Writing the Analysis: How to Maintain an Academic Tone

The number crunching is complete, the findings are clear, and now you face the seemingly simple task of writing it up. However, this phase is a rhetorical tightrope. The primary purpose of the results chapter is to objectively report what you found, not to persuade what it means. Straying into interpretation here confuses the structural integrity of your dissertation. This article provides a practical strategy for writing a objective and appropriately styled results section that faithfully reports your data while scrupulously resisting the temptation to interpret it.

1. The Fundamental Distinction: Results vs. Discussion

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

• The Results Chapter: This section is the “just the facts.” Its only job is to present the data in a detached manner. It answers the question: “What did you find?“
• The Discussion Chapter: This is where you interpret the facts. Its job is to discuss the implications of those results, connect them to the literature, and explore the significance. It answers the question: “What do these findings mean?“

Mixing these two weakens both. The reader gets confused, unsure if they are reading a observation or your opinion about that fact.

2. Choosing Your Words Carefully

The diction of your writing is your primary mechanism for maintaining objectivity. Choose your verbs and phrases to report rather than to imply.

Use Neutral Reporting Verbs:

• 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 Value Judgments:

• Avoid Subjective Adjectives: Amazing.
  • Instead of: “A surprising negative correlation was found.”
  • Use: “A negative correlation was found.”
• Avoid Speculative Verbs: Proves (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. A Standardized Approach

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

1. State the Purpose: Briefly note 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.”
2. Report the Key Statistics: Objectively state the relevant results. “The results indicated a significant difference between the groups (t(58) = 3.67, p = .001).”
3. Describe the Outcome: Translate the numbers 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).”
4. 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 formulaic approach keeps your writing on task and prevents you from straying into commentary.

4. Using Tables and Figures Effectively

Well-constructed graphs and charts are the backbone of an objective results section. They display the numbers in its purest form, allowing the reader to see the evidence 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 descriptive caption and be interpretable with minimal reference to the text. This minimizes the need for you to narrate the data in your writing.

5. Reporting All Findings

An truly scientific report details all results, not just the expected ones. A non-significant finding is still a important finding.

• Do not hide them: Reporting non-significant results is a mark of integrity and prevents publication bias.
• Report them neutrally: Use the same factual language 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 IGNOU project approval obvious, you wouldn’t have needed to run the test. Let the data stand on its own.

Conclusion

Writing a powerful results section requires disciplinary restraint. It is an exercise in rhetorical precision, where you cede the spotlight and let your hard evidence take center stage. By adhering to a neutral tone, following a structured reporting formula, using tables and figures, and reporting all findings faithfully, you construct a chapter that is unassailably objective. This creates a solid foundation of empirical facts upon which you can then, in the next chapter, build a sophisticated and compelling discussion of what those facts ultimately mean. The power of your argument depends on this strict division.