Making Dissertation Results Accessible and Understandable

by Posted on

Making Dissertation Results Accessible and Understandable

The results section of your dissertation can sometimes contain complex findings, but making it accessible and understandable is key to engaging your audience. Here’s how to achieve that:

1. Start with an Overview

  • Provide Context: Start by briefly summarizing the research questions and hypotheses. This helps the audience understand what the results will address.

  • State Key Findings Upfront: Begin your results section by stating the most important findings in a simple, clear manner. This gives your audience an immediate understanding of your key results.

2. Focus on Key Results

  • Highlight the Most Important Findings: Don’t overwhelm your audience with every detail. Focus on the most significant results that directly answer your research questions.

  • Avoid Data Overload: Only present the essential data that supports your key findings. Use tables, charts, or graphs for easy digestion of quantitative data.

3. Present Data with Clarity

  • Use Visuals Wisely: As mentioned, charts and graphs can make your results easier to digest. Be sure to label everything clearly—include titles, axis labels, and legends so that the audience understands what they are looking at.

  • Be Consistent: Ensure your visuals and tables follow a consistent format throughout your dissertation. This helps the audience become familiar with the way the data is presented.

4. Avoid Overly Technical Details

  • Limit Technical Language: Where possible, use plain language to explain your results. Avoid excessive statistical jargon unless it’s necessary, and even then, explain any technical terms you use.

  • Use Simplified Statistical Terms: If you’re dealing with complex statistics (e.g., p-values, confidence intervals), simplify them as much as possible. For example, instead of saying “the p-value was 0.03,” you could say, “the results showed a statistically significant difference.”

5. Provide Interpretations and Implications

  • Explain What the Results Mean: Don’t just present the data—interpret it. Discuss how the results answer your research question and what they mean in the context of existing literature.

  • Discuss Practical Implications: Explain how your findings may have practical applications in the field or suggest directions for future research.

6. Structure Results Logically

  • Organize by Research Question: Present your results in a logical order, such as following the same sequence as your research questions or hypotheses.

  • Subheadings and Bullet Points: Use subheadings for different sections to guide the reader. Bullet points can help break down complex findings and make the section easier to follow.

Published by oriaku