Discussion section of a research paper

When writing a research paper, this is one of the most important part of a research paper.

The discussion section of a research paper is where you interpret the data and present your conclusions. In this section, you should discuss how your results relate to the hypotheses you proposed and what they mean for future research. You should also point out any limitations of your study and suggest ways that the findings could be further developed. Finally, you should briefly summarize the main points of your paper.

In many research papers, the discussion and conclusion sections usually overlap. However, it is still important to keep them separate so that your paper is organized and easy to follow.

What is the discussion section of a research paper?

The discussion section of a research paper is the section where the author discusses the findings of the study and how they relate to the existing body of knowledge on the topic.

The purpose of the discussion section is to interpret the findings of your study, and to explain how they relate to the existing body of scientific knowledge. This is a critical part of any research paper, as it helps to illustrate the significance of your work, and how it may impact future research. Additionally, the discussion section can highlight potential limitations of your study, and offer suggestions for future research.

When writing the discussion section of a research paper, it is important to keep the following in mind:

1. The discussion section should be concise and focus on the key points of your study.
2. Be sure to interpret your findings in light of the existing body of knowledge.
3. Offer suggestions for future research.
4. Discuss the potential limitations of your study.
5. Remain objective and unbiased in your discussion.
6. Use clear and concise language.
7. Make sure your arguments are logically sound.
8. Cite your sources appropriately.

How to write the discussion section of a research paper

Writing a discussion part of any research paper is not easy. It is the place where you need to show your understanding of the subject and present your arguments. The following tips will help you write a strong discussion section:

Summarize your key findings:

Start the discussion section by summarizing your main findings in a few sentences. This will help remind the reader of what you found and how it relates to your argument.

Evaluate your findings:

After you’ve summarize your findings, it’s important to evaluate how strong they are. Were your results significant? Do they support your argument? Are there any potential problems with your data or methods? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section.

Contextualize your findings:

After you’ve evaluated your findings, it’s important to put them in context. What do your results mean? How do they compare to what other scholars have found? How does your research contribute to the existing conversation on this topic? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section. Give your interpretation of what the findings mean. What do they suggest about the subject? Are there any implications for future research? Keep your writing clear and concise. Avoid over-explaining or going into too much detail. The goal is to help the reader understand your findings, not to teach them about the subject.

Show how your findings fit with what is already known about the topic. If there are differences, explain why they may exist.

Implications of your findings:

Finally, you’ll want to discuss the implications of your findings. What do they mean for your argument? For future research on this topic? For the world more broadly? What are the implications of your findings? What questions still need to be answered? These are the types of questions you should answer in this section.

Acknowledge the limitations:

Every study has limitations. Be honest about the limitations of your study and highlight any areas that need further research. Be critical and acknowledge the limitations of your study and highlight any areas that need further research. suggest ways in which future research could build on your findings.

In a research paper, limitations are usually found in the methodology section. However, it is also important to mention them in the discussion section as well. By acknowledging the limitations of your study, you show that you are aware of the potential for error and that you took steps to minimize it. This makes your research more credible.

Examples:

To help illustrate the points made in this section, let’s look at a few examples.

Example 1: In a study on the effects of climate change on plant growth, the authors found that plants grown in warmer temperatures produced less biomass.

The results of this study suggest that climate change may have a negative effect on plant growth. However, there are some limitations to this study. First, the study was conducted in a controlled environment, so it is not clear if the results would be the same in the wild. Second, the study only looked at one aspect of plant growth (biomass production), so it is not clear if other aspects of plant growth would be affected by climate change. Third, the study did not take into account the effects of precipitation, which is also likely to play a role in plant growth.

Despite these limitations, the results of this study provide valuable insight into the potential effects of climate change on plant growth.

Example 2: In a study on the effectiveness of a new reading program, the authors found that students who used the program improved their reading scores.

The results of this study suggest that the reading program is effective. However, there are some limitations to this study. First, the sample size was small, so it is possible that the results are not representative of the population as a whole. Second, the study only looked at one measure of reading achievement (scores on a standardized test), so it is not clear if the program would have the same effect on other measures of reading achievement. Third, the study did not compare the students who used the program to a control group, so it is not clear if the improvement in reading scores was due to the program or to natural variation.

Despite these limitations, the results of this study provide valuable insight into the potential effectiveness of the reading program.

State your recommendations:

If appropriate, make recommendations for future research or practice. Recommendations could be based on your findings or on the limitations of your study.

Use the phrases to make recommendations:

1. This study suggests that…
2. Future research should…
3. Further studies are needed to…
4. This study has limitations that future research could address.
5. The findings of this study have implications for…
6. These findings suggest that policy makers should…

End with a strong conclusion:

End the discussion section with a brief conclusion that summarizes your findings and their significance. What are the implications of your findings? What questions still need to be answered? Leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you found and why it matters.

Your discussion section should be a critical evaluation of your findings, not just a summary. Remember to be clear, concise, and professional.

What to avoid in research paper discussion section

Here are 3 key items that you should avoid including when writing the discussion section of your research paper:

• Do not introduce new data or results: The discussion section is not the place to introduce new data.
• Avoid overstating your case: it is important to be honest and objective in your interpretation of the data. Do not try to force the data to fit your argument; instead, be willing to accept that it may not support your case.
• Avoid undermining your research: Be confident in your findings and avoid making statements that could undermine your study. For example, avoid phrases such as “this may not be generalizable” or “more research is needed.” These statements make it sound like you are unsure of your results.

What goes in the discussion section of a research paper?

The discussion section of a research paper is where you analyze your findings and interpret them. This section should be a critical evaluation of your findings, not just a summary. Remember to be clear, concise, and professional.

In the discussion section, you should:

1. Introduce your findings and state the purpose of the study
2. Discuss the results of the study
3. Interpret the results of the study
4. Discuss the limitations of the study
5. Make recommendations for future research or practice
6. Summarize your findings and their significance

Discussion section of a research paper example

Discussion template for research paper

Author: tutlance