PhD Students / Researchers - How to write the discussion section of your paper?
Discussion section is the trickiest section to write but the most interesting section to read.
Here are 6 questions that you can answer in your discussion section.
𝟏�. 𝐖�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐢�𝐬� 𝐝�𝐢�𝐟�𝐟�𝐞�𝐫�𝐞�𝐧�𝐭� 𝐢�𝐧� 𝐲�𝐨�𝐮�𝐫� 𝐟�𝐢�𝐧�𝐝�𝐢�𝐧�𝐠�𝐬� 𝐜�𝐨�𝐦�𝐩�𝐚�𝐫�𝐞�𝐝� 𝐭�𝐨� 𝐩�𝐫�𝐞�𝐯�𝐢�𝐨�𝐮�𝐬�
𝐫�𝐞�𝐬�𝐞�𝐚�𝐫�𝐜�𝐡�?
Highlight any distinctive aspects of your results when compared to previous studies. Identify differences,
contradictions, or novel findings. This helps you build upon existing knowledge and position the novelty
of your findings.
𝟐�. 𝐖�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐢�𝐬� 𝐬�𝐢�𝐦�𝐢�𝐥�𝐚�𝐫� 𝐢�𝐧� 𝐲�𝐨�𝐮�𝐫� 𝐟�𝐢�𝐧�𝐝�𝐢�𝐧�𝐠�𝐬� 𝐜�𝐨�𝐦�𝐩�𝐚�𝐫�𝐞�𝐝� 𝐭�𝐨� 𝐩�𝐫�𝐞�𝐯�𝐢�𝐨�𝐮�𝐬�
𝐫�𝐞�𝐬�𝐞�𝐚�𝐫�𝐜�𝐡�?
Discuss any similarities or agreements between your results and those reported in the literature. By
establishing common ground, you strengthen the credibility and reliability of you research while
showcasing the robustness of scientific inquiry.
𝟑�. 𝐇�𝐨�𝐰� 𝐝�𝐨� 𝐝�𝐢�𝐟�𝐟�𝐞�𝐫�𝐞�𝐧�𝐭� 𝐬�𝐞�𝐜�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧�𝐬� 𝐨�𝐟� 𝐲�𝐨�𝐮�𝐫� 𝐫�𝐞�𝐬�𝐮�𝐥�𝐭�𝐬� 𝐬�𝐞�𝐜�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧� 𝐜�𝐨�𝐫�𝐫�𝐞�𝐥�𝐚�𝐭�𝐞�,
𝐚�𝐧�𝐝� 𝐰�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐜�𝐚�𝐧� 𝐲�𝐨�𝐮� 𝐥�𝐞�𝐚�𝐫�𝐧� 𝐟�𝐫�𝐨�𝐦� 𝐢�𝐭�?
Explore the relationships and correlations among different sections or variables in your findings. Uncover
patterns, trends, or unexpected connections. Extract valuable insights and lessons that have not been
reported in the results section.
𝟒�. 𝐖�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐚�𝐫�𝐞� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞� 𝐢�𝐦�𝐩�𝐥�𝐢�𝐜�𝐚�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧�𝐬� 𝐨�𝐟� 𝐲�𝐨�𝐮�𝐫� 𝐟�𝐢�𝐧�𝐝�𝐢�𝐧�𝐠�𝐬� 𝐟�𝐨�𝐫� 𝐩�𝐫�𝐚�𝐜�𝐭�𝐢�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧�𝐞�𝐫�𝐬�?
Who is the user of your research? How can that user benefit from your findings? Analyze how your
findings can be applied in practical settings. Identify the implications and potential benefits for
professionals, organizations, or industries. Help bridge the gap between research and practice.
𝟓�. 𝐖�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐚�𝐫�𝐞� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞� 𝐢�𝐦�𝐩�𝐥�𝐢�𝐜�𝐚�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧�𝐬� 𝐨�𝐟� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞� 𝐟�𝐢�𝐧�𝐝�𝐢�𝐧�𝐠�𝐬� 𝐟�𝐨�𝐫� 𝐫�𝐞�𝐬�𝐞�𝐚�𝐫�𝐜�𝐡�𝐞�𝐫�𝐬�?
How can your findings help other researchers? Discuss how your findings contribute to the broader
research landscape. Address the theoretical, methodological, or empirical implications. Highlight the
potential avenues for future research.
𝟔�. 𝐖�𝐡�𝐚�𝐭� 𝐚�𝐫�𝐞� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞� 𝐥�𝐢�𝐦�𝐢�𝐭�𝐚�𝐭�𝐢�𝐨�𝐧�𝐬� 𝐚�𝐧�𝐝�/𝐨�𝐫� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐫�𝐞�𝐚�𝐭�𝐬� 𝐭�𝐨� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞� 𝐯�𝐚�𝐥�𝐢�𝐝�𝐢�𝐭�𝐲� 𝐨�𝐟� 𝐭�𝐡�𝐞�
𝐟�𝐢�𝐧�𝐝�𝐢�𝐧�𝐠�𝐬�?
Acknowledge and discuss the limitations inherent in your study. Identify potential biases, constraints, or
other factors that may have influenced the results. Better also highlight what you did or couldn't to
overcome those limitations.
Any other point to be included in the discussion section?