This document provides guidelines for presenting and analyzing data in the Results and Discussion section of a scientific research paper. It recommends tabulating and summarizing data in tables, graphs, and diagrams, and discussing each one to draw out relationships rather than just repeating the data. The analysis should include explanations for findings, literature pertinent to each finding, any issues with methodology, and unexpected results. It advises concluding the chapter by not summarizing findings, but concluding and making recommendations based on specific findings in the last section.

1. GUIDELINES IN WRITING
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PAPER

2. RESULTS and DISCUSSION
• This section answers the question “What did
you find out?” it is about the presentation and
analysis of data gathered during the study.
• Below is a list of suggestions on how to
present and analyze the data gathered.

3. Presentation of Data
• Whenever possible, tabulate the data (i.e.,
measurements and observations).
• Report only relevant data. Raw data need not
be reported in the text; if they have to be
included in the report, they may be placed in
the appendix.
• Summarize the result and analysis through
tables, graphs and diagrams.

4. • Avoid too many small tables of closely related
data which can be put together in one table
for a more comprehensive picture of the
results.
• Avoid tables with data that can be presented
in a few sentences in the text.

5. Analysis of Data
• Discuss each table, graph, or diagram
presented. Do not expect the reader to be
able to draw out all the ideas that it
communicates.
• In discussing a table, do not simply repeat the
data so that the table will not be rendered
useless. Instead, point out relationships,
implications, and other generalizations that
can be derived from the data.

6. • Also include the following in the discussion:
– All possible explanation and application of the
findings.
– Literature cited that is pertinent to each finding.
– Any defect in the methodology that may have
affected the research outcome.
– Other insights that may add meaning to the
findings.

7. • Report all findings, including those that negate
the research hypotheses.
• In reporting results of statistical tests, include
the degrees of freedom and level of
significance.
• In quantitative research, the report of findings
should include the statement as to whether
the null hypotheses are rejected or not based
on the result of statistical tests.

8. • In case a findings indicates a need to revise
the original conceptual framework, discuss
this also in the report.
• It is not necessary to summarize the findings
in chapter on results. It should be done in the
CONCLUSION part of the report.

9. CONCLUSION
• This is the last part of the report. It answers
the question: “What is the meaning of what
you find out in your study?”. It starts with the
brief summary of the study(i.e., from the
problem to the results), followed by the
conclusions and finally, the recommendations.

10. Summary
• The summary of the first three parts is usually
narrative. But the summary of the findings is
presented differently. The findings are listed
consecutively and numbered for easy
reference in the discussion of the conclusion
and recommendations, which are based on
specific findings. The findings are placed
under the subheading SUMMARY OF
FINDINGS.

11. • The summary of the three parts is written in
the past tense while the summary of findings
is written in the present tense.
• The summary does not contain any new
information

12. CONCLUSION
• Conclusions are based on specific findings;
meaning, the finding is related together with
the conclusion.
• Conclusion answers all the research questions.
• Any generalization which is not supported by
sufficient data is not acceptable.
• Conclusions apply only to the population
represented by the sample studied.
• Conclusion are written in the present tense.

13. RECOMMENDATIONS
• Recommendations are based on specific findings.
If a directly relevant findings cannot be cited, the
recommendation is not acceptable.
• Two implication of research findings are:
– Implication for action (i.e., in the light of particular
finding, what should be done) and policies that may
be formulated.
– Implications for further research (i.e., what
improvements can be done on the present study; how
the present study may be expanded etc.)

14. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• This section documents the written sources of
information used in the study. It includes
pertinent resource materials in the paper.
• The most practical way to arrange the
bibliographic entries is alphabetical order, listed
by authors. For a more convenient listing. You
may want to classify your references accordingly
– Books
– Journals
– Periodicals
– Website