How to Organize Findings, Results, Conclusions, Summary Lynn W Zimmerman, PhD

Structuring the Results/Findings Chapter Descriptive chapter or section titles Thematic organization

Purposes of the Findings Chapter More than reporting results – Selecting and ordering the data to guide the reader – Must draw out the significance of the data – Highlight significant trends and comparisons – Keep pointing the reader in the right direction – Linking figures and tables to text – Selecting which data to highlight

Elements in Reporting Findings Preparatory information Presenting results Commenting on results

Preparatory Information Previewing Linking Providing background information Referring back to the methodology section Pointing to tables, figures, graphs

Presenting Results Present findings Present procedures Restate hypothesis or research questions Identify the data Highlight data for the reader’s attention Provide evidence, statistics, examples, table, graphs, etc.

Commenting on Results Begin to interpret and make claims Look for meaning and significance Compare with previous studies May comment on strength, limitations, or generalizability

Findings Chapter Around 15 pages Divided into sub-topics – based on the questions asked in the questionnaire/interview/survey – Categories of questions, not each question

Results Use numbers and percentages, if appropriate Detailed descriptions of some responses Explain what those results mean. If you can, use some of the theory you found in the literature review section to help explain your answer.

Recommendations Based on Results Discuss the reality in Albanian schools Give some recommendations for improvement Use the work of other writers, as well as your own opinion, to help you explain your answer

Critique For at least 3 subtopics, critique some of the theories that you talked about in your literature review. – Use what you observed and experienced and information from your survey/questionnaire to explain your answer – Suggest could be done instead

Conclusions/Summary Write the conclusions of your study and implications for future research Purpose – to show the relationship between the results of your study and the results of similar studies and related arguments in the published literature

Conclusions Chapter Conclusions – Summarize your findings over all Implications – Identify theoretical and practical implications of your study. – Evaluate and critique the study and findings overall – Suggest further uses of your study – Suggest further studies that grow out of your study Limitations – Discuss limitations – Suggest improvements to your study

Summary Sum up, summarize Reflect – What are the implications (consequences) of your thesis? – What should be changed/improved according to your work? – In the future, what areas do you think need more research?