Writing the results chapter

The results section describes the data that you gathered and the outcomes of the analysis of that data.

In this section, you will typically find:

• graphs, tables, and charts supported by written descriptions and made identifiable by a title or legend ​
• key findings emphasized—qualitative research often includes historical sources or interview excerpts, while quantitative research will often include measurements or observations from experiments
• in-text citations are infrequent or absent.

This chapter of your thesis lays the foundations for your Discussion chapter where you can elaborate on the implications of your results for theory or practice in your discipline.

Presenting your data will involve making decisions about what is most important for your reader to understand about how you have addressed your research questions. Make decisions about what specific data to present in this section by thinking back to your research question or your research aims.

You might think of the metaphor of the carpenter who has more than enough wood to build with but will only succeed by selecting what is most suitable for the particular task:

Video resource

The video below details the features of a good results chapter and the process that goes into preparing it.