Lab 19

Writing Good Discussions

Dr. Gordon Wright
g.wright@gold.ac.uk

March 18, 2025

Lab Activities: Document Structure and Editing

  • Pre-submission checklist
  • Editing strategies
  • Structuring the document
  • Critical review and refinement
  • Discussion sections (Chapter 16)
  • Creating effective figures and tables (Chapter 17)

Discussion Section Structure

  1. Restate each hypothesis and interpret results
  2. Connect to literature: Matches and divergences
  3. Acknowledge limitations
  4. Suggest future directions
  5. Provide a concise conclusion
  6. Include comprehensive references

Restating and Interpreting Hypotheses

Key Points:

  • Briefly remind readers of each hypothesis
  • Clearly state whether data supports or refutes it
  • Cite supporting literature

Tip

Example: “As predicted, participants in the divided attention group showed a significant decline in memory performance (Hypothesis 1). This aligns with findings from Smith and Jones (2020), who reported similar cognitive impairments under conditions of complex attentional requirement.”

Connecting to Existing Literature

Key Points:

  • Highlight agreements with previous research
  • Explain divergences and unexpected results
  • Discuss theoretical implications

Tip

Example: “While the overall trend aligns with the stress-impairment hypothesis, the observed gender differences diverge from prior research. This could be due to the inclusion of a more diverse sample, as suggested by prior critiques (e.g., Doe, 2021).”

Acknowledging Limitations

Key Points:

  • Address methodological issues
  • Try to find better points than sample size or gender split
  • Discuss potential biases or effect size implications
  • Design issues are more important than sample size
  • Explain impact on interpretation

Tip

Example: “One limitation of the study was the relatively small sample size, which may have reduced the statistical power of the analyses. Future research should aim to replicate these findings with a larger and more diverse cohort.”

Suggesting Future Directions

Key Points:

  • Build on your findings
  • Introduce novel questions inspired by results
  • Suggest practical applications

Tip

Example: “Future research could explore the role of coping mechanisms in mitigating stress-induced cognitive decline. Additionally, longitudinal studies are needed to examine the long-term impact of stress on cognitive functions across different age groups.”

Writing a Strong Conclusion

Key Points:

  • Summarize key takeaways
  • Revisit the original research question
  • Emphasize broader impact

Tip

Example: “In conclusion, this study highlights the detrimental effects of stress on working memory, underscoring the importance of interventions to reduce stress in high-pressure environments. These findings contribute to a growing understanding of cognitive resilience.”

Creating Effective Figures

Key Requirements:

  • Number figures sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
  • Include a clear title at the top
  • Ensure all elements are readable
  • Place key/legend within the graph
  • Add explanatory notes (including p-values)

Figure Design Best Practices

  • Use colors sparingly and consistently
  • Consider accessibility (patterns can be better than subtle colors)
  • Use a modest color palette
  • Ensure figures are readable when converted to PDF
  • Follow APA style guidelines: APA Figure Examples

Pre-submission Checklist

Document Structure:

  • Title page complete with required information
  • Abstract within word limit
  • All required sections present
  • References properly formatted
  • Appendices included if necessary

Pre-submission Checklist: Content

Content Quality:

  • Research question/hypothesis clearly stated
  • Methods described with sufficient detail
  • Results presented accurately with appropriate visuals
  • Discussion interprets findings and acknowledges limitations
  • Conclusion summarizes key findings and implications

Pre-submission Checklist: Formatting

Formatting:

  • Correct font and size
  • Proper margins and spacing
  • Anonymous!
  • Headings formatted consistently
  • Figures and tables properly labeled
  • In-text citations formatted correctly

Editing Strategies: Global

Global Editing (Content & Structure):

  • Read for overall argument coherence
  • Check logical flow between sections
  • Ensure each paragraph has a clear purpose
  • Verify all claims are supported by evidence
  • Confirm all research questions are addressed

Editing Strategies: Local

Local Editing (Language & Style):

  • Eliminate wordiness and redundancy
  • Vary sentence structure
  • Check for consistent tense use
  • Ensure subject-verb agreement
  • Replace vague terms with precise language

Editing Approach

  1. First Pass: Content and structure (big picture)
  2. Second Pass: Paragraph-level organization
  3. Third Pass: Sentence clarity and flow
  4. Fourth Pass: Grammar, spelling, punctuation
  5. Final Pass: Format, citations, references

Critical Review Strategies

  • Read your work aloud
  • Use text-to-speech software
  • Take a break before final review
  • Have peers review your work
  • Check against assessment criteria
  • Use the “reverse outline” technique

Reverse Outline Technique

  1. Read your completed draft
  2. For each paragraph, write 1-2 sentences describing what it does
  3. Check whether paragraphs:
    • Serve a clear purpose
    • Follow a logical sequence
    • Contain relevant information
  4. Reorganize as needed

Nobody ever bothers to do this!

Peer review:

  1. Swap seats and look at something your neighbour has written (do not email it!)
  2. Review it using the checklist provided
  3. Identify at least:
    • Two strengths
    • Two areas for improvement
    • One suggestion for clearer structure or communication

Q&A and Discussion

  • What aspects of document structure do you find most challenging?
  • What editing strategies have worked well for you?
  • How do you approach creating effective figures?
  • What questions do you have about the discussion section?

Research Methods Lab 19