for every test performed.
• For qualitative studies, data organized by theme, including representative quotations.
• Secondary findings, such as subgroup or sensitivity analyses.
• All results, including those that do not support the original hypothesis.

What to Exclude

• Full interview transcripts; these belong in an appendix, not the main chapter.
• Raw, unprocessed data; summarized or analyzed data belongs in the chapter, and raw files belong in an appendix.
• Background or contextual information; this belongs in the introduction or literature review.
• Speculation about why a result occurred; this belongs in the discussion chapter.
• Repetition of everything already shown in a table or figure; the text should add value, not duplicate it.

How Do You Present Quantitative Results?

Quantitative results are usually presented through tables, figures, and a short narrative that draws attention to the most important numbers, following the order of your research questions.

For each statistical test reported, include the following information.

• The type of analysis used, for example, a Mann-Whitney U test or a multiple regression analysis.
• Descriptive statistics, such as means, medians, and standard deviations.
• Inferential statistics, such as correlation coefficients, regression values, and p values, along with a statement of significance.
• Any trends or differences identified through comparisons between groups.
• Whether the finding supports or contradicts the hypothesis being tested.

What Statistics Should Each Type of Test Report?

How Do You Present Qualitative Results?

Qualitative results are usually organized by theme rather than by research question, since themes emerge from the data through coding and pattern recognition. Each theme should be supported with direct evidence from participants.

For each theme presented, describe the following.

• General trends or patterns observed within the theme.
• Significant or representative responses from participants.
• Relevant quotations, using anonymized labels such as P1 or Participant A rather than real names.
• How many participants expressed the theme, for example, twelve of eighteen participants.
• Any sub-themes that emerged within the broader theme.

When presenting quotations, brief demographic context in brackets helps readers understand who is speaking while preserving confidentiality, for example: (P7, female, senior manager, 12 years’ experience).

Which Structure Should You Choose for Your Results Chapter?

There is no single correct structure; the right choice depends on the nature of your data and the story your findings tell. Five structures are commonly used, often in combination.

Chronological Structure

Best suited to longitudinal studies, historical analyses, or multi-stage experiments where results unfold over time. This structure clarifies progression and emphasizes development, for example, presenting results from Month 1, Month 3, and Month 6 of a language learning study.

Hierarchical Structure

Organizes findings by relative importance, moving from the most central evidence to supporting evidence. This works well when some data sources or themes anchor the research more heavily than others.

Method-Based Structure

Groups results according to the methods or instruments used, such as surveys, experiments, or interviews. This suits mixed-methods studies and projects with several distinct datasets.

Thematic or Pattern-Based Structure

Groups findings into meaningful categories that represent major insights from the data. This is often the strongest approach for qualitative or exploratory dissertations, since it emphasizes meaning rather than method.

Research-Question or Hypothesis-Driven Structure

Organizes the chapter so that each section addresses one research question or tests one hypothesis. Many examiners consider this the most coherent strategy, since it keeps the thesis tightly aligned from introduction through discussion.

Which Structure Works Best for Mixed-Methods Research?

The best structure depends on whether quantitative or qualitative data dominate the study; equally weighted methods can alternate within shared themes, while a dominant method is usually presented first.

• Separate quantitative and qualitative results into major sections if the two strands answer different questions.
• Integrate both within shared thematic categories if they jointly explain the same phenomenon.
• Alternate between methods within themes when both carry equal weight in the argument.
• Present the dominant method first when one method clearly leads the analysis.

How Do You Organize a Long Results Chapter into Sections?

Use consistent headings, numbering, and formatting to show hierarchy clearly throughout a long chapter.

• Major headings for each method, theme, or research question.
• Subheadings for specific findings or datasets within that major area.
• Further subheadings for fine-grained detail where the data warrant it.
• A short introduction at the start of every table, chart, or graph, explaining what it shows before the reader encounters it.

Typical Length and Proportions

As a general guideline, the results chapter occupies roughly 15-20% of total thesis length, though exact proportions vary by field and by the volume of data collected.

What Are the Best Practices for Tables and Figures?

Tables and figures should each stand alone, meaning a reader could understand them without reading the surrounding text at all.

• Number tables and figures consecutively, in separate sequences, in the order they are mentioned in the text.
• Cite every table and figure in the text before it appears, for example, “As shown in Table 3” or “Figure 4 illustrates.”
• Give every table and figure a clear, descriptive title and a short legend explaining what it shows.
• Use consistent fonts, labels, and abbreviations across all figures, and define every abbreviation in a footnote or legend.
• Keep units of measurement consistent throughout the thesis; do not switch between, for example, “ml” and “mL” for the same unit.

Common software used to prepare statistical tables and figures includes SPSS, R, MATLAB, Microsoft Excel, SAS, GraphPad Prism, and Minitab; for the tables themselves, the built-in table function in Microsoft Word is usually the simplest option.

Do Tables and Figures Need to Be Cited Separately in the Text?

Yes, every table and figure must be referenced in the body text using its number, since examiners expect each visual to be clearly signposted rather than left to stand without comment.

What Language and Phrasing Work Best in a Results Chapter?

Consistent, neutral, evidence-based phrasing helps keep the chapter descriptive rather than interpretive.

If you must blend a small amount of interpretation into a results section, for instance to clarify an unusual pattern, use clearly tentative language such as “seems,” “appears,” “may,” or “probably” so the line between fact and speculation remains visible to the reader.

How Do Results, Discussion, and Conclusion Sections Differ?

Results are presented across three different sections of a thesis, and each one has a distinct role that should never be blurred.

Can the Results and Discussion Chapters Be Combined?

Yes, some qualitative or mixed-methods theses combine results and discussion into one “Findings and Discussion” chapter, but this should be confirmed with a supervisor and checked against institutional guidelines first.

How Does the Results Chapter Differ Across Academic Fields?

The presentation of results varies considerably across disciplines, even when the underlying methods are similar, because each thesis is answering a different research question with different evidence.

• Science theses typically separate results and discussion fully, presenting experiments and statistical tests in a dedicated chapter.
• Humanities and social sciences theses, particularly qualitative ones, sometimes combine results and discussion into a single chapter.
• Two studies using the same method, such as interviews, may still present results very differently if they are answering different kinds of questions.

Despite these differences, results should always be presented logically and should always reflect the research questions and hypotheses set out earlier in the thesis.

Are There Two Common Approaches Used in Humanities and Social Sciences Theses?

Yes, writers in these fields generally choose between leading with a synopsis of all findings or presenting one result at a time, each followed by its own brief explanation.

1. Present a synopsis of the results first, then explain the key findings in more depth, useful when a few findings matter most.
2. Present one result, explain it, then present the next result and explain that, concluding with an overall synopsis, useful when several findings carry roughly equal weight.

What Common Mistakes Should You Avoid in the Results Chapter?

What Is the Single Most Common Examiner Criticism of Results Chapters?

The most common criticism is mixing results with discussion, since examiners expect this chapter to describe findings only and to leave all interpretation for the following chapter.

What Final Checks Should You Run Before Submitting the Chapter?

• Have all data collection procedures been completed and all results analyzed?
• Are all relevant results included, even those that do not support the hypothesis?
• Are results reported objectively, with no interpretation or speculation?
• For quantitative work, are both descriptive and inferential statistics included, with significance clearly stated?
• Are tables and figures used to present all major results, and are they correctly labeled and numbered?
• Does every result correspond to a method described earlier in the thesis, with no orphaned methods or results?
• Does the chapter end with a brief, non-interpretive summary that leads naturally into the discussion?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the results chapter of a PhD thesis be?

The results chapter typically makes up 15 to 20 percent of the total thesis word count, for example, around 12,000 to 16,000 words in an 80,000-word PhD thesis, or 2,000 to 3,000 words in a 15,000-word master’s dissertation.

What is the difference between a results chapter and a findings chapter?

The terms are generally used interchangeably, though “findings” is more common in qualitative research, while “results” is more common in quantitative and experimental work; both describe data objectively without interpretation.

Should the results chapter be organized by research question or by theme?

Quantitative chapters are usually organized by research question or hypothesis, while qualitative chapters are usually organized by theme; mixed-methods studies often combine both approaches depending on which method dominates.

Can I include my own opinions or interpretation in the results chapter?

No, opinions and interpretation belong in the discussion chapter; the results chapter should remain factual, and any necessary qualification should use tentative language such as “appears” or “may.”

How many quotations should I include for each theme in a qualitative results chapter?

Most guidance recommends at least two to three representative quotations per theme, supported by a note on how many participants expressed that theme, so that the evidence base for each theme is visible to examiners.

Do I need a statistician to help write the quantitative results chapter?

Many doctoral candidates do consult a statistician, particularly for complex designs, and it is best to seek that help early so you fully understand your results before attempting to write about them.

What software is commonly used to produce tables and figures for a thesis results chapter?

Common options include SPSS, R, MATLAB, Microsoft Excel, SAS, GraphPad Prism, and Minitab for statistical analysis, with the built-in table tool in Microsoft Word often used to build the tables themselves.

Is it acceptable to combine the results and discussion chapters in a dissertation?

Yes, this is acceptable at some institutions, particularly for qualitative or mixed-methods studies where findings and interpretation are closely linked, but the decision should always be confirmed with a supervisor first.