How to Present the Results Chapter in a PhD Thesis (2026)
Meet the Expert
Shruti Sharma
Academic Writing Coach & Research Communication Specialist
- Guided 300+ PhD scholars through results, findings, and discussion chapter writing
- Expert in presenting quantitative data (regression, ANOVA, SEM) and qualitative findings (thematic analysis, grounded theory)
- Helped students avoid the most common examiner criticisms in results chapters
The results chapter (or findings chapter) presents what you found — your data, patterns, and outcomes — without interpretation. Its purpose is to answer your research questions with evidence. The cardinal rule: describe, do not interpret. Interpretation belongs in the discussion chapter.
Many PhD students find the results chapter the most technically demanding to write — not because the content is unclear, but because maintaining the discipline of pure description without slipping into interpretation is surprisingly difficult. This guide explains how to structure, write, and present a results chapter that will satisfy your examiners, whether you used quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.
Results Chapter: Key Principles
Results Chapter — Core Facts
Describe findings without interpretation
12,000–16,000 words in an 80,000-word PhD
Or by theme (qualitative)
All labelled and referenced in text
Save analysis for the discussion chapter
Top examiner criticism
Results Chapter Structure
Use this proven structure for a clear, examiner-ready results chapter:
| Section | Content | Approx. Length |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter Introduction | Restate research questions; explain how the chapter is organised; briefly describe the data | 300–500 words |
| Findings for RQ1 | All data relevant to Research Question 1, with tables/figures/quotes | 2,000–4,000 words |
| Findings for RQ2 | All data relevant to Research Question 2, with tables/figures/quotes | 2,000–4,000 words |
| Findings for RQ3 | All data relevant to Research Question 3, with tables/figures/quotes | 2,000–4,000 words |
| Chapter Summary | Brief summary of key findings without interpretation — what was found overall | 400–600 words |
How to Structure Results for Quantitative Studies
Quantitative results chapters typically follow this sequence for each finding:
- State which research question or hypothesis this section addresses
- Present descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency distributions)
- State the statistical test used and its assumptions
- Present the test result (F-value, t-value, p-value, effect size)
- State whether the hypothesis is supported or rejected
- Present the relevant table or figure
| Statistical Analysis Type | What to Report | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptive statistics | Mean, SD, min, max, frequency, percentage | "Participant age ranged from 22 to 67 years (M = 38.4, SD = 9.2)" |
| t-test | t-value, degrees of freedom, p-value, Cohen's d | "t(148) = 3.42, p = .001, d = 0.56" |
| ANOVA | F-value, degrees of freedom, p-value, eta-squared | "F(2, 147) = 8.94, p < .001, η² = .11" |
| Regression | R², F-statistic, beta coefficients, p-values | "The model explained 34% of the variance (R² = .34, F(3, 146) = 25.1, p < .001)" |
| Correlation | Pearson's r or Spearman's ρ, p-value, sample size | "r(150) = .52, p < .001" |
How to Structure Results for Qualitative Studies
Qualitative findings chapters (often called 'findings' rather than 'results') are typically organised by theme, not by research question. Each theme is supported by direct quotes from participants. The recommended structure for each theme:
- State the theme name and provide a brief overview
- Present 2–3 direct quotes that exemplify the theme
- Note how many participants expressed this theme (e.g., "12 of 18 participants...")
- Identify sub-themes if applicable
- Close the section with a descriptive summary of what the data shows
Tip: Use Participant Labels, Not Real Names
When presenting qualitative quotes, always use anonymised participant labels (P1, P2, or Participant A, Participant B) rather than real names. Include relevant demographic information in brackets if appropriate — for example: "(P7, female, senior manager, 12 years' experience)". This protects confidentiality while helping the reader understand who is speaking.
Academic Language for the Results Chapter
| Purpose | Recommended Phrases |
|---|---|
| Introduce a finding | "The data revealed that...", "The analysis identified...", "The results indicate..." |
| Refer to a table or figure | "As shown in Table 3...", "Figure 4 illustrates...", "As presented in Table 2 below..." |
| Report statistical significance | "A statistically significant difference was found...", "The results were significant at p < .05" |
| Describe frequency | "The majority of participants (n=15, 83%)...", "Over half of respondents..." |
| Note absence of effect | "No significant relationship was found...", "The data did not support..." |
| Summarise theme | "This theme suggests...", "Across this theme, participants consistently described..." |
Struggling to write or structure your results chapter? Thesis Ace Writers' PhD-qualified coaches offer chapter-specific writing support, statistical presentation guidance, and thematic analysis write-up help.
Common Mistakes in Results Chapters
| Mistake | Why It Is a Problem | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreting results in the chapter | Results and discussion must be kept separate | Move all 'because', 'therefore', and 'this shows' sentences to the discussion |
| Tables not referenced in text | Examiners expect every table to be signposted | Add "(see Table X)" or "As shown in Table X" before each table |
| Missing effect sizes | p-values alone are insufficient for quantitative chapters | Report Cohen's d, eta-squared, or R² alongside significance values |
| Too many minor findings | Obscures the main story of the data | Move non-essential results to appendices; focus on findings that answer your RQs |
| Unbalanced theme coverage | Qualitative chapters must give evidence for every theme | Include at least 2–3 supporting quotes per theme |
Related Reading from Thesis Ace Writers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
The results chapter (also called the findings chapter) presents your data objectively — what you found — without interpretation. The discussion chapter interprets those findings — what they mean — by comparing them to existing literature and explaining their implications. Keeping these two chapters clearly separate is a fundamental requirement of academic writing. Mixing interpretation into the results chapter is one of the most common examiner criticisms.
The results chapter typically comprises 15–20% of the total thesis word count. For an 80,000-word PhD thesis, this means approximately 12,000–16,000 words. For a 15,000-word Master's dissertation, the results chapter is typically 2,000–3,000 words. These are guidelines — the appropriate length depends on the complexity and volume of your data.
The standard structure for a results chapter is: (1) Chapter introduction (restate research questions; briefly explain how the chapter is organised), (2) Present findings organised by research question or theme, (3) Use tables, figures, and quotes to support each finding, (4) Brief chapter summary (do not interpret — simply summarise what was found). For qualitative studies, organise by themes. For quantitative studies, organise by research question or hypothesis.
Yes — tables, figures, charts, and (for qualitative studies) direct quotes from participants are essential components of the results chapter. Every table and figure must be labelled, captioned, and referred to in the body text before it appears. Never include a table or figure that is not discussed in your text. For very large datasets, include summary tables in the main chapter and move raw data to appendices.
Some dissertations — particularly qualitative or mixed-methods studies — combine the results and discussion into a single 'Findings and Discussion' chapter. This is acceptable in many institutions, especially when findings are complex and the interpretation is tightly linked to the data. Check your institution's guidelines and discuss this structure with your supervisor before deciding.