Chapter 4 Results PDF

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS What is the research paper Results section? represents the core findings of a study derived from the methods applied to gather and analyze information presents these findings in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation from the author, setting up the reader for lat...

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS What is the research paper Results section? represents the core findings of a study derived from the methods applied to gather and analyze information presents these findings in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation from the author, setting up the reader for later interpretation and evaluation in the Discussion section  answers the basic question “What did you find in your research?” What does it do? break down the data into sentences that show its significance to the research question(s) summarizes and presents the findings of the study to put them in context with your research question(s) the study’s data should be presented in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation findings may be reported in written text, tables, graphs, and other illustrations it is important to include a contextual analysis of the data by tying it back to the research question(s) What is included in the Results section?  The Results section should include the findings of your study and ONLY the findings of your study. The findings include:  Data presented in tables, charts, graphs, and other figures (may be placed into the text or on separate pages at the end of the manuscript)  A contextual analysis of this data explaining its meaning in sentence form  All data that corresponds to the central research question(s)  All secondary findings (secondary outcomes, subgroup analyses, etc.) If the scope of the study is broad, or if you studied a variety of variables, or if the methodology used yields a wide range of different results, the author should present only those results that are most relevant to the research question stated in the Introduction section. As a general rule, any information that does not present the direct findings or outcome of the study should be left out of this section. Unless the journal requests that authors combine the Results and Discussion sections, explanations and interpretations should be omitted from the Results. How are the results organized? The best way to organize your Results section is “logically.” One logical and clear method of organizing research results is to provide them alongside the research questions— within each research question, present the type of data that addresses that research question. How are the results organized? First, begin with an introduction to connect the results with the research question(s). Second, present your findings in a structured way (such as thematically or chronologically), bringing the readers’ attention to any important, interesting, or significant findings. Third, the results section should include a closing paragraph that clearly summarizes the key findings of the study. Your research question is based on a survey among patients who were treated at a hospital and received postoperative care. Your first research question is: “What do hospital patients over age 55 think about postoperative care?” This can actually be represented as a heading within your Results section, though it might be presented as a statement rather than a question: Attitudes towards postoperative care in patients over the age of 55 Present the results that address this specific research question first. A table illustrating data from a survey. Likert items can be included in this example. Tables can also present standard deviations, probabilities, correlation matrices, etc. present a content analysis, in words, of one end of the spectrum of the survey or data table. Start with the POSITIVE survey responses regarding postoperative care, using descriptive phrases. For example: “Sixty-five percent of patients over 55 responded positively to the question “Are you satisfied with your hospital’s postoperative care?” Include other results such as subcategory analyses. The amount of textual description used will depend on how much interpretation of tables and figures is necessary and how many examples the reader needs in order to understand the significance of your research findings. After you have assessed the data in one figure and explained it sufficiently, move on to your next research question. For example: “How does patient satisfaction correspond to in-hospital improvements made to postoperative care?” Include other results such as subcategory analyses. The amount of textual description used will depend on how much interpretation of tables and figures is necessary and how many examples the reader needs in order to understand the significance of your research findings. Next, present a content analysis of another part of the spectrum of the same research question, perhaps the NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL responses to the survey. After you have assessed the data in one figure and explained it sufficiently, move on to your next research question. For example:  “How does patient satisfaction correspond to in-hospital improvements made to postoperative care?” Captioning and Referencing Tables and Figures check the requirements and standards of the journal to which you are submitting your work the figures should be placed in the order they are referenced in the Results section and be as clear and easy to understand as possible if there are multiple variables being considered (within one or more research questions), it can be a good idea to split these up into separate figures these can be referenced and analyzed under separate headings and paragraphs in the text Steps for Composing the Results Section  Step 1: Consult the guidelines or instructions that the target journal or publisher provides authors and read research papers it has published, especially those with similar topics, methods, or results to your study.  Step 2: Consider your research results in relation to the journal’s requirements and catalogue your results.  Step 3: Design figures and tables to present and illustrate your data.  Step 4: Draft your Results section using the findings and figures you have organized.  Step 5: Review your draft; edit and revise until it reports results exactly as you would like to have them reported to your readers. How Does a Results Section Differ from a Discussion Section? The results section of a research paper tells the reader what you found, while the discussion section tells the reader what your findings mean. The results section should present the facts in an academic and unbiased manner, avoiding any attempt at analyzing or interpreting the data. Think of the results section as setting the stage for the discussion section by making all the necessary information known to the reader.