The findings section of the dissertation is important because it states the research results objectively. In this chapter, students report the dissertation findings in a logical and orderly sequence using illustrative material. The interesting thing about this section is that students just have to state the actual results and not attempt to analyse them.
Since this chapter is technical, the researchers often remain unclear about its structure. Outlining the sections and subsections of this chapter is important to maintain the flow of writing and improve its readability.
In this article, we shall discuss the structure and format requirements of the results chapter of a dissertation.
Table of Contents
What Is the Findings Section?
The University of Southampton defines the finding section as a part of a dissertation where researchers provide a factual account of data without any interrogation. This chapter can be slightly monotonous as there is no discussion of the results. In the findings section of the dissertation, students do not need to analyse the data in detail.
Primarily, this section presents and summarises the results of a study to put them in context with the research questions. The data should be delivered logically without any kind of bias or interpretation. According to the book titled The Dissertation: From Beginning to End, here is how the entire knowledge background is linked to the findings section of the dissertation:
7 Important Tips to Write the Findings Section of a Dissertation
Now is the time to discuss how you can tell the readers about the research results you get. As discussed above, you have to mention the findings in the results chapter. The structure of this chapter depends on the purpose and design of your research work. If there is anything that confuses you during the writing process, you can ask for help from reliable UK-based dissertation writing services.
Coming back to the core discussion, here are the best 07 tips to craft the results part of your work:
1. Report the Quantitative Results
The best way to show the quantitative results is to structure them around the questions and hypotheses that you want to address. The top-tier ways to present such kinds of results are the following:
- Mention the findings right away and focus on how you analysed them.
- Demonstrate the relevance of the research questions with the hypothesis that you formulated.
- Highlight the meaningful variances, tendencies and relationships in your papers.
- Mention the relevant interpretations and implications related to the results chapter.
The findings that are not directly related to explanations regarding the data collection process can be added to the appendix section of your papers. You can also use visual data elements to illustrate the findings you get.
2. Discuss the Qualitative Results
According to the Three Principles for Writing An Effective Qualitative Results Section, you can use the principles of authenticity, argument and storytelling to discuss such results. These principles assist the researchers in envisioning the story they will tell and choosing the data as evidence. They can also integrate the research questions and relate the findings to those to establish the link between them.
The best ways to report the qualitative findings in a dissertation are mentioned here:
- Frame the results around the most critical themes you can obtain after examining the data.
- Observe the results of the data for each theme and check how your in-depth analysis relates to it.
- Link all the patterns, relationships and independent responses to the research hypothesis.
- The findings section of the dissertation must not include irrelevant or additional information that doesn’t fit with the research background.
3. Start With an Outline
An outline can structure the findings section of your dissertation well. As per the Sacred Heart University Library, the results should be presented in a clearly organised manner, followed by a short explanation of the results. If there is an unusual correlation between two variables, point this out in the results section.
Here is the outline you can make to give your dissertation a better structure:
- An introductory context for the comprehension of results
- A summary of the key findings that are arranged in a logical manner
- The systematic description of the results
- Use the past tense for the discussion of the results you get
The length of the results section will be guided by the types and amount of data that has to be reported. However, as a rule of thumb, you should focus on the findings that are related to the research problem and are considered vital.
4. Be Objective and Critical
Although the main aim of the results section is to inform readers about your work’s findings, it can also inform them about the studies’ critical nature. It starts with a brief demonstration of the research question and assists readers in refocusing.
You should be critical and objective when mentioning your research findings. Address the primary research queries first and then move on to the study of different aspects. If there are multiple questions, it will be important to ensure clarity and coherence in the papers.
Furthermore, always try to use plain and simple language and avoid using unclear or uncertain expressions. You should also be as unbiased as you can while crafting the findings of a dissertation. There must be no emotional or subjective words in your papers.
5. Organise the Results
Your dissertation findings must be organised in a proper way to categorise the data collected. The results must be coherent and logical. Use headings and subheadings to highlight the different areas of results that you get. You can break the results into manageable and smaller sections.
Follow these tips by the University of Southampton to make the findings of your research work easier to navigate through for the readers:
- Separate the sections in the same chapter.
- Integrate different ideas using the subsets of findings and then mention the results in further detail.
- It will be better to use the chronological order of information when crafting this section.
- Keep all the variables of your research study isolated and specify the places where you get the results.
6. Design Tables for Data Illustration
Suppose the dissertation follows a quantitative pattern of research. In that case, it is important to include graphs, tables, charts and other visual elements in the findings section of the dissertation. These elements help the readers comprehend the emerging relationships and trends in your field of research.
Example
Here is an example of one such table that we have taken from Wordvice to show how a dissertation result section tables look like:
The key points to consider when crafting this section are the following:
- Keep all the figures and tables numbered, and the sequence should be the same as the one mentioned in the main text.
- The information used in the tables and figures should be self-explanatory.
- The tables and figures can serve as a focal point to tell an informative and clear story about your entire research.
- Know that tables and illustrations can enhance the text and clarify the meanings, not necessarily replace it.
7. Review the Draft
Finally, when you are done with writing the findings section of the dissertation, it will be time to review the draft of your papers. You should edit and revise it until the results seem exactly how you would like to have them reported to the audience.
Here are the key points to consider when writing this section:
- Ensure to double-check the consistency and accuracy of all the data.
- Review the visual elements that you have added to your papers and cross-check them for language errors.
- The results must be presented with the best focus, and the valuations plus recommendations section must be on point.
It can also help you to check the university’s guidelines for crafting the findings chapter of your thesis. You should compare your work with the sample papers and ensure that all the guidelines have been followed appropriately.
Conclusion
Now that you have a clear picture of what the findings section of the dissertation is, it’s time to take all these guidelines seriously. Do not forget to highlight the important themes and patterns you notice in the results of your research work. Keep the writing style consistent and avoid adding any extra information in this part of your papers.
To fulfil the needs of the thematic tones of this chapter, contact the best dissertation writing companies in London. Preparing an effective results section is important for the success of your entire dissertation. It can contribute to the betterment of the existing knowledge in your chosen area of research.
All in all, you need to do thorough planning and pay attention to the details to fulfil the needs of this part. Follow the steps mentioned in this article, and rest assured that you will be good to go!
