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How to Write a Discussion Section | Tips & Examples

How to Write a Discussion Section | Tips & Examples

Published on August 21, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on December 7, 2022.

The discussion section is where you delve into the meaning, importance, and relevance of your results .

It should focus on explaining and evaluating what you found, showing how it relates to your literature review and paper or dissertation topic , and making an argument in support of your overall conclusion. It should not be a second results section.

There are different ways to write this section, but you can focus your writing around these key elements:

What not to include in your discussion section, step 1: summarize your key findings, step 2: give your interpretations, step 3: discuss the implications, step 4: acknowledge the limitations, step 5: share your recommendations, discussion section example, frequently asked questions about discussion sections.

There are a few common mistakes to avoid when writing the discussion section of your paper.

Start this section by reiterating your research problem and concisely summarizing your major findings. Don’t just repeat all the data you have already reported—aim for a clear statement of the overall result that directly answers your main research question . This should be no more than one paragraph.

Many students struggle with the differences between a discussion section and a results section . The crux of the matter is that your results sections should present your results, and your discussion section should subjectively evaluate them. Try not to blend elements of these two sections, in order to keep your paper sharp.

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The meaning of your results may seem obvious to you, but it’s important to spell out their significance for your reader, showing exactly how they answer your research question.

The form of your interpretations will depend on the type of research, but some typical approaches to interpreting the data include:

You can organize your discussion around key themes, hypotheses, or research questions, following the same structure as your results section. Alternatively, you can also begin by highlighting the most significant or unexpected results.

As well as giving your own interpretations, make sure to relate your results back to the scholarly work that you surveyed in the literature review . The discussion should show how your findings fit with existing knowledge, what new insights they contribute, and what consequences they have for theory or practice.

Ask yourself these questions:

Your overall aim is to show the reader exactly what your research has contributed, and why they should care.

Even the best research has its limitations. Acknowledging these is important to demonstrate your credibility. Limitations aren’t about listing your errors, but about providing an accurate picture of what can and cannot be concluded from your study.

Limitations might be due to your overall research design, specific methodological choices , or unanticipated obstacles that emerged during your research process.

Here are a few common possibilities:

After noting the limitations, you can reiterate why the results are nonetheless valid for the purpose of answering your research question.

Based on the discussion of your results, you can make recommendations for practical implementation or further research. Sometimes, the recommendations are saved for the conclusion .

Suggestions for further research can lead directly from the limitations. Don’t just state that more studies should be done—give concrete ideas for how future work can build on areas that your own research was unable to address.

In the discussion , you explore the meaning and relevance of your research results , explaining how they fit with existing research and theory. Discuss:

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

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How to Write a Discussion Section: Writing Guide

Table of contents

Any discussion section of a research paper is an intimidating, dark creature. But it’s not a horror story, and your paper is not some fantastic beast. So everything is not that complicated if you know where to find the required information. We’ll tell you everything there is to know about writing your discussion. Our easy guide covers all important bits, including research questions and your research results. Do you know how all enumerated events are connected? Well, you will after reading this guide we’ve prepared for you!

What Is in the Discussion Section of a Research Paper

The discussion section of a research paper can be viewed as something similar to the conclusion of your paper. But not literal, of course. It’s an ultimate section where you can talk about the findings of your study. Think about these questions when writing:

So, answer your questions, provide proof, and don’t forget about your promises from the introduction.

How to Write a Discussion Section in 5 Steps

How to write the discussion section of a research paper is something everyone googles eventually. It's just life. But why not make everything easier? In brief, this section we’re talking about must include all following parts:

Indeed, all those parts may confuse anyone. So by looking at our guide, you'll save yourself some hassle. P.S. All our steps are easy and explained in detail! But if you are looking for the most efficient solution, consider using professional help. Leave your “ write my research paper for me ” order at StudyCrumb and get a customized study tailored to your requirements.

Step 1. Start Strong: Discussion Section of a Research Paper

First and foremost, how to start the discussion section of a research paper? Here’s what you should definitely consider before settling down to start writing:

Step 2. Answer the Questions in Your Discussion Section of a Research Paper

Writing the discussion section of a research paper also involves mentioning your questions. Remember that in your introduction, you have promised your readers to answer certain questions. Well, now it’s a perfect time to finally give the awaited answer. You need to explain all possible correlations between your findings, research questions, and literature proposed. You already had hypotheses. So were they correct, or maybe you want to propose certain corrections? Section’s main goal is to avoid open ends. It’s not a story or a fairytale with an intriguing ending. If you have several questions, you must answer them. As simple as that.

Step 3. Relate Your Results in a Discussion Section

Writing a discussion section of a research paper also requires any writer to explain their results. You will undoubtedly include an impactful literature review. However, your readers should not just try and struggle with understanding what are some specific relationships behind previous studies and your results. Your results should sound something like: “This guy in their paper discovered that apples are green. Nevertheless, I have proven via experimentation and research that apples are actually red.” Please, don’t take these results directly. It’s just an initial hypothesis. But what you should definitely remember is any practical implications of your study. Why does it matter and how can anyone use it? That’s the most crucial question.

Step 4. Describe the Limitations in Your Discussion Section

Discussion section of a research paper isn’t limitless. What does that mean? Essentially, it means that you also have to discuss any limitations of your study. Maybe you had some methodological inconsistencies. Possibly, there are no particular theories or not enough information for you to be entirely confident in one’s conclusions. You might say that an available source of literature you have studied does not focus on one’s issue. That’s why one’s main limitation is theoretical. However, keep in mind that your limitations must possess a certain degree of relevancy. You can just say that you haven’t found enough books. Your information must be truthful to research.

Step 5. Conclude Your Discussion Section With Recommendations

Your last step when you write a discussion section in a paper is its conclusion, like in any other academic work. Writer’s conclusion must be as strong as their starting point of the overall work. Check out our brief list of things to know about the conclusion in research paper :

Discussion Section of a Research Paper Example

All the best example discussion sections of a research paper will be written according to our brief guide. Don’t forget that you need to state your findings and underline the importance of your work. An undoubtedly big part of one’s discussion will definitely be answering and explaining the research questions. In other words, you’ll already have all the knowledge you have so carefully gathered. Our last step for you is to recollect and wrap up your paper. But we’re sure you’ll succeed!

How to Write a Discussion Section: Final Thoughts

Today we have covered how to write a discussion section. That was quite a brief journey, wasn’t it? Just to remind you to focus on these things:

But, wait, this guide is not the only thing we can do. Looking for how to write an abstract for a research paper for example? We have such a blog and much more on our platform.

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Discussion Section of a Research Paper: Frequently Asked Questions

1. how long should the discussion section of a research paper be.

Our discussion section of a research paper should not be longer than other sections. So try to keep it short but as informative as possible. It usually contains around 6-7 paragraphs in length. It is enough to briefly summarize all the important data and not to drag it.

2. What's the difference between the discussion and the results?

The difference between discussion and results is very simple and easy to understand. The results only report your main findings. You stated what you have found and how you have done that. In contrast, one’s discussion mentions your findings and explains how they relate to other literature, research questions, and one’s hypothesis. Therefore, it is not only a report but an efficient as well as proper explanation.

3. What's the difference between a discussion and a conclusion?

The difference between discussion and conclusion is also quite easy. Conclusion is a brief summary of all the findings and results. Still, our favorite discussion section interprets and explains your main results. It is an important but more lengthy and wordy part. Besides, it uses extra literature for references.

4. What is the purpose of the discussion section?

The primary purpose of a discussion section is to interpret and describe all your interesting findings. Therefore, you should state what you have learned, whether your hypothesis was correct and how your results can be explained using other sources. If this section is clear to readers, our congratulations as you have succeeded.

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June 15, 2021

This article shows you how to write a discussion section of a research paper in five simple steps. But first, let us know more about the importance and content of a discussion section of research paper. The following points explain what you need to make sure you include in the discussion section.

What Goes in the Discussion Section of a Research Paper?

A discussion section of lab report is one type of assignment we can use to demonstrate what is in the discussion section of a research paper. There are six important points you should make as you write this section of the assignment:

You need to reiterate the research problem and the major findings. Briefly point out the research problem or problems your study addresses. You should state the method or approach you used to address the research problem and then move to describe the major finding of the study. Write clearly and concisely. Make direct statements and keep this section to one paragraph. You need to explain the meaning and importance of these findings. You need to assume that the reader is learning about your research for the first time and may not have thought about its importance to the field. You need to explain the significance of your work to what is already known and what it could mean for future studies in the area. You don’t want your reader to have to go through your research paper several times before coming to the same realization as you. You can convince the reader of the importance in this paragraph. You need to relate your research study findings to prior research work. No matter how unique your research study may seem, it will likely be connected to prior research. You should know this from the literature review you conducted and included in the research study. Make connections to establish your credibility by comparing and contrasting your approach, methods, questions, and results to whatever has come before. You need to consider different explanations of your research findings. When you conduct any research study your main goal is to discover. You are not out to prove something (although many students believe they must prove their thesis statement to be successful). No matter what your theories are going into the research project, you should keep in mind that your discoveries should encourage further research. Consider different explanations of the findings even when they don’t fit your hypothesis. You need to acknowledge that there are limitations to your study. All research studies will have limitations and you must identify and acknowledge them before they are discovered and pointed out by others. State any questions or issues that you could not address and provide an explanation of how these limitations may have affected your research study results. You need to make suggestions for the work that will follow your own. The last paragraph of the discussion section should make suggestions for further research. Some people decide to make recommendations in the conclusion section, but it’s perfectly acceptable to include a few sentences in the discussion that point to more work that needs to be done to address questions that have gone unanswered.

How Long Should a Discussion Section Be?

The exact length of this section varies from one assignment to the next. A good rule of thumb is that the section should not exceed the number of words or pages of the other sections combined (e.g., introduction, methods, and results). You should also try to write the discussion within 6 to 8 paragraphs addressing each of the points listed above .

How to Write Discussion Section in Five Simple Steps

Unlike other sections in a research paper, the discussion section is where you will go into the meaning and importance of your study’s results and discuss how it relates to other studies about your topic. An important part of learning how to write the discussion section of a research paper is taking into consideration your research questions and literature review. Here are five steps to follow when writing a discussion section:

Summarize the Key Research Findings

This chapter should begin with a few sentences that reiterate the research problem and questions followed by a concise summary of the key research findings. You should not repeat all the information you have already stated in prior sections. Make a clear statement the addresses the primary research question you sought to address and the overall result of the study. For example, “The study demonstrates that…” “The results indicate a correlation between…” “The analysis suggests that…” These statements are clear and concise, and they will keep you on track with the goal of this section.

Give Your Interpretations of the Findings

Next, you need to point out the meaning of the results and their significance to the reader even if it seems obvious to you. Your interpretations will be shaped by the kind of research you conducted (qualitative approach or quantitative approach). You can find more information on this in an article discussing research methods. But there are some typical approaches you can include in your interpretation, including identifying patterns in data, discussing whether your findings support your thesis, and explaining unexpected results.

Describe the Implications of the Findings

In addition to giving your research interpretations, you need to relate the results to the work you found when going through the literature review you included in your study. Answer questions like “How do your findings relate to prior knowledge?” “How can new perspectives contribute to what is already known?” and “What are the consequences and how can they be applied to the field’s theory or practice?” You will have to ask yourself several questions to provide an adequate discussion of the implications, so make a list of questions and write two or three sentence answers to each one.

Acknowledge the Limitations of the Study

Every research study has some limitations. It is important to acknowledge what these are. At the college and graduate levels, you have access to numerous resources at the library and available through interlibrary loans. But you may still be limited because of time and data. It’s important to state your limitations to give your study credibility. Another researcher needs to know that although your findings are sound, there may be differences in results if other factors are considered.

G ive Recommendations for More Research

The last paragraph of the discussion section is where you make recommendations for further study. If you recall what we said earlier in this how to write discussion section of scientific paper article, all research is built upon prior research. You can make recommendations about how your findings can be applied to future studies or how they can be applied to current theories and practices. You can state this with sentences that begin with “Future research should take XYZ into account…” or “Further studies are required to establish…”

Following the steps above will ensure you know how to write discussion section of scientific paper that should earn you a high score. It may also give you the acknowledgment and respect of your peers who may use your work as a foundation for future studies.

Further Help with a Discussion Section

We offer a lot of experience when it comes to crafting a discussion in research paper. Our experts know how to write ad discussion section that makes it easier for researchers and professors can use to conduct their studies. This will give you the credible respect that you deserve for putting together a capstone project that will be the foundation of all the academic and professional work you do in your field. We are available 24/7 and will address your needs with a customized plan to fit your budget while delivering excellent services and quality products.

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Writing a discussion section of research paper.

Are you struggling to write your first research paper? Congratulations! Doing it all by yourself won’t be easy, but you will quickly get the hang of it. Subsequent papers will be a lot easier to write. However, the first research paper always proves to be difficult. You don’t have extensive experience with academic writing, so you may be wondering how to write various sections of it.

The discussion section of research paper is one of the most difficult sections of the essay. This is why we will do our best to explain what it is, what it is there for, and how to write it. We will help you write the research paper discussion section in just one hour – or less. Read on!

The Importance of Discussion in a Research Paper

The role of a discussion in research paper may not be evident from the start. After all, most students think that the main purpose of the essay is to conduct research and present the findings. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. You need to also be able to discuss your findings and draw the appropriate conclusions. Your professor wants to see that you’ve understood the research methods and know how to analyze the results.

Simply presenting a list of results won’t be enough, obviously. This is precisely why you need a discussion in a research paper. And remember, the research paper discussion will be under intense scrutiny by your professor. It weighs heavily on the final grade, so be very careful how you write it.

So, What Goes in the Discussion Section of a Research Paper?

By now, you are probably interested to learn what goes in the discussion section of a research paper. Our academic writers have offered us some insight into this complicated section of the essay. Most often, the discussion section is made up of several paragraphs, each one dealing with an important finding. You will basically be analyzing the underlying meaning of your research. You will try to prove that your research and findings are of great help to the scientific community; that they fill gaps in knowledge. Here is what the discussion section should include:

How to Write a Discussion Section of a Research Paper

The things that can go into the discussion section of a research paper we have listed above can be used in any order you wish. You can start with the hypothesis, if you want to. However, you should be very careful to remain objective while you discuss your findings. We know that you need to support your thesis, but sometimes the results of your research simply disprove it. The discussion section of research paper should discuss accurate results and data, even if you don’t like the outcome of your study.

We realize you probably want to learn how to start the discussion section of a research paper right away. You don’t have much time at your disposal, after all. Here are the basic steps you need to take to write this section as fast as possible:

Get A Discussion Section of a Research Paper Example

Writing the discussion section shouldn’t be difficult. The advice you’re received above – as well as the guide – should help you write the section in less than one hour. However, we realize you need something more palpable. You need an excellent discussion section of a research paper example. By reading a well-written sample, you can understand how the writer discussed his or her findings. The problem is that finding a great example of discussion in research paper is not as easy as it sounds.

The Internet is full of badly written Discussion sections. An example of a discussion research paper writers would use is hard to come by. Get in touch with our seasoned academic writers if you need such a sample. They will gladly send you a well-written and well-organized example. And since the sample will be written just for you, it will be 100% original. In addition, our team of academics can show you how to write results and discussion in a research paper quickly for a top grade. You can rely on us for quick help.

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Discussion section of a research paper

When writing a research paper, this is one of the most important part of a research paper.

The discussion section of a research paper is where you interpret the data and present your conclusions. In this section, you should discuss how your results relate to the hypotheses you proposed and what they mean for future research. You should also point out any limitations of your study and suggest ways that the findings could be further developed. Finally, you should briefly summarize the main points of your paper.

In many research papers, the discussion and conclusion sections usually overlap. However, it is still important to keep them separate so that your paper is organized and easy to follow.

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What is the discussion section of a research paper?

The discussion section of a research paper is the section where the author discusses the findings of the study and how they relate to the existing body of knowledge on the topic.

The purpose of the discussion section is to interpret the findings of your study, and to explain how they relate to the existing body of scientific knowledge. This is a critical part of any research paper, as it helps to illustrate the significance of your work, and how it may impact future research. Additionally, the discussion section can highlight potential limitations of your study, and offer suggestions for future research.

When writing the discussion section of a research paper, it is important to keep the following in mind:

How to write the discussion section of a research paper

Writing a discussion part of any research paper is not easy. It is the place where you need to show your understanding of the subject and present your arguments. The following tips will help you write a strong discussion section:

Summarize your key findings:

Start the discussion section by summarizing your main findings in a few sentences. This will help remind the reader of what you found and how it relates to your argument.

Evaluate your findings:

After you’ve summarize your findings, it’s important to evaluate how strong they are. Were your results significant? Do they support your argument? Are there any potential problems with your data or methods? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section.

Contextualize your findings:

After you’ve evaluated your findings, it’s important to put them in context. What do your results mean? How do they compare to what other scholars have found? How does your research contribute to the existing conversation on this topic? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section. Give your interpretation of what the findings mean. What do they suggest about the subject? Are there any implications for future research? Keep your writing clear and concise. Avoid over-explaining or going into too much detail. The goal is to help the reader understand your findings, not to teach them about the subject.

Show how your findings fit with what is already known about the topic. If there are differences, explain why they may exist.

Implications of your findings:

Finally, you’ll want to discuss the implications of your findings. What do they mean for your argument? For future research on this topic? For the world more broadly? What are the implications of your findings? What questions still need to be answered? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section.

Acknowledge the limitations:

Every study has limitations. Be honest about the limitations of your study and highlight any areas that need further research. Be critical and acknowledge the limitations of your study and highlight any areas that need further research. suggest ways in which future research could build on your findings.

In a research paper, limitations are usually found in the methodology section. However, it is also important to mention them in the discussion section as well. By acknowledging the limitations of your study, you show that you are aware of the potential for error and that you took steps to minimize it. This makes your research more credible.

To help illustrate the points made in this section, let’s look at a few examples.

Example 1: In a study on the effects of climate change on plant growth, the authors found that plants grown in warmer temperatures produced less biomass.

The results of this study suggest that climate change may have a negative effect on plant growth. However, there are some limitations to this study. First, the study was conducted in a controlled environment, so it is not clear if the results would be the same in the wild. Second, the study only looked at one aspect of plant growth (biomass production), so it is not clear if other aspects of plant growth would be affected by climate change. Third, the study did not take into account the effects of precipitation, which is also likely to play a role in plant growth.

Despite these limitations, the results of this study provide valuable insight into the potential effects of climate change on plant growth.

Example 2: In a study on the effectiveness of a new reading program, the authors found that students who used the program improved their reading scores.

The results of this study suggest that the reading program is effective. However, there are some limitations to this study. First, the sample size was small, so it is possible that the results are not representative of the population as a whole. Second, the study only looked at one measure of reading achievement (scores on a standardized test), so it is not clear if the program would have the same effect on other measures of reading achievement. Third, the study did not compare the students who used the program to a control group, so it is not clear if the improvement in reading scores was due to the program or to natural variation.

Despite these limitations, the results of this study provide valuable insight into the potential effectiveness of the reading program.

State your recommendations:

If appropriate, make recommendations for future research or practice. Recommendations could be based on your findings or on the limitations of your study.

Use the phrases to make recommendations:

End with a strong conclusion:

End the discussion section with a brief conclusion that summarizes your findings and their significance. What are the implications of your findings? What questions still need to be answered? Leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you found and why it matters.

Your discussion section should be a critical evaluation of your findings, not just a summary. Remember to be clear, concise, and professional.

What to avoid in research paper discussion section

Here are 3 key items that you should avoid including when writing the discussion section of your research paper:

What goes in the discussion section of a research paper?

The discussion section of a research paper is where you analyze your findings and interpret them. This section should be a critical evaluation of your findings, not just a summary. Remember to be clear, concise, and professional.

In the discussion section, you should:

Discussion section of a research paper example

Discussion template for research paper

The discussion section of a research paper includes 3 parts: an introductory paragraph, intermediate paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph . The introductory paragraph should provide a brief overview of the previous research that has been conducted on the topic. The intermediate paragraphs should present the findings of your study and how they compare or contrast with the findings of previous studies. The conclusion paragraph should summarize the main points of the discussion section and suggest possible future directions for research.

1. Start with a strong introduction. 2. Present your findings in a clear and concise manner. 3. Analyze your findings and offer your interpretation. 4. Summarize your discussion and offer concluding thoughts.

The discussion section is where you analyze your results and put them into context. You should discuss how your results compare to other studies, what they mean for the field of research, and how they can be applied to real-world problems. You should also highlight any weaknesses or limitations of your study so that future researchers can build on your work. Finally, you should suggest future directions for research based on your findings.

A discussion in research is section where the author discusses the results of the study and how it can be improved.

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Discussion Section of Research Paper

What is the discussion section of a research raper? The discussion section of research paper is thought to be the most essential part of a research paper. It demonstrates your abilities in critical thinking, analysis and evaluation, presenting solutions, and formulating a deeper understanding of the problem you are researching. It delves into the meaning and importance of your study’s results by focusing and explaining what it is you found and how it relates to your hypothesis. There are several ways to write the discussion section, but we’ve outlined the most common and effective way of writing this for an academic assignment.

What Goes in the Discussion Section of a Research Paper?

As mentioned in the previous section, your goal should be to address the research problem or question you tackled in your introduction. You will incorporate the information you gathered from the testing phase of the research project. If you were to lookup an example of discussion in research paper you will find that this approach is standard. You are allowed to be creative but this is discouraged if you are submitting this assignment for academic review.

How to Write the Discussion Section of a Research Paper?

Now that you have a better understanding of this section, you likely want to know how to write results and discussion in a research paper that will impress even the strictest professors.

Remind your reader of the question or problem you are researching, the methods you applied to conduct your study. Next, reiterate the most important finding of the study. Write clearly and concisely, using direct and declarative statements.

There is no other person who has thought about your research study more so than you have. This is why you are in a unique position to write an excellent discussion research paper. Explain why you believe the findings are important and what they mean towards the research problem at hand. You shouldn’t have the reader go through your research paper multiple times, so make sure you provide a thorough explanation here.

No matter how original you believe your study is, there are likely dozens of related studies that answer similar questions or present different findings. The discussion in a research paper is your opportunity to implant yourself as a contributor to the field. Make a connection with other studies, especially if questions in other studies served to inspire your current research study.

One of the most important aspects of a research paper discussion is that it presents alternative explanations for the results you came up with. Your goal should be not to prove a point but to discover information that can be used in future studies. By thinking about different possible interpretations of the information in your findings, you open yourself up to unbiased reporting and a much better research paper.

Imagine having to sit in a room full of students when your professor calls you out on errors in your presentation. It is to your advantage to acknowledge the limitations of your study before anyone reviews your work. Address any problems you encountered when you gathered your information. This is one of the most effective ways on how to write a discussion section of a research paper and make it credible.

Your discussion in research paper might fully explore the research question or problem you intended to focus on, but there is always room to reach out toward other areas. Make suggestions for further research. There are dozens of questions that may spring from your work and by acknowledging them you validate the importance of your work.

How to Start the Discussion Section of a Research Paper

Make sure you reiterate your research questions and summarize your key findings. Be sure that you aren’t just repeating what you stated in the results section. Instead, make a clear statement about the overall results related to the questions you brought up in the introduction and are the focus of your research study. You shouldn’t need more than a paragraph to accomplish this.

When you look at the results from your study you might think that they are self-explanatory. What is obvious to you is not obvious to everyone else. You must point out the significance of the results to others. Your readers will be knowledgeable in the field but it doesn’t mean that you should skip explaining how your work makes a significant contribution to the discipline.

Throughout your research you were likely inspired by the work of other scholars. You should make certain to relate to the work you referenced in your literature review. Your discussion section in a research paper should show how the results from your study fit with prior knowledge in the field.

No matter how well you have conducted your study, you are bound to have run into one or more limitations. This happens to the best scholars and researchers. This portion of the discussion isn’t about stating the mistakes that you made but rather giving an accurate view of could and could not be concluded based on the methodology you used in the study.

Depending on the results and ensuing discussion, you should end this section with recommendations for further studies. These can also be made in the conclusion of your research paper, but if you want to achieve a sense of cohesion, then placing recommendations in the discussion section is preferable.

The discussion and conclusion in research paper serve different purposes, so you must know what those are. Unlike the discussion section, the conclusion section should restate your hypothesis and remind the reader of your main arguments and the strongest evidence and examples in support of them. You should, however, make certain that you aren’t simply repeating what you wrote in the results section. Instead point to the larger implications or more significant issues your work can be used for.

Need Help with the Discussion Section of Research Paper?

The research paper discussion section can be tricky for those who have not had a lot of experience writing them for high school or intro courses in college. But eventually, every student will have to conduct some type of research study, and knowing how to write the discussion part of research paper is an essential skill they will need to master. This is where we can help.

We are a group of academic experts committed to helping students on all their academic assignments. We have free resources, including short guides, articles, tip sheets, topic lists, and more. Additionally, our academic paper writers can help you one-on-one with reviewing, editing, and writing any assignment in any discipline. So if you need a discussion section of a research paper example or would like us to take charge of your assignment, contact us today.

How to Start a Discussion Section in Research? [with Examples]

The examples below are from 72,017 full-text PubMed research papers that I analyzed in order to explore common ways to start writing the Discussion section.

Research papers included in this analysis were selected at random from those uploaded to PubMed Central between the years 2016 and 2021. Note that I used the BioC API to download the data (see the References section below).

Examples of how to start writing the Discussion section

In the Discussion section, you should explain the meaning of your results, their importance, and implications. [for more information, see: How to Write & Publish a Research Paper: Step-by-Step Guide ]

The Discussion section can:

1. Start by restating the study objective

“ The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle synergies and motion primitives of the upper limb motions.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ The main objective of this study was to identify trajectories of autonomy.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ In the present study, we investigated the whole brain regional homogeneity in patients with melancholic MDD and non-melancholic MDD at rest . “ Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

2. Start by mentioning the main finding

“ We found that autocracy and democracy have acted as peaks in an evolutionary landscape of possible modes of institutional arrangements.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ In this study, we demonstrated that the neural mechanisms of rhythmic movements and skilled movements are similar.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ The results of this study show that older adults are a diverse group concerning their activities on the Internet.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

3. Start by pointing out the strength of the study

“ To our knowledge, this investigation is by far the largest epidemiological study employing real-time PCR to study periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ This is the first human subject research using the endoscopic hemoglobin oxygen saturation imaging technology for patients with aero-digestive tract cancers or adenomas.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

“ In this work, we introduced a new real-time flow imaging method and systematically demonstrated its effectiveness with both flow phantom experiments and in vivo experiments.” Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed

Most used words at the start of the Discussion

Here are the top 10 phrases used to start a discussion section in our dataset:

Comeau DC, Wei CH, Islamaj Doğan R, and Lu Z. PMC text mining subset in BioC: about 3 million full text articles and growing, Bioinformatics , btz070, 2019.

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

The purpose of the discussion section is to interpret and describe the significance of your findings in relation to what was already known about the research problem being investigated and to explain any new understanding or insights that emerged as a result of your research. The discussion will always connect to the introduction by way of the research questions or hypotheses you posed and the literature you reviewed, but the discussion does not simply repeat or rearrange the first parts of your paper; the discussion clearly explains how your study advanced the reader's understanding of the research problem from where you left them at the end of your review of prior research.

Annesley, Thomas M. “The Discussion Section: Your Closing Argument.” Clinical Chemistry 56 (November 2010): 1671-1674.

Importance of a Good Discussion

The discussion section is often considered the most important part of your research paper because it:

Annesley Thomas M. “The Discussion Section: Your Closing Argument.” Clinical Chemistry 56 (November 2010): 1671-1674; Bitchener, John and Helen Basturkmen. “Perceptions of the Difficulties of Postgraduate L2 Thesis Students Writing the Discussion Section.” Journal of English for Academic Purposes 5 (January 2006): 4-18; Kretchmer, Paul. Fourteen Steps to Writing an Effective Discussion Section. San Francisco Edit, 2003-2008.

Structure and Writing Style

I. General Rules

These are the general rules you should adopt when composing your discussion of the results :

II. The Content

The content of the discussion section of your paper most often includes :

III. Organization and Structure

Keep the following sequential points in mind as you organize and write the discussion section of your paper:

IV. Overall Objectives

The objectives of your discussion section should include the following: I. Reiterate the Research Problem/State the Major Findings

Briefly reiterate the research problem or problems you are investigating and the methods you used to investigate them, then move quickly to describe the major findings of the study. You should write a direct, declarative, and succinct proclamation of the study results, usually in one paragraph.

II. Explain the Meaning of the Findings and Why They are Important

No one has thought as long and hard about your study as you have. Systematically explain the underlying meaning of your findings and state why you believe they are significant. After reading the discussion section, you want the reader to think critically about the results and why they are important. You don’t want to force the reader to go through the paper multiple times to figure out what it all means. If applicable, begin this part of the section by repeating what you consider to be your most significant or unanticipated finding first, then systematically review each finding. Otherwise, follow the general order you reported the findings presented in the results section.

III. Relate the Findings to Similar Studies

No study in the social sciences is so novel or possesses such a restricted focus that it has absolutely no relation to previously published research. The discussion section should relate your results to those found in other studies, particularly if questions raised from prior studies served as the motivation for your research. This is important because comparing and contrasting the findings of other studies helps to support the overall importance of your results and it highlights how and in what ways your study differs from other research about the topic. Note that any significant or unanticipated finding is often because there was no prior research to indicate the finding could occur. If there is prior research to indicate this, you need to explain why it was significant or unanticipated. IV. Consider Alternative Explanations of the Findings

It is important to remember that the purpose of research in the social sciences is to discover and not to prove . When writing the discussion section, you should carefully consider all possible explanations for the study results, rather than just those that fit your hypothesis or prior assumptions and biases. This is especially important when describing the discovery of significant or unanticipated findings.

V. Acknowledge the Study’s Limitations

It is far better for you to identify and acknowledge your study’s limitations than to have them pointed out by your professor! Note any unanswered questions or issues your study could not address and describe the generalizability of your results to other situations. If a limitation is applicable to the method chosen to gather information, then describe in detail the problems you encountered and why. VI. Make Suggestions for Further Research

You may choose to conclude the discussion section by making suggestions for further research [as opposed to offering suggestions in the conclusion of your paper]. Although your study can offer important insights about the research problem, this is where you can address other questions related to the problem that remain unanswered or highlight hidden issues that were revealed as a result of conducting your research. You should frame your suggestions by linking the need for further research to the limitations of your study [e.g., in future studies, the survey instrument should include more questions that ask..."] or linking to critical issues revealed from the data that were not considered initially in your research.

NOTE: Besides the literature review section, the preponderance of references to sources is usually found in the discussion section . A few historical references may be helpful for perspective, but most of the references should be relatively recent and included to aid in the interpretation of your results, to support the significance of a finding, and/or to place a finding within a particular context. If a study that you cited does not support your findings, don't ignore it--clearly explain why your research findings differ from theirs.

V. Problems to Avoid

Analyzing vs. Summarizing. Department of English Writing Guide. George Mason University; Discussion. The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper. Department of Biology. Bates College; Hess, Dean R. "How to Write an Effective Discussion." Respiratory Care 49 (October 2004); Kretchmer, Paul. Fourteen Steps to Writing to Writing an Effective Discussion Section. San Francisco Edit, 2003-2008; The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Sauaia, A. et al. "The Anatomy of an Article: The Discussion Section: "How Does the Article I Read Today Change What I Will Recommend to my Patients Tomorrow?” The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 74 (June 2013): 1599-1602; Research Limitations & Future Research . Lund Research Ltd., 2012; Summary: Using it Wisely. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Schafer, Mickey S. Writing the Discussion. Writing in Psychology course syllabus. University of Florida; Yellin, Linda L. A Sociology Writer's Guide . Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 2009.

Writing Tip

Don’t Over-Interpret the Results!

Interpretation is a subjective exercise. As such, you should always approach the selection and interpretation of your findings introspectively and to think critically about the possibility of judgmental biases unintentionally entering into discussions about the significance of your work. With this in mind, be careful that you do not read more into the findings than can be supported by the evidence you have gathered. Remember that the data are the data: nothing more, nothing less.

MacCoun, Robert J. "Biases in the Interpretation and Use of Research Results." Annual Review of Psychology 49 (February 1998): 259-287.

Another Writing Tip

Don't Write Two Results Sections!

One of the most common mistakes that you can make when discussing the results of your study is to present a superficial interpretation of the findings that more or less re-states the results section of your paper. Obviously, you must refer to your results when discussing them, but focus on the interpretation of those results and their significance in relation to the research problem, not the data itself.

Azar, Beth. "Discussing Your Findings." American Psychological Association gradPSYCH Magazine (January 2006).

Yet Another Writing Tip

Avoid Unwarranted Speculation!

The discussion section should remain focused on the findings of your study. For example, if the purpose of your research was to measure the impact of foreign aid on increasing access to education among disadvantaged children in Bangladesh, it would not be appropriate to speculate about how your findings might apply to populations in other countries without drawing from existing studies to support your claim or if analysis of other countries was not a part of your original research design. If you feel compelled to speculate, do so in the form of describing possible implications or explaining possible impacts. Be certain that you clearly identify your comments as speculation or as a suggestion for where further research is needed. Sometimes your professor will encourage you to expand your discussion of the results in this way, while others don’t care what your opinion is beyond your effort to interpret the data in relation to the research problem.

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Discussion Research Papers Samples For Students

509 samples of this type

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How to Write Results and Discussion in a Research Paper: Handy Sample

The result and discussion sections are vital elements in an academic research paper. These sections come after the methods section and help you relate your findings to your hypothesis.

Students often poorly approach these sections, covering information that should be in one area in the other, resulting in loss of credits. Here, we will analyze how to represent the findings section of a research paper and various tips for a proper discussion in research.

What is the results section of a research paper?

The results section is a part of your research paper where you compile the data gathered from your fieldwork and present it logically. This section should also give a general description of what you deduced from your research.

Unlike other parts of a research paper, you should write the results in a passive voice to focus on the action instead of the person doing the action.

Read a sample of results section of a research paper on Network Security:

Computers are an essential part of today’s modern world, and as the reliance on computers grows so do the threats associated with modern technology. There are a number of security concerns related to computers including data hacking, identity theft, and financial theft. Personal information and business data that falls into the wrong hands can have grave safety and economic effects (Cavelty, 2016). Large organizations and major institutions are particularly at risk due to the extensive amount of data they possess. High-level network security is therefore essential for these organizations and any other businesses that require protection from malicious hackers.

The objectives of this study were to analyze the implementation of information security systems in an administrative context and to determine the procedures needed and the necessary technical advice required to guarantee the safety of the data handled by computer networks for FIT. The study hypothesized that privacy, remote printing, data and program back-up, and portable computers are key aspects of accurate network security and protection for FIT.

The findings of the study can be used to create a network security policy plan that will ensure maximum protection of the FIT computer networks and the information shared on these networks. This policy will be applicable to all individuals, computers, and data communication systems within the FIT networks, including personal portable computers. The study found the following elements to be essential to the effective protection of FIT networks:

FIT can claim any data and communication that passes through its computers and systems. FIT is mandated to inspect this information based on the assumption that any data conveyed through its networks is official and therefore concerns the organization directly. Users on FIT computers and systems therefore do not have any privacy and have no claim on the information conveyed. This should be clearly stated in the policy for the sake of users.

Portable Computers

Portable computers that are linked to the FIT networks also present security challenges. These portable devices largely belong to employees and contain both personal information and FIT data. To ensure protection of the FIT data without encroaching on the privacy of the device owners the policy will outline ways for employees to keep their confidential information safe from administrators as their devices will automatically be scrutinized once they join the network. The policy will also give employees tips on how to keep their devices safe from theft.

Data and Program Backup

An essential element of security is storage. Storing of data must be done correctly in order to ensure the data is safe from all physical and virtual threats. The stored information should also be regularly analyzed to ensure it has not been tampered with, and to discard data that is no longer useful or necessary.

Remote Printing

Remote printing is a normal and convenient part of the day-to-day activities of any organization. As part of the policy plan, all information shared to remote printers is open to scrutiny from FIT administrators. This provides the organization with another avenue to safeguard their data by reviewing all printed material and linking it back to its source.

These elements of security will be implemented as part of the policy plan along with other basic security techniques. All users of the FIT networks will be provided with unique passwords in order to access the information stored within these networks. This will help FIT keep track of the authorized users in their systems. Users will be required to keep these passwords private and change them following a defined period. The login and logoff process will also require the users to identify themselves. This is crucial as accurate identification allows administrators to trace any suspicious activity back to specific users based on the login and logoff data. Finally, restricted access on certain information will help improve network security by minimizing the exposure to potential threats.

When writing the results section of a research paper:

You should note that the results section should state the findings without interpretation.

Discussion section of a research paper

The discussion section covers your comments, interpretation, and deduction of the results regarding your hypothesis. Although the results and discussion sections may be merged in some papers, it is best to present them as distinct sections unless your tutor advises you differently.

Here, explain why you chose your method and either affirm or oppose the existing work in the field based on your findings. Also, delve into the reasons behind various phenomena and the approaches you would adjust to yield the intended results.

The data showed that there was a significant correlation between listening to fast, popular music and high scores on the spatial awareness test. Based on these findings, it appears that the percentage of questions correct on Newton and Bristoll´s Spatial Ability test was higher for participants exposed to a popular, high tempo song than any other type of music, and the control condition with no music.

Previous studies have shown that listening to music has a positive effect on spatial reasoning. Rauscher, Shaw and Ky (1993) have participants the spatial reasoning subsection of the Stanford-Binet IQ test after the were assigned to one of three listening conditions: the Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448, verbal relaxation instructions, and silence. A temporary improvement in spatial reasoning was shown in the Mozart condition, and this improvement was henceforth called the Mozart effect. This study aimed to assess whether other types of music can have a positive effect on this variable, and similar results were shown.

Other previous studies have shown similar effects of classical music. Gromko and Poorman (1998) found that listening to classical music had a positive effect on spatial reasoning in participants as young as three. Interestingly, researchers have also found this effect to be true of any music that is energetic and contains positive emotional qualities. Raucher and Hinton (2006) found that a participant´s score on a spatial reasoning test was likely to improve in any case where the listener enjoys the music. These results are in line with the findings of the current study: it can be assumed that the participants enjoyed listening to the popular songs more than the unpopular ones, and as such we see evidence of a strong effect for energetic songs that people enjoy listening to, as in the Raucher and Hinton study (2006).

Interestingly, the Mozart effect is not a universally accepted phenomenon within the literature. Pietschnig, Voracek and Formann (2010) conducted a meta-analysis of studies that followed up on the Rauscher et al. (1993) study. It has been noted that the findings of this study were hard to replicate, and the phenomenon is by no means universal. Pietschnig et al. (2010) investigated 40 studies which referenced over 3000 subjects, and found that the overall estimated effect is small in size for those who have been exposed to the same Mozart sonata. Pietschnig et al. (2010) suggest that there is little support for a performance enhancing Mozart effect, which ties in with the results of the current study. The suggestion from these results is that the Mozart effect is not related specifically to Mozart, but the right type of music can have a positive effect on spatial reasoning scores.

In another study designed to replicate the original Mozart study, Newman et al. (1995) investigated the same three conditions and were asked to provide additional information about their musical background and preferences. The findings from this study also showed that there was no specific difference between scores on tests in any of the groups, which again conflicts with the idea of a Mozart effect. A later study took this one step further and investigated the same phenomenon through a comparison of music by Mozart and Schubert (1999). This study compared these two listening conditions with a narrated story and silence. The results showed that performance on the spatial reasoning task was improved based on the listener´s preference, music or story, rather than on any specific Mozart effect. Again, this supports the results of the current study, which showed that popular and high tempo music is more likely to improve results than unpopular and slow tempo music. The suggestion here is that increased performance is a function of music preference and enjoyment, rather than specifically associated with classical music.

As noted, it was hypothesized that participants exposed to popular, high tempo music would perform better on the spatial-reasoning test than participants exposed to popular, slow tempo music or unpopular music at either a fast or slow tempo. The results of this analysis are interesting in a number of ways. The first is that popular and fast music seems to be more beneficial in terms of conducting a spatial ability test, which does not necessarily have any real life ramifications for intelligence or ability, but may be correlated to spatial intelligence. The use of a random number generator helps to reduce the likelihood of bias for the participants, meaning that there is little chance that this could be a sampling effect. The study also shows that listening to slower music, whether popular or unpopular, does not have the same positive effect on scores on this test, suggesting that listening to both popular music and fast music are most beneficial for high scores on a spatial ability test. Overall, the hypothesis that listening to popular and fast music is more likely to correlate with high scores has been proven as the results are statistically significant.

The results of this study suggest room for further research. It would be interesting to repeat this study with different genres of music, beyond classification into fast and slow. This will help highlight whether the scores on a spatial ability test are related to genre of music as well as its popularity or tempo. This study could have real-life ramifications for the music that people listen to when they study, particularly if the spatial-ability test correlates with success in other testing scenarios. People usually prefer to listen to slow and unobtrusive music when they are studying, but this study suggests that listening to the upbeat hits available on YouTube may be more effective.

For a concise discussion:

Phrases for writing results and discussion sections

you should clearly express points in the discussion to make your reader understand when you hint at a limitation, a recommendation, or implementation.

Some of the notable discussion sentence starters

More studies in the field are required to determine…

It is best to avoid speculation that cannot be derived from your data.

What’s the difference between results and discussion?

The results section comprises brief reports of what you got after the experiment. Conversely, the discussion section interprets the results and speculates why you found the results and what they mean for your study.

Additionally, you may have to add citations in the discussion section to put your results into context.

We hope this guide comes in handy to help you analyze the results of your paper and present them in an easy-to-read manner. It would be best to better check some results and discussion section examples to acquaint yourself with various sections of the findings section. Success in your paper!

What makes an effective discussion?

When you’re ready to write your discussion, you’ve already introduced the purpose of your study and provided an in-depth description of the methodology. The discussion informs readers about the larger implications of your study based on the results. Highlighting these implications while not overstating the findings can be challenging, especially when you’re submitting to a journal that selects articles based on novelty or potential impact. Regardless of what journal you are submitting to, the discussion section always serves the same purpose: concluding what your study results actually mean.

A successful discussion section puts your findings in context. It should include:

Tip: Not all journals share the same naming conventions.

You can apply the advice in this article to the conclusion, results or discussion sections of your manuscript.

Our Early Career Researcher community tells us that the conclusion is often considered the most difficult aspect of a manuscript to write. To help, this guide provides questions to ask yourself, a basic structure to model your discussion off of and examples from published manuscripts.

Questions to ask yourself:

How to structure a discussion

Trying to fit a complete discussion into a single paragraph can add unnecessary stress to the writing process. If possible, you’ll want to give yourself two or three paragraphs to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of your study as a whole. Here’s one way to structure an effective discussion:

Writing Tips

While the above sections can help you brainstorm and structure your discussion, there are many common mistakes that writers revert to when having difficulties with their paper. Writing a discussion can be a delicate balance between summarizing your results, providing proper context for your research and avoiding introducing new information. Remember that your paper should be both confident and honest about the results!

Don’t

Snippets of Effective Discussions:

Consumer-based actions to reduce plastic pollution in rivers: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach

Identifying reliable indicators of fitness in polar bears

There’s a lot to consider when deciding where to submit your work. Learn how to choose a journal that will help your study reach its audience, while reflecting your values as a researcher…

Ensure appropriateness and rigor, avoid flexibility and above all never manipulate results In many fields, a statistical analysis forms the heart of…

A thoughtful, thorough approach to your revision response now can save you time in further rounds of review. You’ve just spent months…

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5 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Writing a Discussion

By ScienceDocs Editor Dr. Horvath

Introduction:

When editing a manuscript, the section that is typically the most problematic is the discussion. The purpose of the discussion is to review the study findings in light of the published literature and draw conclusions from the data. In addition, the discussion should be used to support the implications of the authors’ findings and convincingly showcase the novelty of the study. While rarely is one manuscript affected by all of these errors, the following are the most common areas in need of improvement.

Mistake # 1: Restating the results

By far the most common error made in the discussion is restating the results. While the main findings should be summarized in the discussion, the results (including statistics and main figures) should be presented only in the results section. Often, authors will present some of the figures in the results and the remaining data in the discussion. Care should be taken that the findings are summarized in the context of the published literature and not simply a reiteration of the results section. For example:

“In Fig. 3 we found a significant upregulation of cytokine A at 24 h post-infection, which was 3.5-fold higher than the baseline levels (p = 0.002).” Troger et al. also showed an increase in cytokine A from 0 h to 24 h.”

Correction:

“Consistent with our present findings, Troger et al. also reported upregulated levels of cytokine A over the baseline values at 24 h.”

Mistake #2: Incorrect Length

Another common issue encountered regarding the discussion is the length of this section. The length of the discussion should fit with the type of article and maximum word count permitted for the journal. For example, the discussion of a case report will be much shorter than that of an original article which describes six figures. However, the discussion should not be an in-depth review of the literature, but rather a discussion of the findings as they relate to published studies. A good rule of thumb is to aim for approximately 1500 words. When a discussion is too long, the reader often loses sight of the main message of the study. Therefore, to keep the reader engaged and provide a convincing argument, an attempt should be made to be as concise as possible.

Mistake #3: Citation quality

Another common error is the cited literature throughout the discussion. Citation quality is important because it is used to support the results presented in the manuscript. When information is not cited, or unreliable/dated sources are referenced, the authors’ conclusions from the data become less convincing. The authors should ensure that the citations are from the most recently published literature, and not reports from over 20 years prior. Attention should also be paid to the journal requirements, as some journals will require that a certain percentage of the references must be published within the past 5 to 10 years. Authors should also ensure that the references are from top tier journals to adequately support the findings of the present study. Another common error is a lack of proper citations. This occurs when the findings obtained from outside sources are not cited at all or inconsistently referenced. It is important to note that all statements containing data from external sources should be properly referenced and specific to maximize the impact. For example:

“Thompson et al. [4] found that there was an increase in the level of cytokine A following influenza infection.”

“Thompson et al. [4] found that cytokine A increased to 800 pg/mL five days following influenza infection.”

Mistake #4: The study limitations are not discussed

One of the most frequently neglected aspects of a discussion is the mention of the study limitations. While it is understandable that the flaws in the experimental design and data are not factors that most authors wish to highlight, this section is required by most journals and should be stated. A recommended strategy is to discuss the limitations in such a way that provides justification for why they are acceptable. For example, if the study included only a small number of participants, you may wish to describe this limitation in the context of why so few subjects were available. For example:

“One limitation of the present study is the small sample size. While the inclusion of few patients prohibits the extrapolation of our findings to the general population, disease X is extremely rare, and this study presents data from the largest number of subjects to date.”

Mistake #5: The conclusions do not state the study significance and implications OR overstate the significance of the findings

An effective conclusion is one of the most important aspects of the entire manuscript as this is the final impression that the reader has after reading the study. The most common errors made in the concluding remarks are that the significance and implications of the study are not stated at all, or are overstated in light of the study’s findings. Overstated conclusions should be avoided because the data does not support these statements and can mislead the reader. In addition, by not stating the conclusions or implications of the study, the reader may be left unimpressed, and the author loses the ability to guide the interpretation of the data. For example:

Overstated conclusions:

“Our findings indicate that X is an excellent vaccine candidate that will cure disease Y.”

“We have demonstrated that treatment X can cure cancer.”

“We have proven that drug Y can prevent disease X.”

Accurate conclusions:

“Our findings indicate that X is a potential vaccine candidate for disease Y. Further large-scale studies and clinical trials are required to verify our promising results.”

“We have demonstrated that treatment X is highly efficacious in our animal model of epithelial cancer. Future studies are required to verify our results in humans.”

“We have shown that drug X may have the potential to be used prophylactically to prevent disease X. Further study is warranted to verify our findings in large-scale trials.”

To ensure that the discussion is organized appropriately and contains all essential information, the following structure is recommended:

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Great tips for write research papers but my teachers show very strictness in research paper writing. So I also find sociology research paper example I have various sources. But I want to write myself. I am interested in sociology subject. But my teacher is also caught my little paragraph mistakes, plagiarism mistakes. I also cite my research papers properly. But meantime I have learned in your post so I will try to write follow these guidelines.

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How to Write the Discussion Section of a Research Paper

The discussion section of a research paper should tie together your arguments and present your findings to the reader. The goal of this post is to help you write an engaging, professional discussion that will leave readers with something they can take away from your work. This article includes examples and tips for ensuring that your writing in this section is clear, concise, compelling, and polished.

What is a Research Paper?

Research papers are a common type of academic writing assignment that is often given in college. They can be assigned as part of a class, like an English literature course or independent research projects. The goal is to write enough details about the topic without going overboard so that readers have all they need to understand it fully and not feel lost.

It can be used as the foundation for an argumentative essay or to analyze and explore a subject in depth.

Just follow the simple steps below!

What is the Purpose of the Discussion Section of a Research Paper?

Discussions sections are meant to go into more depth about a topic that can be done in the introduction. It would be best if you used this section to present your argument and make an attempt at convincing readers that it is accurate or valid based on whatever evidence you have provided.

Any discussion aims to provide enough information for someone who did not write it to understand the topic. While it should go beyond simply listing details, you do not need to present a complete picture if your evidence does not allow for broad strokes. It would be best if you convinced readers that your argument holds weight. Therefore, be clear about whether or not you agree with it and provide compelling evidence that supports broader knowledge and your point of view.

Writing the Discussion Section of a Research Paper

Once you interpret and summarize previously published research, use your own words to write the study findings to avoid plagiarism. If your presentation is lengthy, consider using subheadings to clarify the main points, so your target audience understands. The use of active voice and first-person are strongly preferred.

Try to avoid repeating what was said in the introduction or elsewhere in the body of the paper. Instead, discuss topics at length and use details from your results to back up your claims. For example, if you used a particular method, provide specific examples and explain its relevance in more detail than was done previously.

The purpose of a discussion section is to use your study/experiment results to infer conclusions about the topic at hand. It would help if you used this opportunity to examine your findings and extrapolate what it all means critically.

What Are the Parts of a Discussion in a Research Paper?

The discussion section of your paper should include the following:

1. A summary of Your Findings and Results

The summary should be brief, and you should aim at providing a general idea of what your study is all about. Summarize your main findings in a way that makes sense to the reader. It helps them understand why certain conclusions can be drawn from the data.

Tie your key findings into previous studies as well as your argument. Show how your study differs from others and how you were able to perform new experiments.

How do you think the results of your paper contribute to a larger framework? Include figures and tables if necessary, especially if they are integral to helping you make conclusions. Such a discussion aims to provide information that clarifies why your research is essential, what can be learned from it, and how it adds to the existing knowledge on this topic.

Systematically explain how your findings contribute to the existing body of research. Mention a few historical references as a context to your research.

Have a thorough understanding of what you found out and why it matters so that you can detail the crucial points to justify why this research matters.

For example, if you’re looking into how eating food impacts heart rate, you can mention which foods were tested and their respective effects on the body. You can also extrapolate your findings, suggesting that those who want to reduce their heart rates should avoid eating certain types of food.

2. A Discussion of Results/Findings In Relation to Other Studies

Be sure to discuss the study limitations and explain why your findings may or may not be valid. For example, are there some factors that you haven’t considered that might have influenced the outcome? Were your data based on a small sample size with limited demographic diversity? These are just some of the factors that you need to keep in mind when considering your findings. Mention both the strengths and limitations of your research. Limitations are the most frequently neglected aspects of scientific research but must not be omitted.

3. A Review of the Literature

The literature review section is where you provide an overall analysis of the research that has been done on this topic. It means going over existing studies and pointing out what they have in common, as well as what makes them different from each other. This should be more than just a simple summary, but instead an analysis of past research that’s insightful and clear to its readers. Be sure to explain which parts of the research are relevant and why.

The following is an example of one way you could structure this section:

A review of the literature discusses three key points that inform the present study: 1) how other researchers have viewed this issue in the past, 2) how our research adds to what is already known about the topic, and 3) how we can use our results to guide future research efforts.

Our findings seem to indicate that there is a link between interest-based motivation and academic achievement when compared across grades. It follows that as students get older, interest-based motivation plays a more significant role in academic achievement. Also, the relationship between these two variables is more substantial for students identified by their teachers as gifted or talented.

We conclude with an overview of how our results add to existing research and possible future avenues of study. This section also summarizes our major findings and leaves the reader with a sense of how the present study contributed to existing knowledge in this area.

When writing your research paper, consider using the 5Ws and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) as a guide for organizing your thoughts. You can apply these questions to your own research paper outline by considering the following:

What is this study about?

Where and when did it take place?

Who was involved in this study?

How does one explain the findings of the study (i.e., what are possible explanations)?

Why did the researchers perform this study? What was their goal?

4. Interpretation and Implications of Your Discussion

Your interpretation section is where you explain what the results mean. It’s an opportunity to provide a deeper analysis than can be done in the introduction. You should tie together your research with similar topics and include detailed references to previous studies. Discuss theoretical connections, practical implications, and future avenues of research.

5. A Discussion of the Results as Relates to Gap in the Field of Study

This section is an excellent place to explain why there has been no research on the subject. Point out why this topic is important and how it can be used in subsequent research papers. If you are interested in continuing your research, this would be the place to mention it. It shows that you are passionate about the topic and willing to put more time into it. A discussion of gaps in the field also helps explain why you believe your results to be indicative. It can even be used as evidence to support your argument.

6. The Implications of the Findings for Theory and Practice

This section discusses how these study results might affect other published research or the general public, especially if your study is relevant to a widely debated topic.

7. A Discussion of Future Research

Take this opportunity to mention other hypotheses that could be tested by following up on your research and any limitations of the present study that demand further exploration. However, avoid getting too caught up with a desire for more research. You want to convince your readers that you have done an excellent job without sounding desperate for more studies to validate your claims.

If you do not plan on continuing your research, include what other studies could be conducted based on your findings. Include also how they should go about their research to avoid possible flaws in methodology.

8. Conclusions/Interpretations of Findings

Please give your opinion (your personal conclusions) on what the data shows and how it clarifies previous findings in this field. State where your study adds value to existing research and show how it applies to real-life situations.

Remember that this should be more than just an analysis of the findings. It should also serve as an introduction to those who are not well-versed in the subject and why it is essential at large. Conclude with your opinion on whether your hypothesis was supported or rejected. Tie yourself and the reader back to your problem statement. Draw conclusions and present them as assertions or findings. Avoid using absolute terms like ‘never,’ ‘always,’ and so on.

If you have done an excellent job, the reader should be able to walk away with a clear understanding of the implications of your research and how it can be used in future studies.

Format and Writing Style

What is the Main Difference Between “Discussion” and “Conclusion” Sections of a Research Paper?

Although the discussion and conclusion sections can often be similar, there is one main difference between them. The conclusion section recaps your experiment and provides a brief overview of what was found.

In contrast, the discussion section expands on your findings by giving a detailed explanation of how they relate to the topic at hand. You also use the discussion section to discuss gaps in your field and how future research can improve upon your findings.

A Sample Discussion Section for a Research Paper

The following is an example discussion section that you can adapt to fit your research paper:

Although this study did not investigate how exactly social media affects young people, it provided some evidence that there may be a strong correlation. Future studies should be conducted that would explore this link more thoroughly and determine a causal relationship between social media use and depression.

The results of this study could also help explain some research done on the topic of suicide, which has been seen to double between the years 1940 and 2009 (Kessler et al., 2010). For example, one study found that young girls who spent more than five hours using social media per day were twice as likely to develop depressive symptoms (Shirangi et al., 2012). Many researchers have attributed the increase in suicide among adolescents in recent years to depression, bullying, and other factors. Still, perhaps one of the biggest causes is a more significant amount of time spent on social media.

Further research could investigate if social media use directly causes feelings of depression or if the relationship is derived from other factors such as peer pressure, low self-esteem, and anxiety. It would also be interesting to see if these findings are typically seen regardless of gender, age or culture.

To answer this question, it might be helpful to have a large sample that is diverse in terms of gender, race, and age range. Moreover, it would be essential to look at specific social media sites like Twitter or Instagram rather than just Facebook.

Additional research should also investigate how different age groups are affected by social media use. For example, some researchers have found that middle school students who spent more than two hours a day on social media were twice as likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who spent less than thirty minutes (Konofagou et al., 2016).

Other studies, however, have found that adolescents between the ages of thirteen and fifteen do not show any similar results (Finkenauer et al., 2010).

Further research could also investigate how social media directly affects the moods of its users. Some have suggested that frequent exposure to various forms of social media can cause narcissistic tendencies and decrease self-esteem (Lasaleta et al., 2017).

Some researchers believe that the amount of time spent on platforms such as Facebook could be a significant predictor of depressive symptoms (Baker, 2013).

Future research could also investigate whether being on social media makes individuals feel more isolated from society. Some have found that even though online interactions are becoming a part of everyday life, they seem to be replacing time spent with in-person interactions and doing activities such as watching television.

One study found that more than half of the students who were surveyed spent at least an hour looking at their phones while spending time with friends (Lenhart, Madden, & Hitlin, 2015). This suggests that even when individuals are in a social environment, they choose to be on their phones rather than engage directly with those around them.

As can be seen, there are many possible consequences of social media use that have differed between studies. To better understand the effect these sites might have on their users, it would be interesting to see more research done like in this study, which investigated depression rates among different age groups. Future research should also investigate other factors such as gender, race, and culture when investigating the relationship between social media and depression.

Researchers should investigate how different forms of social media directly affect users. Some have suggested that sites like Facebook can cause narcissistic tendencies among its users, leading to feelings of isolation (Lasaleta et al., 2017). These ideas could also be explored in more detail by observing how various age groups

Identifying Theoretical and Practical Implications

Theoretical implications:.

Practical Implications:

What Are Some Key Characteristics of a Discussion Section?

What Are Some Common Mistakes Made in a Discussion Section?

Get started now!

1. When writing a discussion section, is it necessary to use jargon? Why or why not?

2. What would be the most critical characteristic of your discussion that you should mention in your post?

3. If you discuss limitations and implications for future research, when should these be mentioned in your post?

4. What are some common mistakes you should avoid when writing a discussion section in your post?

5. If you were to discuss too much or too little, what would be the best amount of information to include in your post (be specific and give examples)?

6. Is it necessary for all discussion sections in a research paper to address limitations and implications for future research?

7. What is the best way to check your work for spelling and grammar mistakes?

8. How long should a discussion section be in a paper (be specific and give examples)?

9. If you were writing about writing good discussion sections, what would be the essential point to make?

10. Is it ever necessary to use jargon when writing a discussion section in your post? Why or why not?

Writing Tips

Time to Write!

Now, start using these tips to write a discussion that will be engaging, clear, and concise.

Start by summarizing the previous research on your topic. Make sure to avoid plagiarism if you did not conduct this study yourself and credit any sources accordingly.

Present your own opinions as part of the body of your paper to make an argument for your argument.

Consider using subheadings to break up the main points and make your discussion easier to follow for readers.

Write a strong conclusion, restating your argument. Include any relevant personal opinions on the topic that you have developed since completing your research. Be sure to reference any additional work on the subject that you might do in the future.

Ensure that your writing is engaging and professional, without errors or typos, when formatting your discussion section.

Writing a research paper can be time-consuming and challenging. However, it can become much easier once you learn how to write different sections of your academic writing. Use these steps as guidelines when you sit down to write your discussion section and start your research paper.

In this blog post, we’ve attempted to outline some of the essential elements of tackling research questions or having a good discussion of your scientific papers. We hope this article was helpful for you. Keep reading our blog for more tips on writing papers.

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How do you structure a discussion section in research?

The discussion is a section in a research paper where you need to provide meaning, significance, and relevance of research results. When writing the research paper discussion you should concentrate on providing explanations and evaluation of findings. It is very much important for you to demonstrate how your research findings relate to the literature review and also research questions .

At the time of writing the discussion section for a research paper, you need to provide an argument for supporting the overall conclusion. There are several techniques that you can utilize for writing research paper discussions. It is very much crucial for you to concentrate on 4 elements these are:

You can include the discussion and conclusion section in one section. Before combining the conclusion and discussion section you need to consult with your supervisor. You can also review the guidelines for analyzing the requirements to combine the conclusion and discussion chapter.

How to write a discussion section for a research paper?

The 5 step process of writing the discussion section in the research paper is:

Step 1: Highlighting the most important results

You need to begin writing the discussion section by stating the research problem . After describing the problem statement you need to provide a summary of key findings. You should not repeat all information. At this step, it is very much important for you to provide a clear statement of the result. You should provide a direct answer to the main research questions. The writer needs to provide an answer to the research question in just a single paragraph.

Example: The result of research represents that…. The research shows a relationship between… By analysing the result it has been found that…

Step 2: Explain why your research is important to the reader.

Here, you need to clearly state the importance of your research to the reader. It is very much essential for you to demonstrate how you have answered research questions. The form of interpretation of the result is completely based on the type of research you are performing. The number of approaches that you can utilize for interpretation of findings is:

Based on themes, you can organize your discussion section in the research paper. The discussion section in the research as per can also be arranged according to the research questions. You should begin writing the discussion section for the research paper by clearly highlighting either the most important or unexpected findings.

Examples: In line with the theory…. The results prove the claim made by Jackson that…

Step 3:Discussion of the research’s implications

You should provide your interpretations. When providing the interpretation you should review your literature. When writing the discussion section for the research paper, you need to clearly state how the research findings match your existing knowledge. You should also write how the findings of your research have provided new knowledge. It is very crucial for you to clearly state the cost if specific issues are not resolved on time. At this step, your aim should be to demonstrate to the reader exactly what contribution you have made in a specific field by researching a particular topic.

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Step 4: Acceptance of one’s limits

All types of research have a certain type of limitation. It is very much important for you to acknowledge such limitations, as these tactics will help you in demonstrating creditability. When facilitating discussion you need to provide a complete and correct picture of things that can be concluded from research. Limitations might occur due to the selection of an inappropriate research design or the occurrence of unanticipated hurdles during research. When writing the discussion section you should only include such limitations that are directly related to your research objectives. It is a step where you should also analyze the way the following limitation could influence accomplishing the aim of the research.

For instance : In case the sample size which you chose is small then it might limit its general ability. If you have faced a few problems in the collection and analysis of information then you can provide a description of the same in your research paper discussion. In such a case, you also need to provide explanations about how the following issues have affected the result. You should also require demonstrating the way results are valid in relation to answering research questions. Examples: The general ability of outcomes is limited by…… The reliability of information is highly influenced by… It is beyond the scope of study…..

Step 5: Provide recommendations for research

Based on the discussion on outcomes, you need to make suggestions that could be applied for performing research in the future. You can keep suggestions to write in the conclusion section of the research paper .

You can provide suggestions based on the limitation of the research. When providing suggestions in the discussion section of the research paper you need to share concrete ideas about how future work can be built on fields that personal research was unable to identify:

From the above article, it has been concluded that the discussion section in the research paper consists of a problem and a summary of key findings. Another fact that has been discovered is that when writing a research paper discussion section also consists of limitations of the study.

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Discussion Essay – Your Ultimate Guide

Are you stuck or do not know how to write a discussion essay? You may have issues with finding a topic or getting the right structure for the essay. This guide will highlight these points to make your job easier. Writing a discussion essay can be simple if you follow some rules. You must have a deep understanding of the matter, structure, and the right format. Read on to learn the discussion essay structure, format, and more.

What Is A Discussion Essay?

Discussion essays are common types of assignments that require students to present both sides of one argument. It is also called an argument essay. It outlines all the reasons for as well as against the issue. The essay is concluded by stating your opinion on the matter.

So the most acceptable discussion essay definition is one that offers two arguments. To write this essay, you must first develop a good topic that is explorable. While searching for a topic, be sure to find one that interests you and then narrow it down.

How To Write A Discussion Essay

Writing a discussion essay requires the organization of your thoughts before starting. Clear your mind and then organize your thoughts logically. The next step is to brainstorm for your topic. Before picking one, do some research so you can get a clear understanding of the topic.

After brainstorming, you need to gather the sources, and you should have enough to work with. One source could be considered as an opinion, but more sources make your work look more formal. It also simplifies the bibliography when you write it later on.

Create your outline to contain all the basic ideas you plan to discuss in the body of the essay. When you create one, you can analyze the viability of the topic. Put all your ideas on paper and sort out the best ones for your outline.

You may not need to write the essay immediately. Start with a draft. This draft depicts how you want the paper to look. Be sure to add all the crucial sections, such as the thesis statement. Other things to consider include a captivating introduction, an impressive conclusion, and a detailed body. Be sure to proofread the essay when you are done — writing it as a draft makes it easier to avoid mistakes.

Don't forget to create a submission copy or a secondary copy. On submission, decide on which paper to submit. So check the format, readability, and spelling. Now that you know how to start a discussion essay let's consider the right structure for this type of essay.

Structure Of Discussion Essay

All essays vary in length and even subject, but the structure is the same. Such essays have different components which they share in common. The thesis statements and general statements must be parts of this essay. It should also contain the main body for examining the argument for and arguments against. Write these parts in one or more paragraphs each.

The essay conclusion should contain a summary of all the main points you presented. It should also be based on the main points you think are important in the essay. Also, the conclusion may contain your personal opinion on the chosen topic. It should be based on any preceding evidence.

Writing Tips For Discussion Essays

Writing this type of essay may be challenging if you haven’t done it before. Search online for a discussion essay example to guide you. If you still have issues, then you can get expert writing help from a professional for the best grades.

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How To Write The Discussion Chapter

The what, why & how explained simply (with examples).

By: Jenna Crossley (PhD Cand). Reviewed By: Dr. Eunice Rautenbach | August 2021

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve reached the discussion chapter of your thesis or dissertation and are looking for a bit of guidance. Well, you’ve come to the right place ! In this post, we’ll unpack and demystify the typical discussion chapter in straightforward, easy to understand language, with loads of examples .

Overview: Dissertation Discussion Chapter

What exactly is the discussion chapter?

The discussion chapter is where you interpret and explain your results within your thesis or dissertation. This contrasts with the results chapter, where you merely present and describe the analysis findings (whether qualitative or quantitative ). In the discussion chapter, you elaborate on and evaluate your research findings, and discuss the significance and implications of your results.

In this chapter, you’ll situate your research findings in terms of your research questions or hypotheses and tie them back to previous studies and literature (which you would have covered in your literature review chapter). You’ll also have a look at how relevant and/or significant your findings are to your field of research, and you’ll argue for the conclusions that you draw from your analysis. Simply put, the discussion chapter is there for you to interact with and explain your research findings in a thorough and coherent manner.

What should I include in the discussion chapter?

First things first: in some studies, the results and discussion chapter are combined into one chapter . This depends on the type of study you conducted (i.e., the nature of the study and methodology adopted), as well as the standards set by the university. So, check in with your university regarding their norms and expectations before getting started. In this post, we’ll treat the two chapters as separate, as this is most common.

Basically, your discussion chapter should analyse , explore the meaning and identify the importance of the data you presented in your results chapter. In the discussion chapter, you’ll give your results some form of meaning by evaluating and interpreting them. This will help answer your research questions, achieve your research aims and support your overall conclusion (s). Therefore, you discussion chapter should focus on findings that are directly connected to your research aims and questions. Don’t waste precious time and word count on findings that are not central to the purpose of your research project.

As this chapter is a reflection of your results chapter, it’s vital that you don’t report any new findings . In other words, you can’t present claims here if you didn’t present the relevant data in the results chapter first. So, make sure that for every discussion point you raise in this chapter, you’ve covered the respective data analysis in the results chapter. If you haven’t, you’ll need to go back and adjust your results chapter accordingly.

If you’re struggling to get started, try writing down a bullet point list everything you found in your results chapter. From this, you can make a list of everything you need to cover in your discussion chapter. Also, make sure you revisit your research questions or hypotheses and incorporate the relevant discussion to address these. This will also help you to see how you can structure your chapter logically.

Need a helping hand?

How to write the discussion chapter

Now that you’ve got a clear idea of what the discussion chapter is and what it needs to include, let’s look at how you can go about structuring this critically important chapter. Broadly speaking, there are six core components that need to be included, and these can be treated as steps in the chapter writing process.

Step 1: Restate your research problem and research questions

The first step in writing up your discussion chapter is to remind your reader of your research aim(s) and research questions . If you have hypotheses, you can also briefly mention these. This “reminder” is very important because, after reading dozens of pages, the reader may have forgotten the original point of your research or been swayed in another direction. It’s also likely that some readers skip straight to your discussion chapter from the introduction chapter , so make sure that your research aims and research questions are clear.

Step 2: Summarise your key findings

Next, you’ll want to summarise your key findings from your results chapter. This may look different for qualitative and quantitative research , where qualitative research may report on themes and relationships, whereas quantitative research may touch on correlations and causal relationships. Regardless of the methodology, in this section you need to highlight the overall key findings in relation to your research questions.

Typically, this section only requires one or two paragraphs , depending on how many research questions you have. Aim to be concise here, as you will unpack these findings in more detail later in the chapter. For now, a few lines that directly address your research questions are all that you need.

Some examples of the kind of language you’d use here include:

These are purely examples. What you present here will be completely dependent on your original research questions, so make sure that you are led by them .

Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations of your study

The fourth step in writing up your discussion chapter is to acknowledge the limitations of the study. These limitations can cover any part of your study , from the scope or theoretical basis to the analysis method(s) or sample. For example, you may find that you collected data from a very small sample with unique characteristics, which would mean that you are unable to generalise your results to the broader population.

For some students, discussing the limitations of their work can feel a little bit self-defeating . This is a misconception, as a core indicator of high-quality research is its ability to accurately identify its weaknesses. In other words, accurately stating the limitations of your work is a strength, not a weakness . All that said, be careful not to undermine your own research. Tell the reader what limitations exist and what improvements could be made, but also remind them of the value of your study despite its limitations.

Step 5: Make recommendations for implementation and future research

Now that you’ve unpacked your findings and acknowledge the limitations thereof, the next thing you’ll need to do is reflect on your study in terms of two factors:

The first thing to discuss is how your findings can be used in the real world – in other words, what contribution can they make to the field or industry? Where are these contributions applicable, how and why? For example, if your research is on communication in health settings, in what ways can your findings be applied to the context of a hospital or medical clinic? Make sure that you spell this out for your reader in practical terms, but also be realistic and make sure that any applications are feasible.

The next discussion point is the opportunity for future research . In other words, how can other studies build on what you’ve found and also improve the findings by overcoming some of the limitations in your study (which you discussed a little earlier). In doing this, you’ll want to investigate whether your results fit in with findings of previous research, and if not, why this may be the case. For example, are there any factors that you didn’t consider in your study? What future research can be done to remedy this? When you write up your suggestions, make sure that you don’t just say that more research is needed on the topic, also comment on how the research can build on your study.

Step 6: Provide a concluding summary

Finally, you’ve reached your final stretch. In this section, you’ll want to provide a brief recap of the key findings – in other words, the findings that directly address your research questions . Basically, your conclusion should tell the reader what your study has found, and what they need to take away from reading your report.

When writing up your concluding summary, bear in mind that some readers may skip straight to this section from the beginning of the chapter. So, make sure that this section flows well from and has a strong connection to the opening section of the chapter.

Tips and tricks for an A-grade discussion chapter

Now that you know what the discussion chapter is , what to include and exclude , and how to structure it , here are some tips and suggestions to help you craft a quality discussion chapter.

If you have any questions or thoughts regarding this post, feel free to leave a comment below. Also, if you’re looking for one-on-one help with your discussion chapter (or thesis in general), consider booking a free consultation with one of our highly experienced Grad Coaches to discuss how we can help you.

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our research writing mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project.

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How To Write The Conclusion Chapter: 6 Steps + Examples

23 Comments

Thank you this is helpful!

This is very helpful to me… Thanks a lot for sharing this with us 😊

This is actually really helpful, I just stumbled upon it. Very happy that I found it, thank you.

This is really good and explicit. Thanks

Dear sir/madame

Thanks a lot for this helpful blog. Really, it supported me in writing my discussion chapter while I was totally unaware about its structure and method of writing.

With regards

Syed Firoz Ahmad PhD, Research Scholar

I agree so much. This blog was god sent. It assisted me so much while I was totally clueless about the context and the know-how. Now I am fully aware of what I am to do and how I am to do it.

Thanks! This is helpful!

thanks alot for this informative website

Dear Sir/Madam,

Truly, your article was much benefited when i structured my discussion chapter.

Thank you very much!!!

This is helpful for me in writing my research discussion component. I have to copy this text on Microsoft word cause of my weakness that I cannot be able to read the text on screen a long time. So many thanks for this articles.

This was helpful

Thanks Jenna, well explained.

Thank you! This is super helpful.

Thanks very much. I have appreciated the six steps on writing the Discussion chapter which are (i) Restating the research problem and questions (ii) Summarising the key findings (iii) Interpreting the results linked to relating to previous results in positive and negative ways; explaining whay different or same and contribution to field of research and expalnation of findings (iv) Acknowledgeing limitations (v) Recommendations for implementation and future resaerch and finally (vi) Providing a conscluding summary

My two questions are: 1. On step 1 and 2 can it be the overall or you restate and sumamrise on each findings based on the reaerch question? 2. On 4 and 5 do you do the acknowlledgement , recommendations on each research finding or overall. This is not clear from your expalanattion.

Please respond.

This post is very useful. I’m wondering whether practical implications must be introduced in the Discussion section or in the Conclusion section?

Sigh, I never knew a 20 min video could have literally save my life like this. I found this at the right time!!!! Everything I need to know in one video thanks a mil ! OMGG and that 6 step!!!!!! was the cherry on top the cake!!!!!!!!!

This piece is very helpful on how to go about my discussion section. I can always recommend GradCoach research guides for colleagues.

Many thanks for this resource. It has been very helpful to me. I was finding it hard to even write the first sentence. Much appreciated.

Thanks so much. Very helpful to know what is included in the discussion section

this was a very helpful and useful information

This is very helpful. Very very helpful. Thanks for sharing this online!

it is very helpfull article, and i will recommend it to my fellow students. Thank you.

Superlative! More grease to your elbows.

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How to Write a Discussion Section | Tips & Examples

Published on 21 August 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on 25 October 2022.

The discussion section is where you delve into the meaning, importance, and relevance of your results .

It should focus on explaining and evaluating what you found, showing how it relates to your literature review , and making an argument in support of your overall conclusion . It should not be a second results section .

There are different ways to write this section, but you can focus your writing around these key elements:

What not to include in your discussion section, step 1: summarise your key findings, step 2: give your interpretations, step 3: discuss the implications, step 4: acknowledge the limitations, step 5: share your recommendations, discussion section example.

There are a few common mistakes to avoid when writing the discussion section of your paper.

Start this section by reiterating your research problem and concisely summarising your major findings. Don’t just repeat all the data you have already reported – aim for a clear statement of the overall result that directly answers your main research question . This should be no more than one paragraph.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

The meaning of your results may seem obvious to you, but it’s important to spell out their significance for your reader, showing exactly how they answer your research question.

The form of your interpretations will depend on the type of research, but some typical approaches to interpreting the data include:

You can organise your discussion around key themes, hypotheses, or research questions, following the same structure as your results section. Alternatively, you can also begin by highlighting the most significant or unexpected results.

Ask yourself these questions:

Your overall aim is to show the reader exactly what your research has contributed, and why they should care.

Limitations might be due to your overall research design, specific methodological choices , or unanticipated obstacles that emerged during your research process.

Here are a few common possibilities:

After noting the limitations, you can reiterate why the results are nonetheless valid for the purpose of answering your research question.

Based on the discussion of your results, you can make recommendations for practical implementation or further research. Sometimes, the recommendations are saved for the conclusion .

Suggestions for further research can lead directly from the limitations. Don’t just state that more studies should be done – give concrete ideas for how future work can build on areas that your own research was unable to address.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. (2022, October 25). How to Write a Discussion Section | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 27 February 2023, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/discussion/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write a results section | tips & examples, research paper appendix | example & templates, how to write a thesis or dissertation introduction.

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COMMENTS

How to Write a Discussion Section
What not to include in your discussion section Step 1: Summarize your key findings Step 2: Give your interpretations Step 3: Discuss the implications Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations Step 5: Share your recommendations Discussion section example Frequently asked questions about discussion sections What not to include in your discussion section
Discussion Section of a Research Paper: Guide & Example
Leave your " write my research paper for me " order at StudyCrumb and get a customized study tailored to your requirements. Step 1. Start Strong: Discussion Section of a Research Paper First and foremost, how to start the discussion section of a research paper? Here's what you should definitely consider before settling down to start writing:
How to Write a Discussion Section for a Research Paper
Here are five steps to follow when writing a discussion section: Summarize the Key Research Findings This chapter should begin with a few sentences that reiterate the research problem and questions followed by a concise summary of the key research findings. You should not repeat all the information you have already stated in prior sections.
How To Write A Perfect Discussion Section Of A Research Paper
Here are some tips on how to write a perfect discussion section: Start by restating your research question or hypothesis. This will remind readers of the focus of your study and help them ...
Discussion Section Of Research Paper
Most often, the discussion section is made up of several paragraphs, each one dealing with an important finding. You will basically be analyzing the underlying meaning of your research. You will try to prove that your research and findings are of great help to the scientific community; that they fill gaps in knowledge.
Discussion section of a research paper
The purpose of the discussion section is to interpret the findings of your study, and to explain how they relate to the existing body of scientific knowledge. This is a critical part of any research paper, as it helps to illustrate the significance of your work, and how it may impact future research. Additionally, the discussion section can ...
Discussion Section of Research Paper
The discussion and conclusion in research paper serve different purposes, so you must know what those are. Unlike the discussion section, the conclusion section should restate your hypothesis and remind the reader of your main arguments and the strongest evidence and examples in support of them.
How to Start a Discussion Section in Research? [with Examples]
The Discussion section can: 1. Start by restating the study objective Example 1: " The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle synergies and motion primitives of the upper limb motions." Taken from the Discussion section of this article on PubMed Example 2:
8. The Discussion
Organize the discussion from the general to the specific, linking your findings to the literature, then to theory, then to practice [if appropriate]. Use the same key terms, narrative style, and verb tense [present] that you used when describing the research problem in your introduction.
PDF Discussion Section for Research Papers
The discussion reviews the findings and puts them into the context of the overall research. It brings together all the sections that came before it and allows a reader to see the connections between each part of the research paper. In a discussion section, the author engages in three necessary steps: interpretation, analysis, and explanation.
Discussion Research Paper Examples That Really Inspire
Discussion Research Papers Samples For Students. 509 samples of this type. If you're seeking a possible way to streamline writing a Research Paper about Discussion, WowEssays.com paper writing service just might be able to help you out. For starters, you should browse our extensive database of free samples that cover most diverse Discussion ...
How to Write Results and Discussion in a Research Paper: Handy Sample
Include a short introduction restating the research question. Mention the criteria for data collection and the characteristics of your study group. Describe the findings in the same order applied in your methods section. Each method has to have some result. Use visual charts to give the reader a simple representation of the data you have acquired.
How to Write Discussions and Conclusions
A successful discussion section puts your findings in context. It should include: the results of your research, a discussion of related research, and a comparison between your results and initial hypothesis. Tip: Not all journals share the same naming conventions.
PDF 7th Edition Discussion Phrases Guide
evaluate and interpret the results of your study or paper, draw inferences and conclusions from it, and communicate its contributions to science and/or society. Use the present tense when writing the Discussion section. • In the Discussion section of a research paper, you should evaluate and interpret the implications of study
Writing a Research Paper Series: Discussion
Begin the discussion with an opening paragraph summarizing the purpose and main approach of the study: 1 sentence reiterating the purpose of the study. 1 sentence stating the main approach. 2-3 sentences summarizing the main findings. 1 sentence stating the main conclusions. Summarize the main findings in relation to the published literature.
How to Write the Discussion Section of a Research Paper
Fill in the research paper requirements and other required fields Make and confirm payment Sit, relax, and enjoy as you wait for your high-quality discussion section! Your discussion section should be written in an engaging, professional manner to keep readers engaged and return for future projects.
Discussion Section
1 How to write a discussion section for a research paper? 1.1 Step 1: Highlighting the most important results 1.2 Step 2: Explain why your research is important to the reader. 1.3 Step 3:Discussion of the research's implications 1.4 Step 4: Acceptance of one's limits 1.5 Step 5: Provide recommendations for research 2 Conclusion
Discussion Papers
So the most acceptable discussion essay definition is one that offers two arguments. To write this essay, you must first develop a good topic that is explorable. While searching for a topic, be sure to find one that interests you and then narrow it down. How To Write A Discussion Essay. Writing a discussion essay requires the organization of ...
How To Write A Dissertation Discussion Chapter
Broadly speaking, there are six core components that need to be included, and these can be treated as steps in the chapter writing process. Step 1: Restate your research problem and research questions The first step in writing up your discussion chapter is to remind your reader of your research aim (s) and research questions.
how to write a discussion section in a research paper
how to write a discussion section of a research paper | How to write a discussion sectionThe purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe the signi...
How to Write a Discussion Section
What not to include in your discussion section Step 1: Summarise your key findings Step 2: Give your interpretations Step 3: Discuss the implications Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations Step 5: Share your recommendations Discussion section example What not to include in your discussion section