Drawing implications from data n Difficulties of writing interesting and meaningful discussion and implications n Danger of simply repeating results with facile additions ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Problems with discussion sections n Desire to show success in research –Traditional research: investigate a teaching method for effectiveness –Researcher unconscious bias to show effectiveness –Similar unconscious biases in other research ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Problems with discussion sections n Narrow focus to discussion section –Limited to predetermined research focuses –No new literature on new topics introduced –Potentially interesting findings overlooked because of lack of relevance to research goal ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Problems with discussion sections n Facile discussions –Limitations: e.g. “If more time had been devoted to using this method, it would have been more effective” –Recommendations: e.g. “Further research is needed in the same area in a different context” ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Identifying interesting findings n Which findings lead to interesting implications? –Central v. peripheral findings –Expected v. unexpected findings n In Summary of MA research 1, what findings are most interesting? ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Identifying patterns in findings n Need to analyse findings through different systems of categorisation n Identify system of categorisation that provides most salient findings n In Summary of MA research 2, what findings are most interesting? ©2009 Richard Watson Todd

Explaining the ‘why’ of the findings n To avoid repeating results, look at explanations for results –Content-based issues –Methodology-based issues n In Summary of MA research 3, what content-based and methodology-based issues emerge from the data? ©2009 Richard Watson Todd