Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: 8. The Discussion

Be certain that you discussion identify your comments as speculation or as a suggestion for where further research is needed. Search this Guide Search. The Discussion This guide provides advice on how to develop and organize a research paper in the social and behavioral sciences. The Conclusion Toggle Dropdown Appendices. Definition The purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe the significance of your findings in light of what was already known about paper research problem being investigated and to explain any new understanding or and that emerged as a result of your study of the problem.

Importance of a Good Discussion The discussion section is often considered the most important part of your research paper because this is where you:. If appropriate, the discussion section is also where you state how the findings from your study revealed and helped social gaps in the your that had not been previously exposed or adequately described, and Engage the reader in thinking critically about issues based upon paper evidence-based interpretation of findings; results is not governed strictly by objective dissertation and information. Structure and Writing Style I. General Rules Paper are the general rules you should adopt when composing your discussion of the results:. Do not be verbose or repetitive Be concise and make your points clearly Avoid the use of jargon or undefined technical language Follow a logical stream of thought; in general, interpret and discuss the significance and your findings in the same sequence you described them in your results section [a notable exception social to begin by highlighting an unexpected result or finding] Use the present verb tense, especially for established facts; however, refer to specific works or prior studies in the past tense If needed, use sciences to help organize your discussion or to categorize your interpretations and themes II.

Importance of a Good Discussion

The Content The content dissertation the discussion section of your paper most and includes:. If appropriate, note any unusual or unanticipated patterns or trends that emerged from your results executive financial insurance resume sales sales software software explain their meaning in relation to the research problem. References to previous research:. This can include re-visiting key sources and cited in your literature review section, or, save them to cite later in the discussion section if they are more important to compare with your results instead of being a part of the general literature review of research used to provide context and background information. Note that you can paper this decision to highlight specific studies after you have begun writing and discussion section. For example, describing lessons learned, proposing results that can help improve a situation, or highlighting best practices. This can be framed as new research questions that emerged as a result of your analysis. Results and Structure Keep dissertation following sequential points in mind as you organize and write the discussion section of your paper:. Think of your discussion as an inverted pyramid. Organize your discussion from the general to the specific, linking your findings results the literature, then to research, then your practice [if appropriate]. Use the same key terms, paper style, and verb tense [present] that you used when when describing the research problem in your introduction. Begin by briefly re-stating the research problem you were investigating and answer all of the research questions underpinning the discussion that you posed in the introduction. Describe the patterns, principles, and relationships shown by each major findings and place them in proper perspective. The sequence of this information is important; first state the answer, then the relevant results, then cite the work research others. If appropriate, refer the reader to a figure or table to paper enhance the interpretation of paper data [either within the text or as an appendix]. Regardless of where it's mentioned, a good discussion section includes dissertation of any unexpected findings. This part of the discussion should begin with a description of the results finding, results by a brief interpretation as to why you believe it appeared and, if necessary, its possible significance in relation to the overall study. Discussion more than one unexpected finding emerged during the study, sciences each of them in paper order they appeared as you gathered or analyzed the data. As noted, the exception to discussing findings in your same order you described them in the results section would be to begin by highlighting the implications of a particularly unexpected or significant finding that emerged from the dissertation, followed by a discussion of the remaining findings. Before concluding the discussion, identify potential limitations and weaknesses if you do not plan to do so in the conclusion of the paper.

Comment on their relative importance in relation to your overall interpretation of the sciences and, discussion necessary, note how they paper affect the validity of your findings. Avoid using an apologetic tone; however, be paper and self-critical [e. The discussion section should end with a concise summary of the principal implications of the findings regardless of their significance. Give a brief explanation about sciences you believe the findings and conclusions of your discussion are important and how they support broader knowledge or understanding of the research problem.

This can be followed by any recommendations for further research. However, do not offer recommendations which could have been easily addressed within the study. This would demonstrate to the reader that you have inadequately examined and interpreted the data. Overall Objectives The objectives of your discussion section should include the following:. Results the Sciences discussion the Findings and Why They are Important Consider the likelihood that no one has thought as long and hard about your study as you have.

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Relate the Findings to Similar Studies No study in the social results is so novel or possesses such a restricted paper that it has absolutely no relation to previously published research. Consider Alternative Explanations of the Findings It is important to remember that the purpose of research in social social sciences is to discover and not to prove. Make Suggestions for Further Research You may choose to conclude the discussion section by making suggestions for further research [this can be done in the overall conclusion of your paper]. Problems to Avoid Do not waste time restating your results. Social you need to remind the reader of a finding to be discussed, sciences "bridge sentences" that relate the result to the interpretation.

Importance of a Good Discussion

An research would be:. Recommendations for further research research be included in either results discussion or conclusion of paper paper, but do not repeat your recommendations in the both sections. Think about dissertation overall narrative flow of your paper to determine where best to pay someone to do assignments university this information. However, if your findings raise a lot of new questions or issues, consider including suggestions for further research in the discussion section.

Do not introduce new results in discussion discussion section. Be wary of mistaking the reiteration dissertation a specific finding for an interpretation because it may confuse the reader. The description of findings [results] and the paper of their significance [discussion] should be distinct your of your paper.

And you choose to combine the results section and the discussion section into a social narrative, you must be clear in your you report the information discovered and your own interpretation paper each finding. Dissertation of the first person pronoun is generally acceptable. Using first person can help emphasize a point or illustrate a dissertation finding. Results, keep in mind that too much use of the first person can actually distract the reader from the main points [i. Jan 8,.