How to Write the Results Section of a Research Paper: Tips & Examples to Write a Results Section

How to Write a Strong Results Section: Examples and Best Practices

What is a Result in a Research Paper?

A result in a research paper represents the quantitative or qualitative findings obtained through systematic investigation of your research questions. Results are the concrete outcomes of your data collection and analysis processes, presented without interpretation or bias. Learn how to write the results section of a research paper with our results section examples and tips, focusing on main findings and relationship to research.

Types of Research Results

Quantitative Results

These include:

• Statistical test outcomes (p-values, effect sizes, confidence intervals)
• Numerical measurements and calculations
• Frequencies and percentages
• Correlational coefficients
• Mean differences between groups

Qualitative Results

These encompass:

• Emerging themes from interviews or focus groups
• Pattern analyses from observational studies
• Content analysis findings
• Participant quotations and responses
• Behavioral observations and documented changes

Mixed Methods Results

These combine both approaches:

• Statistical data supported by participant testimonials
• Numerical trends explained through qualitative insights
• Quantified coding of qualitative responses
• Integration of survey data with interview findings

Writing a compelling results section is crucial for any academic paper or research report. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential elements of a well-crafted results section, complete with practical examples to help you present your findings effectively. You may also be interested in reading How to Create a Structured Outline to Write a Research Paper Effectively by Ivy Research Writers.

Understanding the Purpose of a Results Section

The results section serves as the objective presentation of your research findings, without interpretation. Think of it as presenting evidence in court – you’re laying out the facts clearly and systematically, saving your arguments for the discussion section.

Key Components of an Effective Results Section

1. Statistical Analysis Overview

Begin with a clear summary of your statistical methods. For example:

“We conducted a one-way ANOVA to examine the relationship between study duration and test scores. The analysis included 150 participants across three time conditions (2-hour, 4-hour, and 6-hour study sessions).”

2. Demographic Information

Present relevant participant demographics concisely:

“The study included 150 undergraduate students (ages 18-22, M = 19.8, SD = 1.2). The gender distribution was 55% female (n = 82) and 45% male (n = 68).”

3. Primary Results

Here’s an example of presenting primary findings:

“Analysis revealed a significant main effect of study duration on test scores (F(2,147) = 15.32, p < .001, η2 = .17). Post-hoc Tukey tests showed that participants in the 6-hour condition (M = 85.4, SD = 7.2) significantly outperformed those in both the 4-hour (M = 77.8, SD = 8.1) and 2-hour conditions (M = 70.3, SD = 9.4).”

Best Practices with Examples

Use Clear Topic Sentences

Strong: “The intervention group showed significant improvement in reading comprehension scores over the control group.”

Weak: “Looking at the data from the groups, there were some differences in how they did on the reading test.”

Present Results in Logical Order

Example of proper organization:

1. Start with descriptive statistics
2. Present main analyses
3. Follow with supplementary analyses
4. End with unexpected findings

Incorporate Visual Elements

While maintaining a professional tone, use tables and figures to enhance understanding:

“Table 1 presents the mean scores across all conditions. As illustrated in Figure 1, there was a clear linear relationship between study time and test performance.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing Results and Discussion

Incorrect: “The treatment group showed higher scores (M = 85.4, SD = 7.2), which suggests that our intervention was successful in improving student performance.”

Correct: “The treatment group demonstrated higher scores (M = 85.4, SD = 7.2) compared to the control group (M = 70.3, SD = 9.4).”

2. Incomplete Reporting

Incorrect: “The results were significant (p < .05).”

Correct: “The analysis revealed a significant difference between groups (t(48) = 3.27, p = .002, d = 0.94).”

Example of Results from ANOVA Testing

One-Way ANOVA Results Example

Consider a study examining the impact of three different teaching methods (Traditional, Blended, Online) on student performance:

“A one-way ANOVA was conducted to determine if student performance differed based on teaching method. The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between teaching methods, F(2, 147) = 18.43, p < .001, η2 = .20.

Mean performance scores were:

• Traditional method (n = 50): M = 78.5 (SD = 8.2)
• Blended learning (n = 50): M = 85.3 (SD = 7.4)
• Online learning (n = 50): M = 72.1 (SD = 9.1)

Post-hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean score for blended learning was significantly higher than both traditional (p = .002) and online methods (p < .001).”

Two-Way ANOVA Results Example

For a study investigating the effects of both teaching method and student gender:

“A 3 × 2 between-subjects ANOVA examined the effects of teaching method (Traditional, Blended, Online) and gender (Male, Female) on student performance. Results revealed:

Main Effects:

• Significant main effect of teaching method: F(2, 144) = 15.67, p < .001, η2 = .18
• No significant main effect of gender: F(1, 144) = 2.31, p = .131, η2 = .02

Interaction Effect:

• Significant interaction between teaching method and gender: F(2, 144) = 4.89, p = .009, η2 = .06

Simple effects analysis showed that female students performed significantly better in the blended learning condition compared to male students (p = .003), while no gender differences were observed in other conditions.”

How to Write the Results Section of a Research Paper

Sequential Organization Process

1. Begin with Data Preparation

“Prior to analysis, data were screened for missing values and outliers. Three cases were removed due to incomplete responses, resulting in a final sample of 147 participants. All variables met assumptions of normality (skewness and kurtosis values < |2|).”

2. Present Descriptive Statistics

“Table 1 presents means, standard deviations, and correlations for all study variables. Age of participants ranged from 18 to 25 years (M = 20.3, SD = 1.8). The sample consisted of 55% female participants (n = 81).”

3. Report Hypothesis Tests

“To test H1, which predicted that metacognitive training would improve test performance, an independent samples t-test was conducted. Results supported the hypothesis, t(145) = 4.32, p < .001, d = 0.72, with the training group (M = 85.4, SD = 7.2) outperforming the control group (M = 78.1, SD = 8.5).”

4. Address Secondary Analyses

“Additional analyses explored potential moderating effects of study habits. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that study time significantly moderated the relationship between metacognitive training and test performance (β = .34, p = .008, ΔR2 = .05).”

Structural Elements to Include

Statistical Reporting Elements

For each test, include:

• Test statistic and degrees of freedom
• Exact p-value (unless p < .001)
• Effect size measure
• Means and standard deviations
• Confidence intervals where appropriate

Visual Presentations

Include:

• Tables for complex numerical data
• Figures for trends and interactions
• Error bars on graphs
• Clear legends and labels

Subgroup Analyses

Report:

• Results for different demographic groups
• Any notable patterns in subsets of data
• Follow-up analyses explaining main findings
• Sensitivity analyses where appropriate

Remember to maintain APA style formatting throughout your results section and ensure all statistical notation follows current guidelines. Each finding should be presented in a clear, logical sequence that builds toward answering your research questions.

Need professional assistance with your research paper? Visit IvyResearchWriters.com for expert guidance on statistical analysis and academic writing.

Captioning and Referencing Tables and Figures

Table Captions

Table captions must appear above the table and follow this structure:

“Table 1 Means and Standard Deviations for Test Scores Across Teaching Methods”

Each table caption should:

• Begin with the table number in bold
• Provide a clear, descriptive title
• Include any necessary explanatory notes below the table
• Define all abbreviations used in the table

Example table notes: “Note. N = 150. SD = Standard Deviation. *p < .05. **p < .01.”

Figure Captions

Figure captions appear below the figure and follow this format:

“Figure 1. Mean test scores across teaching methods with standard error bars. Higher scores indicate better performance.”

Key elements include:

• Figure number and title in italics
• Brief explanatory text
• Definition of any symbols or patterns used
• Scale information when relevant

In-Text References

When referencing tables and figures:

First reference: “As shown in Table 1, participants in the blended learning condition scored significantly higher than other groups.”

Subsequent references: “The interaction effect (see Figure 2) demonstrates that…”

Results Section of Dissertation Example

Opening Paragraph

“This chapter presents the findings from the mixed-methods investigation of metacognitive strategies in undergraduate mathematics education. The results are organized according to the three research questions outlined in Chapter 1. Quantitative findings from the quasi-experimental study are presented first, followed by qualitative insights from the semi-structured interviews.”

Quantitative Results Example

“Research Question 1: Impact of Metacognitive Training

The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed a significant effect of the metacognitive training intervention on mathematical problem-solving ability, controlling for pre-test scores, F(1, 197) = 24.56, p < .001, η2 = .11. Table 4 presents the adjusted means and standard errors for both groups.

Table 4 Adjusted Means and Standard Errors for Problem-Solving Scores

Group n Adj. M SE Intervention 100 85.6 1.2 Control 99 76.3 1.2

Note. Scores adjusted for pre-test performance.”

Qualitative Results Example

“Research Question 2: Student Experiences with Metacognitive Strategies

Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed three primary themes:

1. Enhanced Problem Approach Participants consistently reported more systematic approaches to problem-solving. As one student noted, ‘I now spend more time planning my solution before diving in’ (Participant 12).
2. Increased Self-Awareness Students described greater awareness of their thinking processes. Representative quotation: ‘I catch myself when I’m rushing and force myself to slow down and check my work’ (Participant 7).
3. Strategy Transfer Evidence emerged of strategy application across different courses. For example: ‘I’ve started using these techniques in my physics class too’ (Participant 23).”

How to Start a Results Section of a Research Paper

Opening Framework

Begin with a brief orientation paragraph:

“This section presents the results of our analysis examining the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance among undergraduate students. We first present descriptive statistics, followed by the findings from our primary analyses addressing each hypothesis, and conclude with exploratory analyses.”

Participant Flow

Include a clear accounting of participants:

“Of the 200 students initially recruited, 185 completed all study measures (92.5% completion rate). Non-completers did not differ significantly from completers on any demographic variables (all ps > .05).”

Data Preparation Statement

Describe your data screening process:

“Prior to analysis, all variables were examined for missing values and outliers. Missing data (< 5%) were handled using multiple imputation. Three univariate outliers (z > |3.29|) were identified and winsorized to reduce their influence.”

Variable Description

Present key variables:

“Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with scores ranging from 0 to 21 (higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality). Academic performance was assessed using end-of-semester GPA on a 4.0 scale.”

Transition to Main Analyses

Lead into your primary findings:

“To test our primary hypothesis that sleep quality predicts academic performance, we conducted a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Table 1 presents the correlations among all study variables, and Table 2 shows the regression results.”

Looking for expert guidance on writing your research paper’s results section? Contact IvyResearchWriters.com for professional academic writing support and statistical consultation services.

Reporting qualitative research results

When reporting qualitative research results, it is essential to summarize the findings of your study effectively. Journals require that you present your data in a clear manner, often with an example of the results section. For instance, see figure 1 for a visual representation. The length of this section should be appropriate to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the results.

Remember that the results and discussion sections should be separate, allowing for an unbiased interpretation of your results. In the methodology section, you must include results that use to answer your hypotheses or research questions. Additionally, it’s important to proofread your work to ensure clarity and coherence, as academic research should be accessible to readers.

In the main text, you may restate key findings and findings together with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. This section provides an example of a results section that reflects high social relevance. For instance, David R emphasizes how qualitative data may reveal deeper insights. Ultimately, learning how to write effectively in this context enhances the overall thesis writing process.

Table of contents

Table of contents is essential for organizing a section in research, guiding readers through the introduction section and beyond. In social science, it helps present findings without bias or interpretation. Separate results are crucial for readers to understand what the results mean, often illustrated within the text of research studies.

Each section, including the methods section, outlines a way to use the information effectively. Researchers need to provide clarity on what has already been done in their field, i.e., citing previous studies. Publishing through a university press ensures credibility and rigor, making the research accessible to a broader audience.

How to Write a Results Section

The Results Section of a research paper is where you present your findings, typically based on the data you’ve collected and analyzed. This section is essential because it reports the outcomes of your study in a clear and objective manner, allowing readers to understand how the research answered the research question. It’s important to present your results without interpretation—that’s for the Discussion Section. Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing the Results Section:

1. Organize Your Data

Before you start writing, organize your data logically. Determine the type of data you have—whether it’s quantitative or qualitative—and decide how to present it. For example:

• Quantitative data may be best displayed in tables, graphs, or figures to help illustrate patterns or trends.
• Qualitative data might involve a narrative description of patterns or themes found in your data.

2. Present Findings Objectively

The Results Section should be factual and devoid of any interpretation. Simply report the data that you have collected. For example, if you conducted an experiment, describe the outcomes or measurements you obtained. If you used statistical analysis, report the key statistics such as means, standard deviations, and p-values without elaborating on what they mean in context—that’s reserved for the discussion.

3. Use Tables and Figures

When presenting quantitative data, use tables, graphs, or figures. These visual aids make the data easier to understand and allow readers to interpret the findings quickly. For example, bar graphs, pie charts, or line graphs can effectively represent data trends. Each table or figure should be clearly labeled and referenced in the text, where you briefly describe what the visual shows.

4. Be Clear and Concise

Use concise, straightforward language to report your findings. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or repetition. The results should be easy to follow, so clarity is key. Stick to the most important and relevant results that answer your research question.

5. Provide Statistical Information

If your research involves statistical analysis, ensure that you include all relevant statistics, such as:

• Descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, median, mode)
• Inferential statistics (e.g., t-tests, chi-square tests)
• P-values, confidence intervals, and effect sizes

Remember, you don’t need to explain the statistical methods in the results section—those details belong in the Methods Section. Here, just report the outcomes.

By following these steps, you will ensure that your Results Section presents data in a clear, well-organized, and concise manner.

Example of Results Section in Research Paper

To better understand how to write the Results Section, let’s look at an example of how you might write it for a research paper. This example is based on a quantitative study exploring the effectiveness of a new teaching method on student performance.

Example Results Section

“In this study, we tested the effectiveness of the new teaching method by comparing the final exam scores of students who received the new instruction with those who received traditional instruction. The results indicated a significant difference in performance between the two groups.

The experimental group (new teaching method) had an average score of 85.2 (SD = 5.4), while the control group (traditional teaching method) had an average score of 78.1 (SD = 6.2). A t-test revealed that this difference was statistically significant, t(38) = 3.45, p < 0.01.

Figure 1 shows the comparison of the two groups’ exam scores. As shown in the figure, the experimental group consistently outperformed the control group across all exam sections. The p-value of 0.008 suggests that the new teaching method had a statistically significant positive impact on student performance.”

In this example, the researcher:

• Presents the findings without interpretation
• Uses descriptive statistics to summarize the data (average score, standard deviation)
• Presents the statistical test result (t-test)
• References visual aids (Figure 1) to support the data

This approach makes the results easy to understand and directly related to the research question.

Example of Results Section in Research Paper on Social Science

Now let’s consider an example of a Results Section for a social science research paper that investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status and academic achievement in high school students.

Example Results Section

“The analysis of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and academic achievement revealed that there is a moderate, positive correlation between the two variables. The correlation coefficient (r) was found to be 0.62, suggesting a moderate strength of association between SES and students’ GPA.

Further analysis showed that students from higher SES backgrounds had higher average GPAs compared to students from lower SES backgrounds. The average GPA for students in the high SES group was 3.85 (SD = 0.43), while the average GPA for the low SES group was 2.75 (SD = 0.58). A one-way ANOVA confirmed that this difference was statistically significant, F(2, 97) = 5.67, p < 0.01.

Table 1 presents the full breakdown of GPAs across different SES categories, and Figure 2 illustrates the relationship between SES and GPA across the entire sample. The results support the hypothesis that SES plays a significant role in students’ academic achievement.”

In this example:

• Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the data (average GPA, standard deviation)
• Statistical tests (correlation, ANOVA) are presented
• Visual aids (Table 1 and Figure 2) help illustrate the findings
• The Results Section is clearly structured and focused on reporting the data

By following these structures and examples, you can write a Results Section that effectively communicates your findings in a clear, logical, and organized way, contributing significantly to the overall impact of your research.

In conclusion, writing a Results Section requires clarity, precision, and an objective presentation of data. Whether you’re reporting on qualitative or quantitative findings, it’s crucial to focus on presenting your results in an easy-to-understand format, supported by visual aids and statistics where necessary. At IvyResearchWriters.com, we can assist you in structuring and writing your research paper’s results section, ensuring that it aligns with the highest academic standards. If you need help with writing or any other part of your research paper, feel free to contact us today!

Reporting quantitative research results

When reporting quantitative research results, it’s essential to use clear subheadings to guide readers. For instance, one might include sections on methodology and findings. To delve into greater detail, supplementary data can be placed in an appendix. This allows readers to explore additional information without reading the main text, e.g., statistical tables or charts that support the findings.

Example Results Section Template

Here’s a template you can follow:

Conclusion

A well-written results section forms the backbone of your research paper. By following these guidelines and examples, you can present your findings in a clear, organized, and professional manner that will effectively communicate your research outcomes to your readers.

Remember: The key to a strong results section lies in objective presentation, logical organization, and thorough reporting of statistical findings. Let your data tell the story, and save your interpretations for the discussion section. Need help with your academic writing? IvyResearchWriters.com provides expert guidance on all aspects of research paper writing, from methodology to discussion sections. Contact Ivy Research Writers today to learn how we can help you present your research effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Research Paper Results Section Example: Tips & Examples

What is the purpose of the Results section in a research paper?

The Results section serves to present the results of your research in a clear and concise manner. It is where you share the key findings derived from your data analysis. This section should focus on specific aspects of the data, avoiding interpretations that belong in the discussion and conclusion section. By presenting the findings objectively, you allow readers to draw their conclusions based on the evidence you provide.

How should I organize my Results section?

To organize your results effectively, start with an overview of the main research questions or hypotheses you are addressing. Then, structure the section logically, often following the sequence of your literature review. Use figures and tables to display your type of data clearly, and be sure to include a caption for each. This makes it easy for readers to navigate your findings and understand their significance.

Should I include negative results in the Results section?

Yes, it is important to include negative results in your Results section. These findings can be just as informative as positive outcomes, and they can help to support your hypothesis or provide context. When presenting negative results, be sure to do so in an unbiased manner, allowing readers to see the complete picture of your research.

What type of data should I include in the Results section?

Include all relevant results that directly address your research questions or hypotheses. This can encompass statistics, qualitative observations, and any other type of analysis you’ve conducted. While it’s vital to provide comprehensive data, ensure that you remain focused on the core findings that lead to your conclusions.

Should the Results section be written in the past tense?

Yes, the Results section should be written in the past tense since it reflects what you have already discovered through your study. This helps maintain consistency and clarity throughout your research paper. For instance, you might say, “The results of your study indicated that…”