Presenting Findings: Key Tips for Your PhD Thesis
Writing the results section of your PhD thesis is key for the success of your thesis defence. This section should make it easy for examiners to grasp the key outcomes of your research. To achieve this, focus on presenting the findings findings clearly, ensuring logical progression, and effectively using visual aids. Striking the right balance in highlighting the most relevant data and organising the results coherently is essential.
Here's 3 key questions to help you craft a strong results chapter.
1. What are the most relevant findings?
As an examiner, the first thing I consider is the most relevant findings, typically the top 3-5 key results. There is often a tendency for key findings to get lost in lengthy write-ups. No examiner wants to sift through pages of text wondering, "How does this answer the research aims and objectives? What is relevant, and what is the key finding?"
Think aims/objectives: Your results should be closely aligned with the aims and objectives of your research. Ensure every piece of data you present directly contributes to answering your research questions or fulfilling your objectives to keep your results focused and relevant.
Interesting ≠ relevance: It’s tempting to include all your interesting findings, but focus on what's truly relevant. Distinguish between findings that are fascinating and those that are key for addressing your research questions. Only include the latter to maintain focus and clarity. Interesting data that doesn't support your main objectives can distract from your core message.
When in doubt, see appendix: If you have lengthy data that you are on the fence about including, consider placing it in an appendix. This keeps your main results section concise and focused while still making additional information available for interested readers.
2. Are the findings organised clearly and logically?
A well-organised results section guides the reader through your findings in a coherent manner, mirroring the structure of your research questions and ensuring clarity.
Does the ordering of results make sense: Present your findings in a logical sequence that reflects the flow of your research questions or hypotheses. This logical flow helps readers follow your argument and understand how each piece of data contributes to your overall conclusions.
3. Have they used visual aids effectively?
Visual aids such as tables, graphs, and charts can greatly enhance the clarity of your results section. However, they should complement, not duplicate, your written content. Ensure each visual aid adds value by highlighting key data points, trends, or patterns discussed in the text.
Integration with text: Refer to each visual aid in the text, explaining its significance and how it supports your conclusions. Seamlessly integrate visual aids with your narrative, using them to emphasise and clarify key points in your data presentation.
Clear labelling: Each table and figure should have a clear title and labels for all axes and data points. Proper labelling ensures that readers can easily understand what each visual aid represents without confusion.
Clear captions: Captions should describe the purpose of the visual aid and how it supports your written findings, adding clarity and context.
Take home message
The results section allows you to present your research findings clearly to your examiners. By emphasising key data, organising findings logically, and using visual aids effectively, you showcase your ability to communicate complex information clearly. This strengthens your thesis's credibility and demonstrates your understanding of the PhD research outcomes
