Result

knitr::include_graphics("importance.png")

Figures

• Visual impact

• Show trends and patterns

• Tell a quick story

• Tell the whole story

• Highlight a particular result

Tables

• Give precise values

• Display many values/variables

Organization of Results

Chronological: Order with subheadings that parallel the methods

Grouping by topic or experiment

General to specific

Most to least important

Text

Break into subsections, with headings (if needed)

The text should not merely repeat or describe what is in the visual, but should highlight important points.

The text in the results make explicit the message(s) suggested by the data in the visuals.

Complement the information that is already in tables and figures

• Give precise values that are not available in the figure

• Report the percent change or percentage difference if absolute values are given in the table

Avoid simply repeating the numbers that are already available in tables and figures

• Repeat / highlight only the most important numbers

Summarize what the data show:

• Point out simple relationships

• Describe big picture trends

• Cite figures or tables that present supporting data

  Measurements of root length density (Figure 3) revealed that the majority of roots of both cultivars were found in the upper substrate layers.

  The response of lucerne root growth to manganese rate and depth treatments was similar to that of shoots (Figure 2).

  Figure 17 shows the average number of visits per bird.

Don’t forget to talk about negative and control results

Reserve information about what you did for the methods section

• In particular, do not discuss the rationale for statistical analyses within the Results section

Reserve comments on the meaning of your results for the discussion section

Verb Tense

Past tense (active or passive)

• When sentence focuses on the completed study (What was done and found)

  We found that…

  Women were more likely to…

  Men smoked more cigarettes than…

  The average reaction time was…

Present tense

• To describe an “always true” situation

• When the sentence focuses on the document, which will always be there

  The effect of urea concentration on the fed leaf and shoot growth in subterranean clover is summarised in Table 1.

  Figure 1 shows…

  The data suggest…

  The findings confirm…

  We believe that this shows…

Modal verbs (may, could)

• May be used in comments

Data ≠ Results

Data: facts & numbers (tables and figures)

In the 20 control subjects, the mean resting blood pressure was 85 ± 5 (SD) mmHg. In comparison, in the 30 tennis players, the mean resting blood pressure was 94 ± 3 mmHg.

Results: text that summarizes or explains what the data show (main text)

• What do these data say?

• What do these data mean in their context?

The mean resting blood pressure was higher in the 30 tennis players than in the 30 control subjects [94 ± 3 (SD) vs. 85 ± 5 mmHg, P < 0.02].

The mean resting blood pressure was 10 % higher in the 30 tennis players than in the 20 control subjects [94 ± 3 (SD) vs. 85 ± 5 mmHg, P < 0.02].