Discussion

Organization

Contents of Discussion

• Beginning

  • Brief summary of results and statement of major conclusions

• Development

  • Correlation of the present study with existing ones (stressed)

  • Analysis of unexpected findings
  • Statement of limitations of the present study

• Ending

  • Implications of the present study and prospect of future research

Organization (Guiding principles)

• a strong beginning

• a full development

• a strong ending

A strong beginning of the Discussion

First, answer the questions.

• Answer each question exactly as you asked it
• Use signal word
• This study shows that …
• Do not extrapolate.
• Never repeat background information from introduction.

A full development in the middle

the Order: from the most important to the least important

First, support, explain, and defend the answer.

• Support the answer(s).

  • Use both your own results and others’ results when relevant.
  • Cite figures and tables when they would be helpful.
  • Cite appropriate references for others’ results.

• Explain why the answer is reasonable or how the answer fits in with published ideas on the topic if necessary.

• Defend your answer if necessary by presenting a pro-con argument.

• Establish the newness of your answer if necessary.

Then, explain—

• any of your results that do not support the answer,
• any discrepancies with others’ results, unexpected findings,
• limitations of the methods,
• weaknesses in the study design,
• and the validity of assumptions.

A strong ending of the Discussion

conclude by making a point:

1. Restate the answer(s) to the question(s).

   • In conclusion/ In summary
   • This study shows that …, or
   • Our results indicate that …

2. Indicate the importance of the work by stating:

   • Applications of the answer.
   • Recommendations based on the answer.
   • Implications of the answer.
   • Speculations based on the answer.

3. First restate the answer and then indicated the importance of the work.

Technical Details

Tenses

• Present tense: for known or proved facts

• Present perfect tense: for review of achievement
• Past tense: for description of the current study

Stock phrases

Stock phrases to describe associations:

• is associated with …

• was positively associated/correlated with…

• was inversely associated/correlated with…

• was significantly associated with …

• were inversely related to…

Stock phrases to describe conclusions:

• This study demonstrates that …

• This study suggest that …

• Our results display that …

• The results support that …

Stock phrases to describe limitations:

• The study may have been too small …

• … limits the generalizability of results.

• Our study is limited by …

• The study has inherent weaknesses, such as …

Stock phrases to describe implications:

• This study has significant implications for …

• This study adds new insight to …

• These findings provide a unique view of …

• This technique has the potential for …

• Our study sheds some light on …

Stock phrases to describe future studies:

• requires further study.

• Additional research is needed …

• … warrant further confirmation.

• Future studies should …

Reminder (Avoid)

Avoid priority statements like:

1. We firstly proved/reported/ …

2. For the first time we prov1ed/reported/ …

3. “To our knowledge, this is the first report…”

Precise choice of words