ABSTRACT
The final section of most dissertations or independent study projects usually consists of a discussion section. This includes a written interpretation of the results you have collected, an analysis of the methods that were used to collect the results, a discussion of previous research, and finally your conclusions. The primary purpose of the discussion is to construct an argument to support the conclusions of the study. The conclusions of a research project, as the term suggests, are traditionally positioned at the end of the piece of writing. The conclusion acts as a summary of the findings of the research and therefore should be founded on a sound base. This base comprises evidence and reasoning. The strength of the evidence is dependent on the research question and design. A good research question and design originate from a thorough understanding of the theoretical basis underlying the research area, which stems from a well-conducted literature review. The clarity of the evidence is reliant upon the correct treatment of the data, through the appropriate statistical methods, and the presentation of the data in the results section. The purpose of the discussion is to objectively interpret the evidence, to construct a line of evidence based upon this interpretation, and then assess the strength of the evidence supporting the reasoning. This process culminates in the drawing of conclusions. The entire research process can be seen as a journey starting from the development of a research question. The next step is the construction of the experimental design and an appropriate methodology. The carrying out of this methodology produces the results, which are then interpreted and conclusions drawn.
