Dissertation Findings or Results

When to Write the Dissertation Findings Section?

In a dissertation, the findings or results section typically appears after the methodology section and before the discussion section, such as:

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Methodology
• Findings or Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion

Structure of Dissertation Findings

Here’s how you can structure your dissertation findings or results chapter: 

1. Introduction

The first thing that comes in the dissertation findings chapter is the introduction. Here, briefly explain your research questions or hypothesis. Provide an outline to the readers of what will be covered or what they can expect in the whole findings chapter. 

2. Data overview

The next component is the data overview, which includes the population chosen for data collection, including sample size, response rate, and any preprocessing done. It also consists of the data collection methods and data analysis tools used. 

3. Main findings

After the data overview, are the main findings. You must present the key results in a logical order, whether by research questions or a hypothesis. Use tables and figures to demonstrate statistical data, as it helps readers keep track of all results. 

4. Additional or secondary results

When conducting specific research, researchers, along with the main findings, also find some additional results, which are not central to the research questions. They inform the readers not only about the noteworthy patterns but also about the limitations that emerged. 

5. Summary

The summary is the end of the dissertation findings chapter. Conclude the chapter with a brief recap or review of the major findings associated with the research questions or hypothesis. Don’t interpret your findings in any way; just explain what was observed. 

8 Steps for Dissertation Findings

Here are the eight essential steps that you can follow to write a dissertation findings chapter efficiently: 

Step 1: Revisit your research questions or hypothesis

The findings are the story that needs to be told in response to the research questions that have been answered. Therefore, the story needs to be organised to make sense to you and the reader. When you’re writing your dissertation findings chapter, your results must relate to your research questions. 

Create a bullet list of your main research questions and use them as section headers or anchor points in your findings chapter. 

Step 2: Choose the right structure

The structure of the findings chapter is something you may have to be sure of, primarily because it will provide the basis for your research work. There are two ways you can structure your findings chapter: 

• Option A: By research questions or hypothesis

In this, each section answers one specific question. It is suitable for both qualitative and quantitative studies. 

• Option B: By thematic patterns or variables

Ideal for qualitative research, it organises findings around emerging themes. It helps when responses are more narrative or descriptive. 

The findings chapter should use appropriate words and phrases to present the results to the readers. Logical sentence structures should be used, and the structure should be consistent throughout the chapter.

Step 3: Use clear, concise headings and subheadings

One should also organise their findings or results in the findings chapter. This can be done by using headings and subheadings throughout the chapter. 

Most students just provide their findings without any formatting or organisation. However, presenting findings is not about dumping; it’s about formatting them to guide the readers efficiently. Use numbering systems that match your dissertation formatting guidelines. 

Here is an example: 
 

4.1: Results from Survey Question 1
4.2: Results from Interview Theme A: Student Motivation
4.3: Quantitative Comparison: Control vs. Experimental Groups

Step 4: Present the findings objectively

The next step is to present your findings objectively. Identifying which results will be presented. The results relevant to the questions must be presented, considering whether the results support the hypothesis. 

The findings chapter is all about presentation, not interpretation. Present data as tables, graphs, charts, direct quotes in case of interviews, and statistical test outputs (ANOVA, regression, etc.). Only use visuals to help readers better understand, and avoid overusing them. 

Step 5: Use visual aids effectively

Visual aids in the dissertation findings chapter are the tables, graphs, and charts used to present data, making results clear and easy to understand for readers. However, one should use them effectively instead of pasting here and there. 

Use bars for comparing the results, pie charts for proportions, line graphs for trends, and thematic maps for qualitative patterns. All the visuals should be accurately labelled. Avoid too many colours or 3D effects. Every visual should have a short caption explaining what it shows. 

Step 6: Don’t repeat raw data

The length of the research paper should be neither too long nor too short, nor concise and comprehensive, to impact the reader’s readability. So, maintain the length of your findings chapter. Avoid copying and casting entire survey tables, interview transcripts, or Excel sheets. 

Use phrases like “As shown in Table 1…” or “Based on participant responses…” to link your explanation to visuals. Only summarise key points in your findings chapter, and present relevant excerpts. If there’s any raw data and information, include it in the appendices. 

Step 7: Maintain a neutral, academic tone

The findings chapter is all about what the data shows, not what you think about it. So, the results should always be written neutrally without any implication. The statement of the results mustn’t have any form of interpretation. Maintain an academic tone. 

Negative results should be added in this section because they validate the results and provide high levels of neutrality. Be precise and objective when explaining the research collected data. Let your evidence speak, and avoid emotional or persuasive language. 

Step 8: Transition into the next chapter

Summarising the findings chapter is essential, as it will help readers remember them as they transition to the next chapter. Recap key points in the summary, remind readers of unanswered questions, and set the stage for interpretation in the next chapter (discussion). Here’s how you can transition to the next chapter: 
 

“The following chapter will explore the implications of these findings and relate them to existing literature…”.

Presenting Dissertation Findings By Research Type

Here are two methods for presenting dissertation findings according to research type: 

Method 1: Presenting quantitative findings

When presenting quantitative research findings or results, use tables to showcase numerical data like frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Label and number each table and refer to them accordingly in the text. Also, use bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts to show comparisons or trends. 

When quantitative data is analysed, different tests are performed, such as t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and chi-square. Present their results separately. Explain every visual information with a clear explanation without any interpretation. 

Here is an example of presenting quantitative results in the dissertation findings chapter: 

Method 2: Presenting qualitative findings

To present qualitative research findings, use themes and sub-themes. Arrange your results around recurring themes or categories that emerged during the analysis. Name each theme and describe its meaning. You can use participant quotes to support each theme. 

Describe findings in the form of a story or narrative of what participants said. Connect all the responses to the research questions. You can use tables to categorise themes according to the number of participants. 

Here is an example of presenting qualitative findings in the findings chapter: 

Frequently Asked Questions