This document provides commentary and suggestions for improving various sections of a research paper, including the methodology, results, discussion, and overall flow. Key points addressed include properly placing the research questions, avoiding simply restating results in the discussion, using statistics like ANOVA and chi-square to test relationships between variables, including tables and figures, avoiding over-generalization, and ensuring the discussion section synthesizes interpretations and explains the meaning and implications of the results.

1. Methodology, Results, Discussion
General Comments
AIDEN YEH
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages

2. Methodology: Missing Research
Questions

3. Misplaced Research Questions
X Placed under Instrumentation
section

4. Participants: Giving a run-down of
results

5. Instrumentation

6. Measurements

7. Reporting Results

8. Oh, Statistics!

9. What’s the Cronbach again for?

10. Correlations and Chi-Square
Chi-square with p<0.05 indicates a significant relationship between
variables

11. p<0.05 indicates a significant
relationship

12. No relationship when p>0.05

13. Deleting an item in a category

14. Reporting ANOVA
• Example: A factorial ANOVA found a significant difference in
income based on both race and gender, F(5, 27157) =
573.72, p < .001. Specifically, males were found to have
significantly higher incomes than females, F(1, 27157) =
383.95, p < .001. Also, income was found to vary
significantly based on race, F(2, 27157) = 117.93, p < .001.
Finally, a significant interaction between race and gender
was found, F(2, 27157) = 55.09, p < .001.
•
• in other words, you need to identify which one is the
independent variable and what are the two dependent
variables

15. Support general claims

16. The Value of inferential statistics
• You have a lot of interesting variables where
you can do a crosstab analysis. Failure to do so
limits the data to descriptive analysis and you
won’t be able to justify any relationships
whatsoever.

17. Tables or Figures

18. Discussion: Rephrase, don’t simply
repeat sentences

19. Over-generalization of results

20. Word Choice: Avoid Sensationalism

21. Discussion: Too short

22. Discussion: Say more

23. Discussion: Explain

24. Synthesize interpretations

25. Revisions, again!
Image source: http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/csg_writing-
the-revision-process-tone.jpg