Discussing research results
• Our findings highlight …
• The results strongly imply that …
• It is interesting that …
• In my view, the most compelling explanation for
the present set of findings is that …
• This idea is further supported by the finding
that …
• Two other results from this study merit comment.
First … Second …
• Finally, we obtained evidence that …
• One interpretation of these findings is that …
• This finding may be explained by the idea that …
• Taken together, our findings indicate …
Study limitations
• There are at least three potential limitations
concerning the results of this study. A first limitation
concerns … A second potential limitation is that …
• One limitation of this study is that … It is possible
that ... Although the present research cannot rule
out these explanations, it seems useful to point out
issues that may conflict with these results.
• Although the present results clearly support …, it is
appropriate to recognize several potential
limitations.
• Besides our own interpretation of the data,
an additional explanation warrants comment. For
e
xample, researchers have suggested … (citation).
• Certain limitations of this study could be addressed
in future research. For example …
• The present study represents a first attempt to
address these issues. We feel that further research
examining … may shed light on ...
Study implications
• Despite these limitations, these results suggest
several theoretical and practical implications.
• These data have some potential intervention
implications. For example …
Directions for future research
• Although these studies support … , their most
important contribution may be that they raise a
variety of intriguing questions for future study.
• In terms of future research, it would be useful to
extend the current findings by examining …
• If, as the present study suggests, … then there is a
need for research that explores …
• Much work remains to be done before a full
understanding of the extent of … is established.
• In addition to those already mentioned, I suggest
several avenues of research that may be helpful.
Closing statement or paragraph
• Despite these limitations, this research can be
seen as a rst step towards integrating two lines
of research, [x and y], that, to our knowledge, have
not been directly linked.
• Despite these limitations, the present study has
enhanced our understanding of the relationship
between [x and y]. We hope that the current
research will stimulate further investigation of this
important area.
• The present research, therefore, contributes to a
growing body of evidence suggesting that …
• In summary, our research replicates (citation) …
The ndings contribute to a growing body of
evidence …
• Although the generality of the current results must
be established by future research, the present
study has provided clear support for … Not only
was … Furthermore …
More information on content to include in the Discussion section of
quantitative and qualitative research papers can be found in Sections
3.8 and 3.16 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association
(7th ed.).
SOURCE: American Psychological Association. (2020).
Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
CREDIT: TRACI GIULIANO, SOUTHWESTERN
UNIVERSITY