Writing the Analysis: How to Maintain an Academic Tone

by Roberto Bradford on September 6, 2025

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Drafting the Results Section: How to Maintain an Academic Tone

Drafting the Results Section: How to Avoid Interpretation

The data analysis is complete, the output has been generated, and now you face the seemingly simple task of writing it up. However, this phase is a stylistic challenge. The main goal of the analysis chapter is to neutrally present what you found, not to argue what it means. Including discussion here weakens the logical flow of your dissertation. This guide provides a practical strategy for writing a precise and appropriately styled results section that faithfully reports your data while strictly avoiding the temptation to explain it. <img src="https://yewtu.be/s1fxu83_1ok"; style="max-width:400px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="“IGNOU MAEDU (MESP-1) | Project Report & Synopsis Explained in Simple Way”" />

1. The Fundamental Distinction: Reporting vs. Interpreting

Understanding the core difference between the Results chapter and the Discussion chapter is critical. Think of it as a strict separation of powers.

The Results Chapter: This section is the "empirical evidence." Its sole function is to present the data in a objective manner. It answers the question: "What did you find?"

The Discussion Chapter: This is where you explain the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/search/?q=evidence">evidence</a>;. Its job is to discuss the implications of those results, connect them to the literature, and answer the "so what?". It answers the question: "What do these findings mean?"

Blurring this line reduces the impact of each. The reader gets confused, unsure if they are reading a observation or your speculation about that fact.

2. Choosing Your Words Carefully

The tone of your writing is your most powerful tool for maintaining objectivity. Select your language to state rather than to imply.

Use Factual Language:

Instead of: "The results show that the intervention was amazing." (Subjective)

Use: "The results indicated a statistically significant improvement in scores." (Neutral)

Other strong choices: "demonstrated," "revealed," "exhibited," "was observed," "was found."

Avoid Interpretive and Speculative Language:

Avoid Subjective Adjectives: Interesting.

Instead of: "A surprising negative correlation was found."

Use: "A negative correlation was found."

Avoid Speculative Verbs: Suggests (Save "suggests" for the Discussion chapter).

Instead of: "This finding suggests that the theory is correct."

Use: "This finding is consistent with the proposed theory." or "This finding aligns with the predictions of Theory X."

3. The Formula for Presenting Each Finding

To ensure clarity and neutrality, follow a repetitive structure for presenting each statistical test or qualitative theme.

State the Purpose: Remind the reader what you were testing. "To address the first hypothesis, an independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the mean scores of Group A and Group B."

Report the Key Statistics: Provide the relevant results. "The results indicated a significant difference between the groups (t(58) = 3.67, p = .001)."

Describe the Outcome: State what the statistic means in a simple, factual statement. "The mean score for Group A (M = 85.2, SD = 4.3) was significantly higher than the mean score for Group B (M = 76.5, SD = 5.1)."

Direct to the Visual: Refer them to the accompanying table or figure. "See Table 1 for a summary of the group means and standard deviations."

This structured method keeps your writing focused and prevents you from straying into commentary.

4. The Power of Visuals

Clear and precise tables and figures are the backbone of an objective results section. They display the numbers in its purest form, allowing the reader to view the findings for themselves.

Tables are for exact values: Use them to present output from complex tests (e.g., means, standard deviations, p-values, coefficients).

Figures are for trends and comparisons: Use charts (e.g., bar charts, line graphs) to visually illustrate relationships and differences between groups.

Ensure visuals are self-explanatory: A good table or figure should have a clear title and be understandable with minimal reference to the text. This minimizes the need for you to over-explain the data in your writing.

5. Reporting All Findings

An truly scientific report includes all results, not just the expected ones. A result that fails to reject the null hypothesis is still a valid result.

Do not hide them: Including non-significant results is a mark of integrity and prevents publication bias.

Report them neutrally: Use the same neutral tone as you would for a significant result.

Example: "The analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in satisfaction scores between the two conditions (t(42) = 1.23, p = .225)."

6. Mistakes That Introduce Bias

Be on high alert for these frequent missteps that can compromise objectivity into your results section:

Apologizing for Results: "Unfortunately, the results were not significant." (This implies a desired outcome, which is subjective).

Speculating on Causes: "The lack of significance was probably due to the small sample size." (Save this for the Discussion chapter on limitations).

Using Emotional Language: "It was exciting to find that..." (This is unprofessional and subjective).

Overusing "Clearly" or "Obviously": If it were clear and obvious, you wouldn't have needed to run the test. Let the data stand on its own.

In Summary

Writing a compelling results section requires stylistic discipline. It is an exercise in rhetorical precision, where you cede the spotlight and let your data take center stage. By using objective language, employing a consistent framework, using tables and figures, IGNOU project (<a href="https://links.gtanet.com.br/chongb32852">you could try here</a>) and reporting all findings faithfully, you construct a chapter that is credible and trustworthy. This creates a solid foundation of empirical facts upon which you can then, in the next chapter, build a sophisticated and persuasive interpretation of what those facts ultimately mean. The strength of your argument depends on this strict division.

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