8. DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

 

This section is in many ways the heart of your paper. It is where you tie together your initial research questions, the data you collected and the previous research that informed your thinking. In this section, you should also acknowledge the limitations of your study and, when appropriate, suggest future research avenues. Sentences 445-600 will help you do that.

445. This study used qualitative/quantitative techniques to analyze ____

446. We analyzed the relationship between ____ and ____

447. We conducted all analyses using ____

448. The analysis was based on ____

449. The data were analyzed using [N] different approaches.

450. Content analysis was undertaken [71] to determine ____

451. The data were submitted to content analysis.

452. The data from ____ were weighted [72] to make them ____

 

On the use of active/passive voice:
Sentences 445-447 are in the active voice, while 448-452 are in the passive voice. Different academic disciplines tend to favor one or the other, so be sure to follow the guidelines set by your institution.



453. The results analysis consists of [N] stages.

454. The datasets for ____ span the period from ____ to ____

455. Before we analyze the data, it would be wise to ____

456. Outside variables were excluded from ____

457. Extraneous variables were controlled by ____

458. ____ was considered a dependent/an independent variable.

459. Additional variables were derived from ____

460. Data on several variables were used to ____

461. The data were normalized by ____ to [N].

462. The correlation between ____ was calculated to evaluate ____

463. Table [N] presents ____

464. Table [N] and [N] highlight ____

465. The percentages in the table represent ____

466. Not included in table [N] is/are ____

467. It can be inferred[73] from table [N] that ____

468. A cursory glance at table [N] reveals that ____

469. Figure [N] is a graphic summary of ____

470. The horizontal axis describes ____, while[74] the vertical axis highlights ____

471. The mean/median values of ____ are shown in figure/table [N].

472. Figure [N] shows the mean values for ____

473. Table [N] shows the median values for ____

474. There was a significant difference in mean values across ____

475. There was a slight difference in median values across ____

476. As shown in figure/table [N], a significant difference in mean/median levels was observed.

477. Table [N] shows the mean/median values (ranging from [N] to [N]) of ____

 

Means and standard deviations…

478. were [N] and [N].

479. were determined through ____

480. were obtained from ____

481. were computed using ____

482. were calculated for each ____

483. are presented in table [N].

484. are reported in table [N].

485. for ____ are shown in table [N].

 

486. Results were considered significant if p</=/>[N].

487. There was no statistical difference between ____ and ____

 

Statistical significance was…

488. accepted at the [N] level.

489. set at P = [N].

490. determined by ____

491. assessed by ____

492. reached in all cases.

493. not achieved due to ____

 

494. A positive correlation was obtained between ____ and ____

495. Correlations between ____ and ____ were negative and statistically significant.

496. Correlations between ____ and ____ were positive but statistically insignificant.

497. Significant correlations were obtained between ____ and ____

498. No significant correlations were obtained between ____ and ____

499. _____ was positively correlated with _____

500. _____ correlated negatively with _____

 

Our findings…

501. fall into [N] broad categories: ____

502. can be divided into [N] categories: ____

503. can be compared to results of earlier studies that ____

504. provide strong evidence (that) ____

505. reveal a high rate of ____

 

The risk of bias…

506. was rated as low/high for each ____

507. was low in ____, high in ____ and unclear in ____

508. was evaluated according to ____

509. in ____ was assessed by ____

 

The results yielded…

510. some interesting findings.

511. no signs of ____

512. no proof of ____

513. no significant correlation between ____ and ____

514. no statistically significant relationships between ____ and ____

515. additional evidence of ____

 

The data provide preliminary evidence…

516. and theoretical support for ____

517. that ____ may be related to ____

518. that ____ could be useful in ____

519. for the theory described in section ____

520. to suggest that ____

521. of the extent to which ____

 

The data provide convincing evidence…

522. in favor of ____

523. against ____

524. that ____

525. showing that ____

526. demonstrating that ____

527. that ____ is a key component of ____

528. of a link between ____ and ____

529. of a strong association between ____ and ____

530. against the hypothesis that ____

531. for the claim that ____

 

532. These figures suggest that ____ regardless of [75] ____

533. These findings would suggest that ____

534. ____ show(s) particularly interesting patterns.

535. [N] additional findings support these conclusions.

536. The present data are consistent with ____

537. Our findings are consistent with previous results showing ____

538. Results obtained by ____ are consistent with our findings.

539. As in previous studies, the results of this analysis confirm that ____

540. An interesting side finding was that ____

541. The general picture emerging [76] from the analysis is that ____

542. Overall, these studies provide support for the validity of ____

543. Taken altogether, the data presented here provide evidence that ____

544. Contrary to our expectations, ____

545. It might seem counterintuitive that ____, but ____

546. These findings are less surprising if we consider ____

547. A possible reason for this discrepancy might be that ____

548. A possible interpretation of this finding is that ____

549. A related idea which might explain ____ is ____

550. There is still some doubt as to [77] whether ____

551. The hypothesis that ____ needs further support.

552. A further complication for the present hypothesis is that ____

553. Several findings of this study warrant further discussion, such as ____

554. We would encourage researches to examine ____

555. At present we are not in a position to determine ____

556. In light of ____, few conclusions can be drawn from ____

557. Given ____, our findings should not be over-interpreted.

558. Our findings suggest a need for greater ____

 

Our findings are not generalizable…

559. beyond the study sample.

560. beyond the population studied.

561. beyond the participants interviewed.

562. beyond the subset examined.

563. beyond this study.

564. beyond this case study.

565. beyond this population.

566. to other settings.

567. to a larger population.

568. to the entire ____

569. to ____ as a whole.

570. to every ____

571. to all ____

 

572. Our dataset ____ was limited to ____. Therefore [78], these findings are not generalizable beyond/to ____

 

Future research will have to…

573. clarify (whether) ____

574. confirm (whether) ____

575. determine (whether) ____

576. look into ____

577. assess the extent to which ____

578. shed light on ____

579. address ____ in more detail.

580. ascertain the veracity of ____

581. investigate to what extent ____

582. meet the challenge of ____

 

Future studies will have to…

583. explore ____

584. continue to explore ____

585. focus on ____

586. concentrate on ____

587. look at ways to ____

588. consider how ____

589. evaluate ____ against ____

590. further investigate ____

591. further [79] our understanding of ____

592. investigate the role of ____

593. isolate the effects of ____

594. differentiate between ____ and ____

595. address the issue of ____

596. take ____ into account [80].

597. account for ____

598. examine the circumstances under which ____

599. identify mechanisms through which ____

600. clarify the relationship between ____ and ____