AuthorAID Post-PACN-Congress Workshop on Research Writing Accra, Ghana November 2011

The Results Section Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH Texas A&M University

The Results Section The core of the paper Often includes tables, figures, or both Should summarize findings rather than providing data in great detail Should present results but not comment on them (Note: Some journals combine the Results and the Discussion.)

Verb Tense for the Results Section: Past Tense Examples: –A total of 417 samples contained... –_____ increased, but _____ decreased. –The average temperature was _____. –Three of the dogs died. –This difference was not statistically significant.

Results Sections of Papers with Tables or Figures How much should the information in the text overlap that in the tables and figures? –Not extensive overlap –In general, text should present only the main points from the tables and figures –Perhaps also include a few of the most important data Remember to mention each table or figure. Do so as soon as readers might want to see it.

Mentioning Tables and Figures: Some Writing Advice In citing tables and figures, emphasize the finding, not the table or figure. –Not so good: Table 3 shows that researchers who attended the workshop published twice as many papers per year. –Better: Researchers who attended the workshop published twice as many papers per year (Table 3).

Results: A Suggestion Look at the Results sections of some papers in your target journal. Notice items such as the following: –Length –Organization –Inclusion of subheads (or not) –Number of tables and figures Use these Results sections as models.

Thank you!

Small-Group Discussion Please discuss this morning’s lectures. What are the main points to remember? What questions do you have? How do you plan to use the content? Identify a journal that seems suitable for your paper. Say why you chose this journal. If possible, now or this evening, look at the journal’s instructions to authors and at least one paper in the journal. If you brought a draft of your paper, note some things that are good about the results section and some things that you plan to change. If you didn’t bring a draft, describe your plans for your results section. (Please keep the lectures in mind.) Prepare a brief talk (5 to 10 minutes) presenting highlights of your group’s discussion.