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Rslts

The document provides guidance on writing the results section of a research report. It discusses three key elements: 1) locating results in figures, 2) presenting important findings, and 3) commenting on results. For element 2, findings can involve comparisons between groups, fluctuations of variables over time, or relationships between variables. Verb tenses and language should be used appropriately for each element. Comments can generalize, explain, or compare results to related studies. Well-written results sections clearly communicate the most significant findings of the study.

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Reymart Manablug
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50 views5 pages

Rslts

The document provides guidance on writing the results section of a research report. It discusses three key elements: 1) locating results in figures, 2) presenting important findings, and 3) commenting on results. For element 2, findings can involve comparisons between groups, fluctuations of variables over time, or relationships between variables. Verb tenses and language should be used appropriately for each element. Comments can generalize, explain, or compare results to related studies. Well-written results sections clearly communicate the most significant findings of the study.

Uploaded by

Reymart Manablug
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RESULTS

(Reference: Robert Weissberg and Suzanne Buker)


In results you present the findings of your study and briefly comment on them. Some writers call
this section results and discussion, thus indicating more extensive comments on the findings of
the study.
The results section of the reports presents the findings of the study in both figures and in written
text. Figures (graphs, tables, and diagrams) present the complete findings in numerical terms,
while the accompanying text helps the reader to focus on the most important aspects of the
results and to interpret them.
Ordering your Information
The text usually consists of three main information elements.
RESULTS: Three Information Elements
ELEMENT 1:

a statement that locates the figure(s) where the results can be


found

ELEMENT 2:

statements that present the most important findings

ELEMENT 3:

statements that comment on the results

Alternate Short Form


Another ordering system for the results section is a short form of the three information elements.
As you can see, in this alternative the three basic elements are reduced to two kinds of
statements.
ALTERNATE SHORT FORM FOR PRESENTING RESULTS
ELEMENTS
1 AND 2
(combined):

statements that present the most important results


and that indicate in parentheses the figure where they
can be found;

ELEMENT 3:

statements that comment on the results

EXAMPLE:

Caffeine was somewhat more potent than theophylline in


preventing leaf-eating (Figure 1). In contrast, caffeine has been
reported elsewhere to be ten times weaker than theophylline as
an adenosine antagonist (8).

Commenting on Results -- Two Patterns


There are two possible ways to order your comment statements (Element 3). You may put a short
comment (one or two sentences) after each significant result you mention, or you may leave your
comments until all the results have been mentioned. The following box illustrates these two ways
of ordering your comments.

TWO PATTERNS FOR ORDERING COMMENTS (ELEMENT 3)


ALTERNATING PATTERN:

R1 + C1;

SEQUENTIAL PATTERN:

R1 + R 2 + R 3 + C

R = Results (Element 2);

R2 + C2;

R3 + C 3

C = Comments (Element 3)

The alternating pattern is best if you have many individual results with specific comments about
each result. The sequential pattern is used when there are several results to which one general
comment applies. (Your professor or editor may ask you to put all comments in a separate
section called Discussion.
Functions of Comments
The comments (Element 3) in results sections may serve a variety of different functions. Some of
the most common functions are listed in the following box.
FUNCTIONS OF COMMENTS (ELEMENT 3)
Comments may: 1. generalize from the results;
2. explain possible reasons for the results;
3. compare the results with results from other studies.
LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS
Choosing Verb Tenses for Results
In using the three-step format to write your results section, you should observe the following
verb tense conventions. In Element 1, use the present tense to locate your data in a figure.
ELEMENT 1: LOCATING THE FIGURE
Present Tense
EXAMPLE:

Results of the t-tests are presented in Table 1.

EXAMPLE:

Table 4 summarizes the test results on precontaminated insulators.

Notice in the examples in the box above that locational statements can be written in either the
active or passive voice, but in both cases the present tense is used.
When you report your findings (Element 2), use the past tense.
ELEMENT 2: PRESENTING THE FINDINGS
Past Tense
EXAMPLE:

As a group, divorced mothers spent over twice as much time in


employment as married mothers (Figure 2).

EXAMPLE:

The coefficient of correlation was found to be significant at the


0.001 level.

NOTE: In some fields such as engineering and economics, authors may present their findings in
the present tense.

When commenting on the findings (Element 3), it is conventional to use the present tense or
modal auxiliaries.
ELEMENT 3: COMMENTING ON THE RESULTS
Present Tense and Modal Auxiliaries
When the comment compares your results with the results of other studies, use the
present tense.
EXAMPLE:

This is consistent with earlier findings suggesting that personal


characteristics are not related to attrition and teaching.

When the comment give a possible explanation for the results, use a modal
auxiliary.
can
EXAMPLE:

These results may be explained by considering the voltage


distribution on 230 kV insulators during freezing conditions.

When the comment generalizes from the results, use may.


EXAMPLE:

Hyperactive children may be generally responsive to


amphetamines.

In your Element 3 comments you may also use tentative verbs in the present tense instead of
modal auxiliaries to generalize from results.
ELEMENT 3: COMMENTING ON THE RESULTS
Tentative Verbs
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:

appears
It
seems that hyperactive children are generally responsive to
is likely amphetamines
These results suggest that children who display learning problems
are depending on only one cerebral hemisphere.

Element 2: Presenting Different Types of Findings


These are three different types of findings that you may need to report, depending on the kind of
study you do. Specific words and expressions are used in writing about each type.
1. In some studies the findings involve a comparison among groups, often one or more
experimental groups with a control group. In these cases Element 2 statements are often
written using comparative or superlative expressions.

ELEMENT 2: COMPARISONS AMONG GROUPS


Group1

Comparison

Group2

The professional
athletes

had faster eye


movements

than our other subjects.

Quartz I reactors

had a higher mass


flow

than Quartz II.

Superlative

Group I

The highest incidence of Otitis


Media.

was found among Australian Indians.

2. In other studies the findings show the tendency of a variable to fluctuate over time. To report
these kinds of results, use expressions of variation or special verbs of variation in your
Element 2 statements.
ELEMENT 2: FLUCTUATION OF A VARIABLE OVER TIME
Variable

Verb

Phrase of
Variation

Time period

Prices

showed

a tendency to
increase

over the three-year


period.

The percentage
of female
students

tended

to decline

in the second half


of the decade.

Variable

The concentration of
sulfur dioxide

Verb of variation
rose
fell
increased
decreased
dropped
remained constant
declined

Time period

over the period


studied.

3. Findings of a third type show the relationship of one variable with another or relationships
among variables. When you report these kinds of results, it is common to use verbs of
correlation or association in Element 2.

ELEMENT 2: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO OR MORE VARIABLES


Variable X

Verb of correlation/association

Variable Y

Choice of location

correlated with
negatively correlated with
associated with

marital status.

Dry weight of
top growth

was

was not

highly
significantly
closely

related to

total nitrogen.

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