The results section of a research paper presents the factual findings of your study. This is where you communicate what you discovered in your data analysis and experiments without any discussion or interpretation. The goal is to summarize what was found in a clear and factual way so readers understand what was done and what information was gathered before any conclusions are drawn. Given the results section conveys the outcome of your research, it is crucial this section is well-organized, logically structured, and objectively presented.
The structure and components of the results section will vary depending on the type of research conducted and methodology used, but in general it should include the following elements:
Introduction paragraph: Begin with an introductory paragraph that contextualizes the results section. Remind readers of the purpose and goals of the study, the variables or groups examined, and the methodology utilized such as the type of tests or measurements performed. This provides context and guides how to interpret the results that follow.
Text results: Present the results of your study in a clear, step-by-step manner using full sentences and paragraphs as needed. Report numerical data, percentages, and statistical values directly associated with your research questions and hypotheses. Use relevant charts, graphs, tables, and figures to display quantitative results in a visually understandable format whenever possible as these aids comprehension. Numbers communicated verbally in sentences can become confusing for readers, so visual representations are ideal.
Non-significant results: Be sure to report any results that were not statistically significant or did not support your hypotheses. Omitting or glossing over non-significant findings risks credibility as it violates full disclosure. State what was not observed or measurements that did not differ meaningfully.
Qualitative results: If interviews, observations, or open-ended responses were part of the methodology, integrate relevant quotes, examples, or themes directly relating to your research questions. Provide a sense of participants’ voices and experiences to bring qualitative findings to life for readers.
Subheadings: Use subheadings within the results text to organize different types or sets of findings and make the section easy to navigate. Subheadings help break up large blocks of text and clearly separate one set of outcomes from another.
Pagination: Number pages in the results section to allow readers to easily reference specific results. Tables and figures should also be numbered and include captions to stand alone from the main text.
APA formatting: When reporting statistics, follow APA style guidelines for proper formatting of things like p-values, degrees of freedom, sample sizes (n), confidence intervals, effect sizes, and more. Consult the APA Publication Manual for rules on areas like capitalization, parentheses, and punctuation in reporting results.
Interpretation: Critically, do not interpret, discuss causes or implications, or compare results to other studies or theories in this section. Save analysis, hypotheses, and conclusions for the discussion. Simply report what the data and numeric facts revealed through objective observation.
It is also advisable to:
-Present results in the same sequence as research questions and hypotheses-beginning with the most important
-Display results succinctly without unnecessary details that distract from main findings
-Use clear language accessible to diverse readers from various disciplines
-Maintain consistent tense (usually past tense)
-Balance brevity with thorough disclosure of all pertinent outcomes
-Proofread carefully to avoid errors in reporting values, statistics, or mislabeling tables/figures
Following these guidelines will produce a cohesive, well-structured results section that effectively conveys the key outcomes of the research to readers. Proper formatting and clear presentation of empirical evidence lays the groundwork for a strong discussion analyzing and contextualizing what was discovered. Take care in constructing this pivotal section to demonstrate your methodology was conducted rigorously and resulted in useful information advancing scientific knowledge.