Use a dedicated Results chapter especially if undertaking a scientific dissertation and/or you are using quantitative research.
In this chapter you describe what your research has discovered. Follow some tips for an effective Results chapter:
- Describe the results. Be objective. Don’t explain, discuss, interpret. This takes place in the discussion chapter.
- Include tables, graphs or illustrations to make it easier to understand the data.
- You can draw attention to specific trends or data that you think are important.
- You can relate to the research hypothesis (supported or not supported?), if applicable.
- Present key findings and excerpts of data. Don’t present all raw data, as these belong in the Appendices.
- Be truthful and honest. Present the data you found - not what you wish you had found! Remember that misrepresenting data has ethical implications.
- If you are presenting statistical results, place descriptive statistics first (means and standard deviations) followed by the results of any inferential statistical tests you performed.
- Indicate any transformations to the data you are reporting; for example, you may report percentage correct scores rather than straight scores.
