Discussion SectionThe overall purpose of a research paper’s discussion section is to evaluate and interpret results, while explaining both the implications and limitations of your findings. Per APA (2020) guidelines, this section requires you to “examine, interpret, and qualify the results and draw inferences and conclusions from them” (p. 89). Discussion sections also require you to detail any new insights, think through areas for future research, highlight the work that still needs to be done to further your topic, and provide a clear conclusion to your research paper. In a good discussion section, you should do the following: Show
For more specific details on your Discussion section, be sure to review Sections 3.8 (pp. 89-90) and 3.16 (pp. 103-104) of your 7th edition APA manual *Box content adapted from: University of Southern California (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: 8 the discussion. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/discussion LimitationsLimitations of generalizability or utility of findings, often over which the researcher has no control, should be detailed in your Discussion section. Including limitations for your reader allows you to demonstrate you have thought critically about your given topic, understood relevant literature addressing your topic, and chosen the methodology most appropriate for your research. It also allows you an opportunity to suggest avenues for future research on your topic. An effective limitations section will include the following:
*Box content adapted from: University of Southern California (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: Limitations of the study. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/limitations ConclusionIn many research papers, the conclusion, like the limitations section, is folded into the larger discussion section. If you are unsure whether to include the conclusion as part of your discussion or as a separate section, be sure to defer to the assignment instructions or ask your instructor. The conclusion is important, as it is specifically designed to highlight your research’s larger importance outside of the specific results of your study. Your conclusion section allows you to reiterate the main findings of your study, highlight their importance, and point out areas for future research. Based on the scope of your paper, your conclusion could be anywhere from one to three paragraphs long. An effective conclusion section should include the following:
*Box content adapted from: University of Southern California (n.d.). Organizing your social sciences research paper: 9. the conclusion. https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/conclusion What should be in the discussion section of a research paper?The discussion section is one of the final parts of a research paper, in which an author describes, analyzes, and interprets their findings. They explain the significance of those results and tie everything back to the research question(s).
How do you start a discussion in a research paper?Begin by briefly re-stating the research problem you were investigating and answer all of the research questions underpinning the problem that you posed in the introduction. Describe the patterns, principles, and relationships shown by each major findings and place them in proper perspective.
How do you structure a research discussion?What To Do When Writing A Scientific Discussion. Do Summarize Your Results and Outline Their Interpretation in Light of the Published Literature. ... . Do Explain the Importance of Your Results. ... . Do Acknowledge the Shortcomings of the Study. ... . Do Discuss Any Future Directions. ... . Do Decide Between the Active or Passive Voice.. How long should a discussion section of a research paper be?Generally the length of the 'Discussion ' section should not exceed the sum of other sections (ıntroduction, material and methods, and results), and it should be completed within 6–7 paragraphs.. Each paragraph should not contain more than 200 words, and hence words should be counted repeteadly.
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