How to Write a Results Section: Tips & Examples

The results section is one of the most critical parts of any academic research paper or dissertation. It presents the findings of your study, including data collected and analysed, without interpretation or discussion. A well-written results section clearly communicates your findings in an organised, concise, and unbiased manner. This guide will provide practical tips on how to write a results section and offer insights with thesis results section examples to help you structure and format this important section.

Whether you are writing a dissertation, thesis, or research paper, understanding the correct approach to presenting your data will make your work more effective and professional. Let’s explore the steps to crafting a clear and coherent results section.

What Is the Results Section?

The results section provides a straightforward account of the data you’ve gathered during your research. Unlike the discussion section, where you interpret and analyse the significance of your findings, the results section focuses purely on presenting the data without commentary.

This section should be well-structured, using headings and subheadings if necessary, to guide readers through the data. Visual aids, such as tables, graphs, and charts, are often included to represent numerical data clearly. It’s important to avoid interpreting the results in this section; that belongs in the discussion part of your paper.

How to Start a Results Section of a Research Paper

Knowing how to start a results section of a research paper can be challenging. The results section should open with a summary of the main findings. This might include reference to any hypotheses or research questions you aimed to answer.

To start your results section effectively:

1. Restate your research question or hypothesis. This reminds the reader of the study’s goals before you present the findings.
2. Outline the organisation of your results. For instance, explain whether you’ll be presenting the results in chronological order, by research question, or by type of analysis. This helps to orient the reader.
3. Begin with your primary results, focusing first on the most important or central findings before moving on to any secondary or less significant data.

For example:

“In this section, we present the findings from our analysis of [your data source]. These results are organised by research question and presented in the order of importance, starting with the primary analysis of [variable].”

Structuring the Results Section: Key Elements

When writing the results section of a dissertation or research paper, it is essential to structure it in a way that highlights your findings clearly and logically. Here’s a breakdown of how to organise this section:

1. Present the Main Findings

The first step in writing the results section is to present the core findings related to your research questions or hypotheses. For quantitative studies, this will likely involve statistical data. For qualitative research, you might present themes or patterns that emerged from your data analysis. Be sure to group similar findings together for clarity.

For example, if you conducted an experiment testing a new treatment method, you might start by presenting the most important data related to your hypothesis, such as statistical significance or comparative analysis.

2. Use Visuals

Including tables, graphs, and charts can greatly improve the clarity of your results section. Visuals can make it easier for your audience to understand complex data at a glance. Make sure each figure is clearly labelled and referenced in the text.

For example, if you’re presenting survey data, a bar chart showing the percentage of respondents for each option can convey the information more effectively than words alone.

3. Describe Secondary Findings

Once you’ve outlined your primary findings, you can move on to secondary findings that are less directly related to your main research questions but still important. These findings should be presented logically and cohesively. Ensure that any secondary findings do not distract from the overall narrative of your results section.

4. Address Inconsistencies or Unexpected Results

It’s essential to acknowledge any unexpected or contradictory findings. Present these in the same objective manner, without trying to explain or justify them – the interpretation will come later in your discussion section. Doing so adds credibility to your work and shows thoroughness in your research.

For example, “Contrary to our hypothesis, no significant difference was found between [variables]. This finding will be explored further in the discussion section.”

5. Statistical Significance and Data Interpretation

In some research papers, statistical significance is a critical part of the results section. If your research involves statistical analysis, ensure that you clearly state which findings are statistically significant and how this supports or rejects your hypotheses.

For example, “The results showed a statistically significant increase in [variable], with a p-value of 0.03, indicating that the treatment had a measurable effect.”

Thesis Results Section Example

Here’s a brief thesis results section example to illustrate how you might present your findings clearly and concisely:

“Results from the quantitative survey indicate that 68% of respondents preferred the new teaching method, compared to 32% who favoured traditional methods (see Table 1). Among the key findings, the adoption rate of the new method was significantly higher in urban schools (85%) compared to rural schools (45%). Statistical analysis confirmed a significant difference in preference between these two groups (p < 0.05).

In addition to this, qualitative data analysis revealed three key themes: enhanced student engagement, teacher adaptability, and challenges in implementation. Each of these themes will be explored further in the discussion section.”

Results Section of Dissertation Example

In a dissertation, the results section can be more extensive due to the volume of data collected. Here’s an example of the results section in a dissertation:

“Quantitative data from the survey were analysed using SPSS software. The results showed that 75% of participants believed that the intervention had a positive impact on student motivation (see Figure 2). Further analysis indicated that student motivation scores increased by an average of 12 points post-intervention (p < 0.01), demonstrating the effectiveness of the programme.

Qualitative feedback from interviews with teachers corroborated these findings. Teachers reported higher levels of engagement in the classroom, with one participant stating, ‘Students are much more interested in the subject matter now.’ These qualitative findings are summarised in Table 3 and will be discussed in greater detail in the following section.”

Example of Results Section in Research Paper

In journal articles or shorter research papers, the results section is typically more condensed. Here’s a brief example of a results section in a research paper:

“The analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between exercise frequency and reduced stress levels (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Participants who engaged in regular physical activity reported a mean stress score of 12, compared to 20 for those who exercised less frequently. This suggests a strong inverse relationship between exercise and stress levels (see Figure 1).”

How to Write Results Section of Research Paper: Tips

Writing the results section is essential for your research paper’s clarity. Follow these tips to ensure you effectively present your data:

1. Be Concise and Objective: Stick to the facts and avoid unnecessary elaboration. Your goal is to present the findings without bias or interpretation.
2. Organise Your Data: Use subheadings to organise your results by research question, hypothesis, or data type. This makes the section easier to follow.
3. Use Visual Aids: Charts, graphs, and tables can make your data more digestible and should be used to highlight key findings.
4. Check Formatting Guidelines: Ensure that the format of your results section aligns with the requirements of your academic institution or journal.
5. Avoid Discussion: Remember that the results section is not the place to explain or interpret your data—that comes in the discussion section.

Final Thoughts

Writing a results section may seem complicated, but with a structured approach and attention to detail, you can present your research findings clearly and effectively. Always make sure that your results section accurately communicates your findings in a way that is easy for readers to understand.

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