How to Write the Results Section of Your Thesis

What is a results section?

The results section presents the outcomes of your data collection and analysis.

It shows:

• which patterns you found;
• which themes emerged;
• how participants responded;
• what the statistical analyses showed;
• whether hypotheses were supported;
• which findings relate to each research question.

The section should be clear, concise and based on evidence.

Do not include all the data you collected. Select the findings needed to answer the research questions.

Check your programme requirements first

Before writing, check:

• the graduation manual;
• the assessment criteria;
• the required chapter structure;
• reporting guidelines;
• the required referencing style;
• instructions from your thesis supervisor.

Check whether your programme expects:

• separate results and discussion chapters;
• one combined results and discussion chapter;
• results organised by sub-question;
• results organised by theme;
• statistical reporting in APA style;
• quotations from interviews;
• tables or figures;
• appendices with additional output.

Do not use a standard structure without checking what your programme requires.

How to write your results section in 8 steps

Step 1: Complete and check the analysis

Do not start writing the final results chapter before the main analysis is complete.

Check:

• whether the dataset is clean;
• whether incomplete responses have been handled;
• whether the statistical assumptions were checked;
• whether all interviews were coded;
• whether themes are clearly defined;
• whether document categories are complete;
• whether the analyses match the research questions.

You may refine the analysis while writing. However, the chapter should not be based on incomplete output.

Step 2: Return to the research questions

Use your main question, sub-questions or hypotheses as a guide.

For each one, ask:

• Which analysis was conducted?
• Which findings answer this question?
• Which information is essential?
• Which information is interesting but not necessary?
• Is any question still unanswered?

Create a simple overview for yourself. Note each research question, the relevant analysis and the main finding.

Use this as a writing plan. You do not always need to include the overview in the thesis.

Step 3: Select the relevant findings

Do not report a result only because the software produced it.

Include findings that:

• answer a research question;
• test a hypothesis;
• show an important pattern;
• clarify a meaningful difference;
• reveal a relevant exception;
• influence the answer to the main question.

Also report relevant findings that do not support your expectations.

A non-significant result can still be important. A rejected hypothesis should not be hidden.

Move detailed or secondary output to an appendix when it helps transparency but is not needed in the main argument.

Step 4: Choose a logical structure

The best structure depends on your research.

You can organise the chapter:

• by research question;
• by sub-question;
• by hypothesis;
• by theme;
• by case;
• by group;
• by research phase;
• by method.

Use the structure that helps the reader follow the link between the questions, analysis and findings.

For a practice-based graduation project, a structure based on sub-questions often works well.

For interview research, themes may be clearer.

For a quantitative study, hypotheses or variables may provide the best order.

For mixed-methods research, you can present the methods separately or integrate them around each question. Explain the chosen structure.

Step 5: Present the main finding first

Begin each section with the central finding.

Then add the evidence.

Do not make the reader search through quotations, statistics or tables before understanding the point.

For example: Supervisor support emerged as the most important factor in employees’ intention to remain with the organisation.

You can then explain:

• how often the theme occurred;
• which aspects participants mentioned;
• whether groups differed;
• which quotations illustrate the finding.

For quantitative research, you might write:

Employees who reported higher supervisor support also reported higher engagement scores.

You can then provide the relevant statistics.

Step 6: Support findings with evidence

Every stated finding must be supported by the analysis.

Depending on the method, evidence may include:

• descriptive statistics;
• statistical tests;
• response percentages;
• themes and subthemes;
• short quotations;
• observed patterns;
• document categories;
• comparison between cases;
• output from a validated analysis procedure.

Do not make broader claims than the evidence supports.

Write: Eight of the twelve interviewed employees described workload as a reason to consider leaving.

Do not automatically write: Workload causes employees to leave.

The second statement makes a causal claim that the research may not support.

Step 7: Use tables, figures or quotations carefully

Use supporting material only when it makes the findings clearer.

A table works well when the reader needs exact values or a compact comparison.

A graph or chart works well when you want to show:

• a trend;
• a distribution;
• a group difference;
• a relationship;
• a development over time.

A quotation works well when it illustrates:

• a common experience;
• a significant difference;
• a particularly clear explanation;
• a contrasting perspective.

Always introduce and discuss the relevant point in the text.

Do not place a table, figure or quotation without explaining what the reader should notice.

Step 8: Move interpretation to the correct chapter

Check each paragraph for interpretation.

Statements about what the data show belong in the results.

Statements about why the findings occurred or what they mean usually belong in the discussion.

Result:

Participants who worked remotely reported lower scores for informal team contact.

Interpretation:

The lower scores may be caused by fewer spontaneous conversations with colleagues.

The first sentence reports a finding. The second proposes an explanation and belongs in the discussion unless your programme combines both chapters.

How to present qualitative findings

Qualitative results are usually organised around themes, categories or research questions.

Introduce each theme

Start by naming and explaining the theme.

For example: The analysis identified three factors that affected employees’ onboarding experience: access to information, supervisor contact and team inclusion.

Then discuss each theme separately.

Describe patterns and differences

Explain:

• what participants commonly reported;
• where views differed;
• whether certain groups had different experiences;
• which exceptions were relevant;
• how themes related to the sub-questions.

Avoid writing a separate summary for every interview.

The chapter should present the analysis across participants.

Use quotations as evidence

Use short quotations to support your analysis.

Introduce the finding first: Several participants felt they received too much information during their first week.

Then provide an example: “I received so many documents that I did not know what to read first” (Participant 4).

Use a clear and consistent way to identify participants.

Protect personal and confidential information.

Do not use quotations as a substitute for analysis. A quotation illustrates the finding; it does not explain the complete pattern.

Include contrasting findings

Do not report only the majority view.

A smaller or contrasting perspective may also be relevant.

For example: Most participants wanted more frequent supervisor contact. Two experienced employees preferred greater independence and found additional meetings unnecessary.

This gives a more accurate picture of the data.

How to use tables and figures

Use tables and figures selectively.

Use a table when:

• exact values are important;
• several groups or variables must be compared;
• a compact overview is clearer than a long paragraph.

Use a figure when:

• a trend is important;
• a relationship needs to be visualised;
• a distribution is easier to understand visually;
• differences between groups should be immediately visible.

Give every table and figure:

• a number;
• a clear title;
• understandable labels;
• notes where needed;
• a reference in the text.

Do not write: The results are shown in Table 2.

Write: Table 2 shows that satisfaction was highest among employees who received weekly supervisor contact.

Do not repeat every number from the table. Highlight the finding that matters.

Do you need sources in the results section?

Your own results do not need an external citation. You may need a citation when you:

• use an existing classification or model;
• refer to an external dataset;
• reproduce or adapt a table or figure;
• mention an established statistical standard;
• combine results and discussion and compare findings with literature.

In a separate results chapter, comparison with earlier studies usually belongs in the discussion.

Need help presenting your research results?

You may have completed the analysis but still struggle to decide what belongs in the results chapter.

Perhaps:

• your SPSS, Stata, R or Python output is difficult to translate into clear text;
• your interview themes overlap;
• you have too many quotations;
• your supervisor says the chapter is too descriptive;
• results and discussion are mixed together;
• you are unsure which tables or figures to include;
• you find it difficult to report the findings in academic English.

Our coaches have experience with English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes at Dutch universities and universities of applied sciences.

We can help you:

• select the findings that answer your questions;
• create a clear results structure;
• report statistical analyses correctly;
• present qualitative themes and quotations;
• separate results from interpretation;
• process supervisor feedback;
• improve the structure and academic English.

You remain responsible for the analysis and writing. We give focused feedback and help you decide what to improve next.

Book a free, no-obligation consultation. We will look at where the chapter becomes unclear and which next step could help you move forward.