This document provides guidelines for writing the results, discussion, and conclusion sections of a scientific research paper. [1] The results section should describe the key outcomes of the study in a neutral manner according to the methods. [2] Tables and figures should be numbered, captioned, and referenced in the text. [3] The discussion section interprets the results in the context of previous literature and considers alternative explanations.
This document provides guidelines for writing the results, discussion, and conclusion sections of a scientific research paper. [1] The results section should describe the key outcomes of the study in a neutral manner according to the methods. [2] Tables and figures should be numbered, captioned, and referenced in the text. [3] The discussion section interprets the results in the context of previous literature and considers alternative explanations.
Results - In the results section or chapter you describe the main outcomes of your study obtained according to the methods section in a neutral (i.e. without interpretations that may be subject to discussion) and accessible manner. - Limit yourself to only those results that are relevant to answer your research question. - It is recommended to structure the description of the results, for example to describe the primary features first, and then the secondary and tertiary features. Results - You may also order the description of your results geographically (e.g. from north to south) or chronologically (e.g. from old to young). - Present the relevant results in the form figures, tables, photographs, and maps.
Tables and Figures
- All tables, figures, photographs, and maps should be numbered consecutively in the order as they appear and referred to in your report or paper. - In papers and short reports, number them sequentially. - In longer reports, include the chapter number in the table/figure number (e.g. Table 4-1, Table 4-2, Table 6-1; Figure 1.1, Figure 1.2, Figure 3.1, etc.). - note the following for the tables and figures: 1- Provide a caption to your table or figure. This caption should be sufficiently informative to understand the table or figure without reading the main text.
2- Place the table caption above the table
and the figure caption below the figure.
3- Each table and figure should be
referred to in the text. Refer explicitly to the table/figure number. - note the following for the tables and figures: 4- Explain the symbols used in the table/figure caption or figure legend. 5- Give units to the symbols (in the caption, in the row and column headers of tables, in the figure legend, or in the axis titles of graphs) 6- In tables, use the symbol „ − ‟ or “n/a” (not applicable) when a parameter was not determined 7- If a table or figure is borrowed from the literature, provide appropriate refer- ences. For official publications, you may need permission from the publisher of the original table or figure. Discussion - In the discussion section or chapter, you give interpretations of your results by relating and comparing them to each other (e.g. Do they support or contradict each other?) - put them in a broader context of the literature (e.g. what did others find that relate to your subject?. - Alternative interpretations may also be given (e.g. “The results suggest …, but could also imply ….”). Discussion - You should also discuss the consequences of your findings for the aim/research question/hypothesis (e.g. do the outcome support or oppose the hypothesis? should you revise your assumptions? what information is still missing to definitely answer your research question? - Furthermore, you identify and discuss the implications for science (e.g. what new questions arose from your work and society (e.g. how can the new findings be used to solve societal issues or to develop new technology? Conclusion - In the conclusion section you summarize the main findings and provide answers to your research question. - The conclusion should logically follow from your results and discussion. - Do not present new facts or results that have not been discussed in a previous section. - Finally, draw wider conclusions regarding the implications for new questions that arose from your study.