The discussion is one of the most important parts of your research paper or dissertation. It synthesizes the key findings, interprets their meaning, addresses limitations, and explores their broader implications.

A well-written discussion section provides a roadmap for the reader to interpret your results within the context of your study’s scope and purpose. It also positions your findings among broader scholarly knowledge and real-world applications.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the core elements of a strong discussion chapter and the steps for writing an effective analysis and interpretation.

What not to include in your discussion section

The discussion should focus solely on the findings’ meaning, relevance, and implications. It should not simply reiterate or restate the results.

You should avoid:

  • Restating your research questions
  • Rehashing your methodological approach
  • Reproducing any descriptive statistics or raw data already reported in the results
  • Making conclusions not reasonably supported by the evidence

The discussion interprets and evaluates the significance of the results, not just summarizing them again. It aims to contextualize the findings within existing literature and theory.

Step 1: Summarize your key findings

Begin the discussion by briefing the reader on the overarching study results—but discuss, don’t just repeat, the dry facts from the results section. Use an objective, analytical tone to describe the patterns, connections, or explanations your data analysis uncovered.

Early sentences should summarize your main findings at an “umbrella” level, leaving the granular details for later sections.

Examples: Summarization sentence starters

  • The evidence from this research points to…
  • A major takeaway from these findings is that…
  • The overarching conclusion drawn is…
  • The central theme emerging from this analysis is…
  • Taken together, these results imply that…

Step 2: Give your interpretations

With the high-level findings framework established, start delving into your interpretations and evaluations of the results’ meanings. This is where you flex your critical thinking skills.

  • What are the potential reasons or circumstances that may explain the particular patterns observed?
  • How do the findings compare to what was expected based on existing theories or evidence? Account for any contrasts or contradictions.
  • What new insights or perspectives does your research provide? How does it build upon or challenge current knowledge?

Be sure to justify each of your interpretations by directly citing and discussing relevant results from your study. The goal is to scrutinize what the data is revealing from multiple angles.

Examples: Interpretation sentence starters

  • These findings imply that…
  • Interpreting the data, it appears that…
  • From the results, it can be inferred that…
  • These results lead to the conclusion that…
  • Understanding the implications, it becomes clear that…

Step 3: Discuss the implications

Next, explore the broader significance and relevance of your findings:

  • What are the theoretical implications? How do the results impact the field’s existing models, assumptions, or beliefs?
  • What are the practical implications? How might the findings influence policies, practices, or decision-making?
  • Do the findings expose areas needing revised strategies or further investigation? Outline the gaps or unresolved puzzles raised.

Drawing implications demonstrates how your work creates value and advances knowledge in concrete, meaningful ways.

Examples: Implication sentence starters

  • A key implication of these findings is that…
  • One ramification that emerges from the data is… 
  • These results have important consequences for how we view…
  • The insights gained here call into question the assumption that…
  • An interesting implication worth exploring further is whether…

Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations

Being upfront about your study’s limitations allows you to contextualize your findings appropriately. Common limitations may relate to:

  • Study sample (e.g., small size, lack of diversity or randomization)
  • Research methodology or design constraints
  • Issues with measurement, data collection, or interventions
  • Environmental factors or confounding variables
  • Shortcomings related to your underlying assumptions or theories

Openly recognizing limitations is a sign of research integrity. It lends credibility to your assertions and qualifies interpreted implications.

Examples: Limitation sentence starters

  • One key limitation of this study is…
  • The interpretations are restricted by the fact that…
  • A potential caveat is the absence of data regarding…
  • The findings should be viewed with caution given the constraints imposed by…
  • Inferences are necessarily narrow in scope as this analysis did not account for…

Step 5: Share your recommendations

The final section outlines what future steps should be taken based on your research outcomes. This may involve:

  • Recommending changes to current practices, policies, or interventions
  • Calling for revised theories or alternate research methodologies
  • Proposing new areas for investigation or specific research questions to pursue

Offering substantive recommendations ensures that your work has actionable takeaways and impacts beyond just enriching existing knowledge. Grounded by your new findings, what do you advise researchers or practitioners to do differently going forward?

Examples: Recommendation sentence starters

  • To build upon these results, it would be valuable to investigate…
  • An important next step is to explore the impact of… 
  • Further insights could be gained by expanding the analysis to…
  • Replicating this study with a larger/different sample would help clarify…
  • Longitudinal research tracking changes over time is recommended for understanding…