Writing a research paper from scratch can be a problem for many students, especially when it comes to the discussion section. Here is where you come to make sense of your results, discussing their importance and placing them into the context of your field of study. Other descriptions of this part of the discussion are not placed at the beginning, like the introduction or in the means section, which explains how you can collect your data. Hence, Writing Discussion In Research Paper is vital for many reasons.
Why Does The Discussion Section Matter?
Before we jump into the how section of the research paper, it is crucial first to understand the why part. Therefore, the research paper discussion section offers the opportunity to:
Interpret Your Results: No matter the academic level you have, you need to interpret the results. The process will help you gain a sense of understanding of the topic you are pursuing.
Compare Them To Existing Studies: After interpreting the results of your research paper, find prior research and compare them. Doing this helps to find gaps, so you can exploit them.
Address Limitations: Always highlight the limitations of the discussion, which allows the readers to know what areas you cannot access.
Offer Suggestions: Let the readers know your suggestions because here you are, the person who has insightful research on the topic.
Propose Future Research Directions: By doing this, you open the doors to new research on this topic or related matters.
Ideal Structure of Discussion Section
Undoubtedly, there is no standard form necessary, yet most institutions and journals have some pattern in the arrangement of the discussion section. This is a time-tested pattern to follow:
Opening Paragraph: Conclude Your Findings
First, write your most significant results in a compressed form. Do not copy what you have stated in the results section. Besides, you should concentrate on the interpretation of the findings.
Example: This study also concluded that there is a strong correlation between social media and academic performance by undergraduate scholars as opposed to what earlier studies had shown.
Interpretation: What Do the Results Mean?
In this case, this is where you explore further the so what of your research. Relate your findings to the literature. Do your findings correspond to earlier research? Otherwise, why?
Tip: Write with a formal approach, which gives your task a more authentic and reliable approach.
Implications: Why Does It Matter?
Discuss the theoretical suggestions, practical suggestions, or policy suggestions of your results. Who is the target segment of your research and why?
Example: There are important educational policy implications of these findings, especially on creating digital literacy programs.
Limit: Be Transparent
No research is without limitations. Mentioning them enables academic integrity and provides readers with a good insight into the extent of the research.
Tip: Always keep up your work; do not discredit it.
Recommendations: What Next?
Indicate how your work can be enhanced by future research. Suggest certain research questions or methods of future study.
Common Mistakes You Must Avoid
One of the tips for writing discussion section is to avoid any kind of mistakes which can lower the quality of your work. Hence, below are some of the problems that you must avoid at all costs:
Avoid Merely Restating The Results
The trap of merely copying the findings without some interpretation is a major problem in the discussion section. However, it is essential to remind the reader about the important findings at the beginning of the discussion. The latter is supposed to be a place where the meaning behind them is explained. It must dig into what the data means, into possible causation underlying the output and display how it enhances the overall picture of what is being discussed.
Always Acknowledge Limitations
Not talking about the weaknesses of your study will leave people with a feeling that you are ignorant of its weaknesses or have something to hide. No study is without its limitations, whether it is a restriction of sample size, methodological limitations or unfamiliar factors outside the control of the researcher. Hence, it is better to highlight and acknowledge the limitations of your study and explain them in brief.
Relate Your Findings To Existing Research
Not putting your results into the point of view of past research provides a poor and underdeveloped perspective. A good discussion section must relate what you found to what is already known. Hence, pointing out similarities, inconsistencies, or different views does lead to the work that is quality-led.
Don’t Overstate The Significance of Your Findings
Another common mistake is to make too much of what the results indicate. You can always highlight the importance of your research. However, when you have nothing to back up such claims, it can diminish your credibility. Rather, be cautious and precise in your readings, and this is one of the best research paper writing tips.
Get Rid of Unnecessary Jargon
Filling your discussion with technical terms or the type of language that is more than it needs to be might turn off some readers and cloud your intentions. Write in a way you would present your results to an informed and non-expert audience. It makes your work easier to read and understand and much more effective, which is why opting for Research Proposal Help is essential.
10 Tips For Writing A Discussion Section That Stands Out
In today’s academically competitive society, where every student is submitting exceptional work for HD grades. Hence, the pressure will be on you if you don’t. That is why, for writing a quality research paper discussion section, here are the 10 tips for exhilarating results.
Begin With A Strong Topic Sentence
Every paragraph you use in your discussion section must start with a topic sentence of an idea that is written in clear terms. This works as a poster, which gives the reader an idea about the meaning of the paragraph at once. An effective topic sentence helps in improving flow and focus, hence logically building your argument during the section.
Use Transition Words
Use phrases like however, moreover, consequently, in contrast, and for instance to provide your reader with the logical flow of your arguments. They make clear associations among concepts-cause and effect, approve and contradict, to name only two examples, and enhance the ease with which the reader can go through your discussion.
Incorporate Citations Thoughtfully
Develop a context of your findings within the current academic discussion in terms of the relevant literature. However, do not insert citations and interact with them. Discuss the correlation between your findings and those of previous work, or its extension. This is an indication of critical thinking and self-awareness of your academic environment.
Be Honest & Balanced
Be honest with your study, both in terms of strengths and limitations. List what your research succeeded in, but also what it failed to do. It can be from the sample being too small, difficulties with methodology or unexpected bias. A moderate tone indicates integrity that leads to the trust of the reader.
Use Visual Help
Although most of the discussion part of the study should represent a purely textual report, a well-chosen table, model, or diagram can contribute to a better understanding of complicated patterns, comparisons, or conceptualisation. A minor visual representation could help to eliminate confusion in case your findings are multiple or imply numerous variables.
Avoid Any Speculation
Stick to interpretations that are researched properly in your data. Theoretical ideas or hypotheses on future exploration that might be suggested should be marked. In addition to time wasting, exaggerating the suggestions of your findings without providing enough support can discredit you.
Keep Your Reader In Mind
Before writing, think of who will be reading your paper. Will it be addressed to domain experts, interdisciplinary scholars, or practitioners? Adjust your tone, the usage of words, and explanations to that. It might sound too technical to a general audience and too naive to an academic audience.
Ask “So What?” Continuously
Each paragraph in your discussion must address the question that the reader does not voice, and that is, why should this matter? Do not merely describe the data and how it reveals what it does; tell why. What do your findings contribute to theory, policymaking, assumptions, or reforms? It is by repeatedly questioning yourself with the phrase So what? that you advance your writing not only to the descriptive, but to the analytical.
Get Feedback
One of the last steps in shaping up your discussion section is to consult with peers, mentors, or advisors you trust. Or you can take the help of Assignment Writers to do so. With our experience and ability to identify unclear areas, our experts will assist you in every situation. The bias in feedback is that you have written the paper, and it causes a conflict of interest, which can affect your feedback.
Revise Effectively
The initial version is only the start. Read over your discussion three or four times, so you can remove redundancy, polish words, and add clarity. Drop a few things that do not support your primary argument. Revise not only grammar but structure, tone and even logic. A good writing would usually result in editing the extra words and re-structuring your arguments.
Conclusion
Being a segment that makes sense out of the research paper is what a good discussion section indicates. However, writing one from scratch is a whole other task that students need to tap into. First, it includes the possible reasons for the discussion section, what value does it offer, and beyond. Proceeding to the section where it becomes crucial to write in a formal yet structured manner is essential for the logical flow. While during the process, there can be some mistakes that you must avoid for an overall positive outcome. Thus, Writing Discussion In Research Paper is important at all costs.
