research and findings report

Research Findings Guide: Examples, Types, and Structuring Tips

November 7, 2024

Dr. Marvin L. Smith

Research findings are the core insights derived from a study, summarizing key results and answering the research question . They reveal patterns, relationships, or trends, whether through qualitative insights or quantitative data.

Understanding how to write findings in research is crucial—it provides clarity, supports claims, and often determines the study’s impact.

This article explores types of research findings , examples, and methods to present them effectively.

Whether you’re looking to learn about research findings, explore examples of different types of research findings, or need guidance on structuring findings in a paper, this guide has you covered.

What Are Research Findings?

Research findings are the key results or discoveries from a study.

They directly address the research question, revealing insights that support or challenge the hypothesis. These findings can be qualitative, like observations or themes, or quantitative, like statistics or patterns.

Clear and accurate findings ensure readers understand the study’s outcome.

Importance of Research Findings

Research findings are the cornerstone of any study, offering critical evidence to support the researcher’s conclusions . They serve as the basis for establishing facts, verifying hypotheses, and validating the study’s objectives.

Findings not only demonstrate that a study has met its intended goals but also underscore its relevance and reliability within a field.

In academic and professional circles, strong research findings enhance the credibility of a paper. They demonstrate that the study is grounded in rigorous data analysis, increasing the likelihood of acceptance by peers and recognition in the wider community.

When findings are presented clearly and backed by sound evidence, they provide a solid foundation for future research, inspiring new questions and guiding subsequent studies.

Additionally, well-structured findings are invaluable for decision-making across sectors.

In healthcare , they inform treatment protocols and health policies; in business , they shape product development and strategic planning; in education , they enhance teaching methods and learning outcomes.

Without concrete findings, research would lack direction and impact, making these insights essential for applying knowledge to real-world problems and advancing knowledge in meaningful ways.

Types of Research Findings

Research findings can be categorized based on both the data’s nature and its origin, giving readers insight into the study’s methods and the type of evidence presented.

This classification—into qualitative vs. quantitative findings and primary vs. secondary findings—helps researchers structure their findings more effectively and ensures readers can follow the study’s approach.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Findings

Qualitative findings focus on understanding experiences, motivations, and perceptions by capturing themes, patterns, and meanings through methods like interviews, focus groups, and observations. They address the “how” and “why” behind phenomena.

For instance, in a study exploring customer satisfaction, qualitative findings might reveal that customers feel valued when employees remember their names—an insight drawn from direct interview responses.

These findings provide rich, contextual insights that add depth and human perspectives.

Quantitative findings , on the other hand, are based on numerical data derived from methods like surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis. These findings answer “what,” “how much,” or “how many,” offering a measurable view of trends or relationships.

In the same customer satisfaction study, quantitative findings could show that 78% of surveyed customers rate their satisfaction as “high.”

This data-driven approach offers clear, objective metrics that validate or challenge hypotheses and allow comparisons across variables.

Using both qualitative and quantitative findings often provides a balanced perspective, combining numerical rigor with contextual understanding—a method known as mixed-methods research.

Primary vs. Secondary Findings

Primary findings emerge directly from the researcher’s own data collection. These are original insights obtained through firsthand research, such as an experiment, survey, or field study.

For example, a study measuring the effects of a new medication on blood pressure would yield primary findings about its effectiveness based on the data collected during clinical trials.

These findings introduce new knowledge to the field, making them highly valuable and directly tied to the study’s objectives.

Secondary findings are drawn from data or insights that others have previously collected. They often support or add context to primary findings without introducing new information.

For instance, in a study on the effectiveness of teaching methods, secondary findings might include statistics from government reports on educational outcomes.

These findings help frame the research within a broader context, showing how it aligns with or diverges from existing studies. By combining primary and secondary findings, researchers can enhance the credibility of their work and provide a fuller understanding of the topic.

Each type of research finding serves a unique purpose.

Qualitative and quantitative findings provide different perspectives on data, while primary and secondary findings strengthen the depth and breadth of research, making it more impactful and informative.

Interpreting Research Findings

Interpreting research findings involves reviewing data to uncover meaningful insights. This process not only highlights key results but also strengthens the study’s credibility by ensuring clarity and accuracy in presenting findings.

Analyzing Data and Recognizing Patterns

Data analysis helps identify trends, correlations, or differences within the dataset. By recognizing these patterns, researchers draw conclusions that directly address the research question. Effective analysis reveals underlying insights and shows how findings connect to the study’s objectives.

Ensuring Validity and Accuracy

Ensuring validity and accuracy is essential in interpreting findings. Validity confirms that the findings genuinely reflect the data and align with the research question, while accuracy ensures consistent, error-free analysis. Together, they reinforce the study’s reliability, making its conclusions trustworthy and impactful.

Presenting Research Findings

Presenting research findings effectively is crucial for helping readers understand and engage with the study’s outcomes. A well-structured presentation and the use of visuals ensure clarity, while accessible language makes findings understandable to a wider audience.

Structuring a Clear Presentation

Organize findings in a logical order that directly addresses the research question, starting with the most significant results. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break down information, making it easier for readers to follow. Concise and clear language keeps the focus on key insights without overwhelming details.

Using Visuals for Emphasis

Visuals, like charts, graphs, and tables, highlight key data points and make complex information easier to grasp.

For example, a bar chart can show survey results by comparing response percentages across different groups, while a line graph can track changes over time, such as monthly sales trends or patient recovery rates.

Tables are also effective for presenting detailed numerical data, allowing readers to compare figures side by side.

These visual aids help readers quickly identify patterns and comparisons, enhancing the impact of findings and overall comprehension. A well-placed chart or table can make a difference by translating raw data into a clear, engaging visual summary .

Communicating Findings to Non-Experts

To reach non-experts, simplify technical terms and avoid jargon. Use clear, everyday language and provide brief explanations when needed. Presenting findings in an accessible way ensures broader understanding and maximizes the research’s reach and influence.

Challenges in Reporting Research Findings

Reporting research findings can be challenging, as it requires accuracy and objectivity to avoid misleading readers. Identifying and addressing these challenges is essential to maintain credibility and transparency.

Misinterpretation and Bias

Misinterpretation happens when findings are presented in a way that leads readers to incorrect conclusions. To avoid this, use precise language and clarify key points. Bias, whether intentional or unintentional, can distort findings by emphasizing certain outcomes. Being aware of potential biases and reporting objectively ensures a fair representation of the data.

Addressing Limitations

Every study has limitations—factors that may affect the results or the generalizability of findings. Clearly acknowledging these limitations shows honesty and helps readers understand the scope of the research. Addressing limitations also guides future studies by highlighting areas for improvement or further investigation.

Applications of Research Findings

Research findings have broad applications across various fields, guiding decisions, influencing policies, and informing future research.

In healthcare, findings can lead to new treatments, improve patient care, or shape public health guidelines.

In business, research insights drive product development, marketing strategies, and customer experience enhancements.

In education, findings inform teaching methods and curriculum design, ultimately improving learning outcomes.

Moreover, research findings often serve as a foundation for further studies, allowing other researchers to build on existing knowledge. Whether applied to solve real-world problems or deepen understanding within a field, these findings contribute significantly to progress and innovation.

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How to Write the Results/Findings Section in Research

What is the research paper Results section and what does it do?

The Results section of a scientific research paper represents the core findings of a study derived from the methods applied to gather and analyze information. It presents these findings in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation from the author, setting up the reader for later interpretation and evaluation in the Discussion section. A major purpose of the Results section is to break down the data into sentences that show its significance to the research question(s).

The Results section appears third in the section sequence in most scientific papers. It follows the presentation of the Methods and Materials and is presented before the Discussion section —although the Results and Discussion are presented together in many journals. This section answers the basic question “What did you find in your research?”

What is included in the Results section?

The Results section should include the findings of your study and ONLY the findings of your study. The findings include:

Data presented in tables, charts, graphs, and other figures (may be placed into the text or on separate pages at the end of the manuscript)
A contextual analysis of this data explaining its meaning in sentence form
All data that corresponds to the central research question(s)
All secondary findings (secondary outcomes, subgroup analyses, etc.)

If the scope of the study is broad, or if you studied a variety of variables, or if the methodology used yields a wide range of different results, the author should present only those results that are most relevant to the research question stated in the Introduction section .

As a general rule, any information that does not present the direct findings or outcome of the study should be left out of this section. Unless the journal requests that authors combine the Results and Discussion sections, explanations and interpretations should be omitted from the Results.

How are the results organized?

The best way to organize your Results section is “logically.” One logical and clear method of organizing research results is to provide them alongside the research questions—within each research question, present the type of data that addresses that research question.

Let’s look at an example. Your research question is based on a survey among patients who were treated at a hospital and received postoperative care. Let’s say your first research question is:

results section of a research paper, figures

“What do hospital patients over age 55 think about postoperative care?”

This can actually be represented as a heading within your Results section, though it might be presented as a statement rather than a question:

Attitudes towards postoperative care in patients over the age of 55

Now present the results that address this specific research question first. In this case, perhaps a table illustrating data from a survey. Likert items can be included in this example. Tables can also present standard deviations, probabilities, correlation matrices, etc.

Following this, present a content analysis, in words, of one end of the spectrum of the survey or data table. In our example case, start with the POSITIVE survey responses regarding postoperative care, using descriptive phrases. For example:

“Sixty-five percent of patients over 55 responded positively to the question “ Are you satisfied with your hospital’s postoperative care ?” (Fig. 2)

Include other results such as subcategory analyses. The amount of textual description used will depend on how much interpretation of tables and figures is necessary and how many examples the reader needs in order to understand the significance of your research findings.

Next, present a content analysis of another part of the spectrum of the same research question, perhaps the NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL responses to the survey. For instance:

“As Figure 1 shows, 15 out of 60 patients in Group A responded negatively to Question 2.”

After you have assessed the data in one figure and explained it sufficiently, move on to your next research question. For example:

“How does patient satisfaction correspond to in-hospital improvements made to postoperative care?”

This kind of data may be presented through a figure or set of figures (for instance, a paired T-test table).

Explain the data you present, here in a table, with a concise content analysis:

“The p-value for the comparison between the before and after groups of patients was .03% (Fig. 2), indicating that the greater the dissatisfaction among patients, the more frequent the improvements that were made to postoperative care.”

Let’s examine another example of a Results section from a study on plant tolerance to heavy metal stress . In the Introduction section, the aims of the study are presented as “determining the physiological and morphological responses of Allium cepa L. towards increased cadmium toxicity” and “evaluating its potential to accumulate the metal and its associated environmental consequences.” The Results section presents data showing how these aims are achieved in tables alongside a content analysis, beginning with an overview of the findings:

“Cadmium caused inhibition of root and leave elongation, with increasing effects at higher exposure doses (Fig. 1a-c).”

The figure containing this data is cited in parentheses. Note that this author has combined three graphs into one single figure. Separating the data into separate graphs focusing on specific aspects makes it easier for the reader to assess the findings, and consolidating this information into one figure saves space and makes it easy to locate the most relevant results.

Following this overall summary, the relevant data in the tables is broken down into greater detail in text form in the Results section.

“Results on the bio-accumulation of cadmium were found to be the highest (17.5 mg kgG1) in the bulb, when the concentration of cadmium in the solution was 1×10G2 M and lowest (0.11 mg kgG1) in the leaves when the concentration was 1×10G3 M.”

Captioning and Referencing Tables and Figures

Tables and figures are central components of your Results section and you need to carefully think about the most effective way to use graphs and tables to present your findings . Therefore, it is crucial to know how to write strong figure captions and to refer to them within the text of the Results section.

The most important advice one can give here as well as throughout the paper is to check the requirements and standards of the journal to which you are submitting your work. Every journal has its own design and layout standards, which you can find in the author instructions on the target journal’s website. Perusing a journal’s published articles will also give you an idea of the proper number, size, and complexity of your figures.

Regardless of which format you use, the figures should be placed in the order they are referenced in the Results section and be as clear and easy to understand as possible. If there are multiple variables being considered (within one or more research questions), it can be a good idea to split these up into separate figures. Subsequently, these can be referenced and analyzed under separate headings and paragraphs in the text.

To create a caption, consider the research question being asked and change it into a phrase. For instance, if one question is “Which color did participants choose?”, the caption might be “Color choice by participant group.” Or in our last research paper example, where the question was “What is the concentration of cadmium in different parts of the onion after 14 days?” the caption reads:

“Fig. 1(a-c): Mean concentration of Cd determined in (a) bulbs, (b) leaves, and (c) roots of onions after a 14-day period.”

Steps for Composing the Results Section

Because each study is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to designing a strategy for structuring and writing the section of a research paper where findings are presented. The content and layout of this section will be determined by the specific area of research, the design of the study and its particular methodologies, and the guidelines of the target journal and its editors. However, the following steps can be used to compose the results of most scientific research studies and are essential for researchers who are new to preparing a manuscript for publication or who need a reminder of how to construct the Results section.

Step 1 : Consult the guidelines or instructions that the target journal or publisher provides authors and read research papers it has published, especially those with similar topics, methods, or results to your study.

The guidelines will generally outline specific requirements for the results or findings section, and the published articles will provide sound examples of successful approaches.
Note length limitations on restrictions on content. For instance, while many journals require the Results and Discussion sections to be separate, others do not—qualitative research papers often include results and interpretations in the same section (“Results and Discussion”).
Reading the aims and scope in the journal’s “ guide for authors ” section and understanding the interests of its readers will be invaluable in preparing to write the Results section.

Step 2 : Consider your research results in relation to the journal’s requirements and catalogue your results.

Focus on experimental results and other findings that are especially relevant to your research questions and objectives and include them even if they are unexpected or do not support your ideas and hypotheses.
Catalogue your findings—use subheadings to streamline and clarify your report. This will help you avoid excessive and peripheral details as you write and also help your reader understand and remember your findings. Create appendices that might interest specialists but prove too long or distracting for other readers.
Decide how you will structure of your results. You might match the order of the research questions and hypotheses to your results, or you could arrange them according to the order presented in the Methods section. A chronological order or even a hierarchy of importance or meaningful grouping of main themes or categories might prove effective. Consider your audience, evidence, and most importantly, the objectives of your research when choosing a structure for presenting your findings.

Step 3 : Design figures and tables to present and illustrate your data.

Tables and figures should be numbered according to the order in which they are mentioned in the main text of the paper.
Information in figures should be relatively self-explanatory (with the aid of captions), and their design should include all definitions and other information necessary for readers to understand the findings without reading all of the text.
Use tables and figures as a focal point to tell a clear and informative story about your research and avoid repeating information. But remember that while figures clarify and enhance the text, they cannot replace it.

Step 4 : Draft your Results section using the findings and figures you have organized.

The goal is to communicate this complex information as clearly and precisely as possible; precise and compact phrases and sentences are most effective.
In the opening paragraph of this section, restate your research questions or aims to focus the reader’s attention to what the results are trying to show. It is also a good idea to summarize key findings at the end of this section to create a logical transition to the interpretation and discussion that follows.
Try to write in the past tense and the active voice to relay the findings since the research has already been done and the agent is usually clear. This will ensure that your explanations are also clear and logical.
Make sure that any specialized terminology or abbreviation you have used here has been defined and clarified in the Introduction section .

Step 5 : Review your draft; edit and revise until it reports results exactly as you would like to have them reported to your readers.

Double-check the accuracy and consistency of all the data, as well as all of the visual elements included.
Read your draft aloud to catch language errors (grammar, spelling, and mechanics), awkward phrases, and missing transitions.
Ensure that your results are presented in the best order to focus on objectives and prepare readers for interpretations, valuations, and recommendations in the Discussion section . Look back over the paper’s Introduction and background while anticipating the Discussion and Conclusion sections to ensure that the presentation of your results is consistent and effective.
Consider seeking additional guidance on your paper. Find additional readers to look over your Results section and see if it can be improved in any way. Peers, professors, or qualified experts can provide valuable insights.

One excellent option is to use a professional English proofreading and editing service such as Wordvice, including our paper editing service . With hundreds of qualified editors from dozens of scientific fields, Wordvice has helped thousands of authors revise their manuscripts and get accepted into their target journals. Read more about the proofreading and editing process before proceeding with getting academic editing services and manuscript editing services for your manuscript.

As the representation of your study’s data output, the Results section presents the core information in your research paper. By writing with clarity and conciseness and by highlighting and explaining the crucial findings of their study, authors increase the impact and effectiveness of their research manuscripts.

For more articles and videos on writing your research manuscript, visit Wordvice’s Resources page.