Here's how to!

A discussion is supposed to provide a summary of the results section and outcomes of a study. Providing contexts for the results was the most difficult for me during first year, mainly because I loved to overthink a situation. I get it, but then I found out an easy-to-follow structure, and I hope it works for you too.

1. Summarise the key findings - the main question remains; were parametric assumptions met?

2. Give your interpretations - What do the results mean? Is there a theory that supports the findings of the study? Relate to research from the introduction, and explain if the findings agree/ disagree with the analysis provided.

3. Discuss the implications-  Why do the results matter? Make a list of things that the experiment did not consider such as practical implications. What new insights do your findings contribute?

4. Acknowledge the limitations - What can't the results tell us? Examples include overall research design, specific methodological choices, or unanticipated obstacles that emerged during the research process. Only mention limitations that are directly relevant to your research objectives and how much impact they had on achieving the aims of the research.

5. State recommendations - What practical actions or scientific studies should follow? Give ideas for how future work can build on areas that your own research was unable to address.

The discussion section can be overwhelming with the amount of research needing to be conducted, but this blog makes it a lot easier!

Relating this part to the research done in the introduction shows your ability to reflect and make judgements of previous analysis.

Click here for an On-Demand Webinar to 'Take Your Essays to the Next Level'

Click here for an On-Demand Webinar on 'Report Writing: from coursework to life skill'