But do not repeat in words what is already apparent from examination of the tables and figures. The second purpose of this section is a discussion of the results, together with their analysis, to show that the conclusions are warranted. Each major conclusion should be clearly explained and compared with the results of similar work by other investigators. This chapter describes the mechanics for achieving these purposes. The organization, the methods of presentation, and the discussion of results are described.
Several examples illustrate the principles involved.
The Results and Discussion section should present the data as concisely and clearly as possible. To achieve this goal, prepare a good outline of this section before starting to write. Conventionally, an introductory statement is used to remind readers of the type of tests conducted and the scope of the investigation. Any other statements necessary for correctly interpreting the results should be made in this introductory paragraph. Regardless of the length of the report, a single section combining the results and their discussion is usually preferable because this scheme is clearer and less repetitious.