Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles
5-2
Features of the Discussion
The Discussion is basically an essay on the importance of your findings — how they fit into what is already known in the field, how they affect current scientific thought or medical practice, and what further research they suggest. An objective of the Discussion is to make sure readers do not misunderstand your research findings and their place in the research literature.
To write the Discussion, address all of the following that apply to your study:
▪ Begin by stating your conclusions based on your findings.
▪ Interpret your findings — say what the results mean and how they relate to each other.
▪ Indicate how your findings fit in with the existing literature:
▪
Studies that agree.
▪ Studies that disagree, and possible explanations for the differences between your results and theirs.
▪ State the novelty or exceptional strengths of your study.
▪ Acknowledge the limitations and any other potential valid criticisms of your study (and if possible, give reasons why they may not be serious problems). ▪ State the extent to which your findings can be generalized to other populations.
▪ Describe why having filled the knowledge gap is important.
▪ Explain the implications of your findings, for example, how they may affect current scientific thought or medical practice.
▪ Describe avenues for further study that your findings suggest.
You should not use the Discussion to repeat the background information and results presented earlier in the paper.
Generally, Discussions do not have subheadings, but the ideas in the Discussion must flow from one to another, leading the reader along. Transitional phrases are thus very important in the Discussion. The relationship between the paragraphs also needs to be apparent.
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