Writing a Discussion Section

A discussion section is the section of a research paper or journal article in which authors present their interpretation of the major findings of their research. Discussion sections are one of the four major sections (i.e., introduction, method, results, and discussion) of most types of research papers. The discussion section typically includes the following components: (a) the significance of the study, (b) interpretations of the significant results, (c) implications, (d) limitations, (e) future studies, and (f) conclusion. The discussion section is placed at the end of the paper or article; but depending on the format required by a course professor or journal, the conclusion might be a separate section following the discussion section. For many academicians, the discussion section is a central focus of the paper or article, because in it, the authors answer the questions posed in the introduction. Thus, a well-written and well-organized discussion section is crucial, and often an essential criterion for publication acceptance.

In addition, it is important for authors to consider how their results fit into the bigger picture, that is, how their research relates to other research in the field. To see how their findings fit within this larger scope, researchers can ask questions such as, “Are there any trends in the data I have?” or “Are my findings in line with the data other researchers have previously provided?”

The remainder of this entry describes how to structure a discussion section with information on key components of the section. The importance of objectivity and scholarly tone and language use when writing the discussion section is also discussed.