Writing a strong research paper results section is a tough call. Your data presentation needs to be clear, logical objective and honest. You need your results section to confirm or refute your hypothesis or answer your research question while allowing your readers to interpret the findings themselves. So, how do you put your best foot forward and tell the story of your data?
Keep your reader focussed
It’s impossible to include every data point in your research paper results. So, be ruthless about what you include. These three questions will help you decide:
- What directly answers your research question? Data that does not directly contribute to your main findings should be relegated to an appendix or supplementary materials.
- What provides meaningful context? If a statistic is interesting but not essential, then ask yourself if it provides clarity (include) or merely adds complexity (remove) to your results.
- What can be shown rather than told? Visuals, used sparingly, grab the readers’ attention. So, put key trends and observations in figures or tables.
So, unclutter your research paper results! Remove unnecessary data and keep your reader focussed on your key findings.
Guide your readers through your findings
Think of your research paper results as a narrative. Don’t present your results in the order you obtained them Structure them logically to build a clear, coherent story:
- Start with the most important findings. What is the single most crucial result of your study? Lead with it.
- Group related data together. Organize results thematically rather than jumping between unrelated points.
- Balance confirmation and contradiction. If some results support your hypothesis and others challenge it, present both with an honest, neutral tone.
- Prepare for the discussion. Your results should set up the interpretation that follows in the discussion section. Avoid inserting analysis here – let the data speak first.
Clarify but don’t confuse
A well-designed table or figure can communicate complex data in seconds. But when misused, visuals can confuse rather than clarify. Here’s how to get your visuals right:
- Make them self-explanatory. A good figure or table should need minimal additional explanation in the text. The visual isn’t doing its job if you’re repeating everything in words.
- Ensure clarity and readability. Avoid tiny labels, cluttered legends, or excessive detail. Simplicity makes data easier to digest.
- Use figures to highlight patterns. Trends, comparisons, and relationships are often best shown graphically.
- Reserve tables for precise values. If exact numbers are important, use a table rather than a figure.
Common mistake to avoid: Overloading your research paper results with redundant visuals. If a table and a paragraph say the same thing, one of them can go.
Too much detail or not enough?
Strike a healthy balance between too much detail and not enough. Be aware of these two common pitfalls:
- Statistical overload – Including every calculation, every p-value, and every possible statistical measure doesn’t add clarity—it creates noise. Keep statistical reporting focused on what’s most relevant.
- Oversimplification – Conversely, glossing over results with vague statements (“The data supports our hypothesis”) without specifics weakens your argument. Provide enough detail to support your conclusions.
If you avoid these two pitfalls, your research paper results will be more like a clear map of your findings than a redundant data dump.
Springboard to your discussion
Your results are the springboard to your discussion. That means you should:
- Avoid interpretation. Save explanations for the discussion section. The results should focus on what the data shows, not what it means.
- Anticipate readers’ questions. Structure your findings in a way that invites comparison and analysis. Can the reader see how their own interpretation might align or differ from yours?
- Highlight key findings. If a result is particularly surprising or impactful, make sure it stands out.
Remember: your data should invite engagement, not just passive reading.
Key takeaways
- Your results should tell a clear, logical story. Structure them in a way that guides the reader naturally through your findings.
- Figures and tables should enhance, not duplicate, your text. Let visuals speak for themselves, providing only the necessary explanation.
- Balance clarity and completeness. Present enough data to support your conclusions while avoiding an overwhelming flood of numbers.
Reach out
The results turn your raw data into a compelling story and form the springboard to your discussion.
Need help guiding your readers through your findings?
Then contact The Golden Thread. We’ll be happy to help you strike the right balance between clarity and completeness in your results and give your research paper the final human editing touch.
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