Scientific writing
What a Strong Research Results Section Should Do
A strong Results section presents the findings in a clear, logical, and objective way. It should guide the reader through what was found without overexplaining, interpreting, or repeating every number from the tables.
The Results section should answer one main question:
What did the study find?
It should not yet answer: What do the findings mean? That belongs mainly in the Discussion section.
Key components of a strong results section
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Study Sample | Shows how many participants were included, excluded, followed up, and analyzed. |
| Baseline Characteristics | Describes the study population before presenting outcomes. |
| Primary Finding | Presents the main result clearly, with effect size and uncertainty. |
| Secondary Outcomes | Reports additional relevant outcomes in a structured way. |
| Precise Numbers | Uses exact statistics rather than vague statements. |
| Subgroup Findings | Shows whether findings differed across predefined groups. |
| Sensitivity Analysis | Demonstrates whether the results remained stable under alternative analyses. |
| Tables / Figures | Directs readers to detailed supporting data. |
| Objective Tone | Reports findings without interpretation, exaggeration, or selective emphasis. |
Weak vs strong results sections
Weak results sections
- Repeat tables without adding a narrative
- Use vague phrases such as "significantly improved" without numbers
- Omit confidence intervals or effect sizes
- Mix interpretation with results
- Selectively report only favorable findings
- Hide non-significant or unexpected results
Strong results sections
- Follow a logical order
- Start with participant flow and baseline data
- Report primary outcomes first
- Include exact numbers, effect sizes, confidence intervals, and P values when appropriate
- Separate results from interpretation
- Mention subgroup, secondary, and sensitivity analyses clearly
- Refer to tables and figures without duplicating them completely
Core message
A strong Results section should be:
Objective, numerical, transparent, and easy to follow.
In short
A strong Results section does not just present data — it guides the reader clearly through what was found.
For discussion writing, see our introduction and discussion guide—or run a pre-submission review that checks results reporting and consistency.
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