Master the Results Section: Present Your Thesis Findings Clearly
The outcomes section of students’ theses is typically a cause of confusion for them as they write. One of the most important parts of a thesis is this section. Students should regularly read scholarly publications to accomplish it correctly. This aids in their comprehension of what constitutes a superior thesis. There are some broad rules to adhere to even though every paper is different. A clear thesis statement that directs the entire paper is essential. It’s also important to arrange ideas logically.
Although conveying research paper findings is the main goal of the results section, students should be aware that they cannot just copy and paste unprocessed data without providing a thorough explanation. In this blog post, we will discuss how to craft a substantial results section of a thesis.
What Exactly is The Results Section?
The results section in a scientific thesis or research paper is where you share the main discoveries based on the collected data. It’s crucial to present these findings in a clear order without adding any personal opinions or interpretations. This sets the stage for later discussion.
Explaining the data that highlights its significance for your research topic is one of your key objectives here. It’s crucial to master the outcomes section writing technique when writing a thesis. The Methods and Materials part usually comes first, followed by the Results section, and then the Discussion portion. Nonetheless, the Results and Discussion are integrated in several journals. The question “What were the results of your research?” is directly addressed in this section. By presenting the data in easily understood sentences, the results section aids readers in comprehending the significance of your findings. What Kind of Information Belongs in the Results Section? You must present the study’s findings in the results part of your thesis.
What Kind of Information Belongs in the Results Section?
You must present the study’s findings in the results part of your thesis. This includes various elements:
- Firstly, you should include data presented in tables, charts, graphs, and other figures. These can be placed within the text or at the end of the manuscript.
- Additionally, provide a contextual analysis of this data. Explain its meaning in sentence form, helping readers understand its significance.
- Include all data relevant to the central research questions of your study. This ensures your findings directly address the main objectives.
- Don’t forget secondary findings, such as secondary outcomes or subgroup analyses. These can provide further insights into your research.
Depending on the scope of your study or the variety of variables examined, focus on presenting the most relevant results. Stick to what directly answers the research question stated in the introduction.
Remember, any information not directly related to the findings should be excluded from this section. Only include what contributes to understanding the outcomes of your study. Typically, explanations and interpretations should be saved for the discussion section. However, some journals may ask authors to combine the results and discussions. If not specified, keep interpretations separate.
How to Write the Results Section?
The results section should have the following:
Section 1: Introduction
To write the Results section effectively, start with a brief introduction. This introduction is important because it gives context to your findings. You should start by restating your problem statement and research questions and focus on the purpose of your research. This helps readers understand what your chapter is about. Then, outline what your results chapter will include and what readers can expect. It’s crucial to create a coherent and logical story in your results chapter, so plan your structure carefully and make it clear to your readers. Keep the introduction section concise, with just two or three short paragraphs. Remember, it’s an overview, not a summary of the entire chapter.
Section 2: Body
It is crucial to adhere to specific rules when composing the outcomes portion of your thesis to maintain coherence and clarity. First, stay impartial by describing the results rather than offering an interpretation of them throughout this section. Planning the structure of your results chapter is crucial for organizing your findings effectively. Divide the chapter into sections and subsections to maintain a logical flow of information and make it simpler for people to understand what you’re saying.
For qualitative studies, structuring the results according to themes can enhance readability. However, it’s not mandatory for every thesis chapter. Use quotes to support your claims, and distinguish them from your own words by presenting them in italics. Aim to provide at least two pieces of evidence per claim directly linked to your data. It’s important to include all relevant results, regardless of whether they support your initial assumptions.
In addition to using quotes, you can also strengthen your arguments by referencing appendices. Ensure to mention the name or number of the appendix and specify the relevant lines from which the data was extracted. Maintain consistency in your referencing style throughout the chapter, following your university’s prescribed style guide, such as APA or Harvard. This makes your presentation of the findings more accurate and clear.
Section 3: Concluding Summary
A concluding summary of the results chapter is important since it summarizes your key results and establishes the context for the next chapter. Make sure everything is easy to comprehend because some readers could jump straight to these sections.
To begin, you should remind the readers about the key findings that directly relate to your research question. These findings serve as the backbone for your successive discussion. This section should serve as a reminder of the most significant aspects because of the amount of material covered in this chapter.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to note that the concluding summary should hold back from introducing any new information. Its purpose is simply to summarize what has already been presented in the chapter. It is, therefore, crucial to be concise, concentrating just on the most important points without replicating the contents of the entire chapter.
Tips to Write a Good Results Section with Dos and Don’ts
Dos to Write a Good Results Section
Following are some points students should keep in mind when writing a results section in their thesis.
Use Past Tense Only in Writing the Results Section
In the results section, only use the past tense when writing about what you discovered during the study. This means using words like ‘found,’ ‘established,’ or ‘confirmed.’ Using past tense shows that the research is finished and the results are clear, as shown in visuals like charts, graphs, figures, and tables.
Write Concisely
Keep your writing short and clear. When you analyze data, you need to explain what it means. Sometimes, this can be hard to understand because of the complicated words used. So, you should write the results part of your work simply and clearly. This is important to make sure other researchers understand the right message. For instance, it’s crucial to say clearly which results are linked to which questions or guesses in the study.
Referencing the Study Hypothesis
Talking about the study’s main questions or hypothesis. The results part tries to give answers to these questions or confirm or reject the guesses. When students write the results part, they should mention these questions or hypotheses. It’s best to do it in the same order they were introduced in the beginning for logical consistency.
Begin With Broad Results
Start with the main outcomes first. Usually, research papers have different results that either support or disprove the main ideas. Some results are broad and need careful examination, while others are comprehensive and just mentioned briefly. with the general results because they have a higher impact on the main ideas of the study. However, you should still mention the less significant results later on because they’re directly related to the study’s questions or hypothesis.
Never Ignore Negative Results
Always pay attention to the negative results. When researchers write papers, they might see the results in a way that supports what they want to find. Many students might want to ignore negative results if they don’t match their expectations or preferences. However, students must understand that a result section shows all the findings of their research paper, whether they are positive or negative. This is what makes a research paper trustworthy and credible.
Avoid Background Information and Explanation of Findings
Don’t give extra details or talk about what led to your results. When writing the results part, students shouldn’t explain their findings or give background info here. Individuals who read this part already know about the study from the introduction and literature review. So, they want to see a thorough explanation of the results in the discussion section later on.
Don’ts to Write a Good Results Section
Following are some points students should avoid when writing a results section.
Do Not Repeat the Data in Figures and Tables
When you refer to visuals, figures, and tables in your writing, do not repeat the same data, i.e., numbers and details, over and over again. Instead, it is better to explain what the data means. Focus on the most important information because it gives a clear and concise message about your research question or hypothesis.
Do Not Jump Around the Data to Discuss the Findings
When talking about what you found, stick to the order of your questions. Don’t skip around and talk about something from a different question when you’re supposed to be answering a specific one.
Do Not Cite Other Research Works
Don’t mention other people’s research in your work. In the results section, just focus on sharing what you found in your study. Avoid going into unnecessary details or comparing your results to what others have done. This should be done in the discussion section.
Do Not Use the Results of Other Authors
Don’t copy what other authors have found. In academics, like writing papers, it’s important to have your results. This implies that you ought to write about your discoveries, both positive and negative. You are welcome to review the findings of others, but only to compare them with what you have discovered.
Do Not Use Text to Describe Everything
Don’t rely only on words to explain everything. Charts, figures, visuals, and tables are there to show data quickly. They help writers avoid making things too complicated for readers by showing the big picture instead of explaining every little detail. So, use visuals along with explanations to share information effectively.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, your study is strengthened by the outcomes section, which offers the data to back up your conclusions. You can effectively convey to your readers the relevance of your findings by rationally structuring your results and utilizing straightforward language. Recall that you can improve comprehension by using tables, graphs, and charts as needed. You should also provide thorough explanations of your findings and their implications so that your audience understands the importance of your research to the area as a whole. To summarize, you can boost the effect of your work and significantly advance your field of study by prioritizing accuracy and clarity in the presentation of your thesis findings.
You might choose to hire Online Paper Help, become an expert in the results section, and effectively communicate the conclusions of your thesis. We can help you learn how to write the results section of the thesis. Contact us any time you need assistance with writing a thesis.