ABSTRACT

The interpretation of research results can be divided into three broad steps. First, one must describe the results of the research. This step includes determining the nature of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables (such as linear or curvilinear), comparing the results of the statistical analyses to the study’s statistical hypotheses, and evaluating the size and importance of the effect of the independent variable. The second step is drawing conclusions from the results of the data analysis. In doing so, the researcher must consider the status of much behavior science knowledge as socially constructed, avoid bias when interpreting data, and make valid inferences by carefully considering the appropriate use of measurement and statistics, grounding all conclusions in data, making causal inferences only when justified by the data, and avoiding over-generalizations. Finally, researchers must integrate their results into the “big picture” of theory, application, and research.