One of the most critical chapters in your academic writing is the results section. Whether you are finishing your PhD thesis or dissertation, or preparing a research paper or journal article, the results chapter is where you present the core findings of your work. Yet many doctoral students struggle to decide what to include, what to leave out, and how to structure their results effectively.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to write the results section of a research paper, dissertation, or thesis, with practical examples and PhD-level tips. We will also include a dissertation results section example, and what distinguishes results and discussion chapters, including examples of qualitative and quantitative reporting.
What is the Results Section in Research?
In academic writing, the results section presents the data you collected and the analyses you performed to address your research questions. It is factual and objective: you show what you found, without yet interpreting what it all means (that belongs in the discussion).
In your results section, you should:
- Present your key findings clearly
- Support them with appropriate tables, figures, or diagrams if applicable
- Reference your research objectives or questions
- Avoid personal opinions or speculation
The above applies whether you are writing up findings in research for a PhD thesis, a journal article, or a conference paper.
Structuring the Results Section
At PhD level, your results chapter needs to be thorough but sharply organised. Here is a clear structure to consider:
1. Restate research questions or hypotheses
Briefly remind the reader of your aims so they understand what your results address.
2. Present results in a logical sequence
Quantitative: typically following each hypothesis or analysis
Qualitative: usually by themes or research questions
3. Use subheadings
These break the section into manageable chunks, helping examiners or readers navigate complex data.
4. Include visuals
Tables, figures, charts, coding maps, or diagrams are essential for presenting your data clearly.
5. Report only what is relevant
Do not overload with unnecessary data. Stick to the results needed to answer your research questions.
Presenting Quantitative Results
Quantitative research results tend to follow a formal pattern. You will usually:
- Report descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations)
- Present results of statistical tests (e.g., regression, ANOVA, correlations)
- Follow a logical sequence based on hypotheses
Example quantitative results:
“An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare test scores between Group A and Group B. There was a significant difference in scores (M=71, SD=8) for Group A compared to Group B (M=64, SD=10), p = 0.03.”
Check examples of the results section of a research paper in top journals in your research field so you get familiar with the style and structure of this section.
Presenting Qualitative Results
Qualitative research results look quite different depending on the topic, your subject and chosen methodology. Here you will typically:
- Present themes or categories from your coding process
- Support themes with direct participant quotations
- Provide context for the theme (e.g., frequency, patterns, relationships)
- Often include diagrams or thematic frameworks
Example qualitative results:
“Three themes emerged from interviews: (1) trust-building between patients and staff; (2) challenges in resource allocation; (3) perceptions of cultural sensitivity. As Participant 12 noted, ‘I felt heard, but there was no follow-up.’”
What About Mixed Methods Results?
If you used a mixed methods approach, clearly separate your quantitative and qualitative findings: quantitative first (e.g., surveys, experiments) and qualitative second (e.g., interviews, focus groups), then integrate findings at the start of your discussion chapter.
Using Visuals in the Results Section
Visuals are a key component of the results section, especially at doctoral level. They help you present complex data in a clear, accessible way and can make your writing more engaging by breaking up long blocks of text. When used well, visuals enhance understanding and provide immediate insight into your findings.
What Visuals Can You Use?
Tables are ideal for reporting precise numeric data, especially when you want to highlight exact values or compare multiple variables. Figures—including graphs, charts, and scatterplots—are useful for showing patterns, trends, and relationships within the data.
Diagrams can be used to present coding frameworks, conceptual models, or processes, particularly in qualitative research. Images, such as photographs or historical documents, are often relevant in disciplines like history, archaeology, or visual culture studies, helping to contextualise or support your findings.
Tips for Effective Visuals
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Always introduce each visual in your text before presenting it.
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Use consistent and logical numbering, such as Figure 4.1 or Table 4.2.
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Write clear, concise captions that explain what the visual shows.
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Place visuals close to the section of text where you discuss them.
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Refer to each visual explicitly in your narrative to guide the reader.
Differences Between Results in a PhD Thesis and a Journal Article
If you’re planning to publish part of your PhD thesis as a journal article, it’s important to understand that results reporting is not a simple copy-and-paste job. Academic journals have different expectations when it comes to length, focus, and tone. While your thesis is designed to demonstrate thoroughness to your examiners, a journal article is aimed at contributing new knowledge to the field in a clear, concise format. Here’s how the two formats differ in their treatment of results.
Length and Depth
PhD thesis/dissertation
- Includes a dedicated, highly detailed chapter (often 30–50 pages)
- Presents full data tables, supplementary analyses, and appendices
- More tolerance for reporting null or inconclusive results
Journal article
- Condenses core results into just 1–3 pages
- Focuses strictly on findings that support the article’s central argument
- Often places supplementary data in online appendices or leaves it out entirely
Tone and Audience
PhD thesis/dissertation
- Written for examiners and your viva committee
- Prioritises methodological rigour and transparency
- Offers a comprehensive, step-by-step account of findings
Journal article
- Targeted at the broader academic community
- Emphasises novelty, clarity, and the significance of your results
- Streamlined to highlight key contributions without excessive detail
Visuals
Theses often include complex diagrams, detailed visuals, and full appendices. In contrast, journal articles use fewer visuals, prioritising high-impact figures with brief, explanatory captions that support the main findings.
Understanding these differences is essential if you intend to adapt your dissertation into publishable research. Tailoring your results section appropriately will improve your chances of acceptance and ensure your work has greater reach and relevance.
Results and Discussion in Research
Some disciplines combine results and discussion into a single chapter. This is common in social sciences, arts & humanities and qualitative research, as it allows you to interpret findings in context straight away.
Advantages of combining:
- Makes interpretation more immediate
- Easier to weave participant quotations with discussion
- Reduces repetition
Disadvantages of combining:
- May blur the line between objective reporting (results) and analysis (discussion)
- Can become harder to structure, especially with large datasets
Whether you separate them or combine them, check your university style guide or your target journal’s guidelines. In results and discussion for quantitative research, the convention is to separate the sections, ensuring the reader sees a purely objective data presentation before moving to interpretation.
Findings vs Results: Is There a Difference?
In most cases, “findings in research” is a broader term that includes both your results (the data) and your interpretations (the discussion). However, strictly speaking:
- Results = raw outputs of analysis
- Findings = results + your commentary on their meaning
In your dissertation or thesis, “results” and “findings” are often used interchangeably, but clarity is always best, especially if you separate results from discussion.
General Tips for Writing the Results Section
Here are some practical PhD-level pointers for writing results in a clear and rigorous way:
- Stay objective: report the data without interpreting it (save that for the discussion section).
- Use past tense: e.g., “The analysis revealed…”.
- Follow a logical sequence: group results around research questions, hypotheses, or themes.
- Be concise but thorough: include enough detail to support replication and transparency.
- Check consistency: numbers in your tables and your text must match precisely.
- Label and cross-reference all tables and figures clearly in your text.
- Avoid redundancy: do not repeat every single table value in your prose, summarise instead.
- Consult a style guide: if you are submitting to a journal, follow their rules for headings, figure labelling, and table format.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are writing up a PhD thesis, a journal article, or a conference paper, the results section is the backbone of your evidence. Done well, it builds a credible case for your conclusions and strengthens your academic voice.
If you want support in structuring, analysing, or presenting your data, including statistical analysis, qualitative coding, or data visualisation, we can assist. The expert academics in our network are ready to help you develop a rigorous, publication-worthy results section. Explore our professional analysis and results services here.
FAQs About Results
Where does the results section sit in a dissertation or thesis?
In a dissertation, the results usually form their own chapter, coming after the methodology. Sometimes, depending on your subject area or style guide, results and discussion may be combined. In quantitative research, however, it is more common to separate results from discussion to maintain clarity.
What is the difference between the conclusion and the results?
The results section presents the data you collected and your analysis. The conclusion summarises the entire study, reflects on its contribution, and makes recommendations.
What is the difference between the results and the discussion?
The results section presents facts and data only. The discussion interprets those results, relates them to the literature, and explains their implications.
What tense should I use to write my results?
Use the past tense to report your results.
What goes in the results chapter of a dissertation?
The results chapter includes an overview of the research questions, a detailed presentation of data, tables, figures and diagrams, and a brief summary of key outcomes that sets up the discussion.
