Escamilla-Ortiz, Abilene Cirenia¹

Language: English/Spanish [Versi?n en espa?ol]
References: 4
Page: 221-222
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One of the essential things when presenting research work is how the information is presented; this is reflected in the results section. Some people underestimate this section and need to write down everything or repeat data in the discussion; they should compare their results against what is described in the literature.¹

The results should answer each part of the research, go back to the material and methods section, and make sure that the variables and analysis are explained. It should begin by describing the total number of participants, how many still need to complete the study or why they were eliminated, and the characteristics of the participants. It is suggested to place the most significant results first, but remember to include the non-significant results.²

Write in the past tense, use headings for each section or what is wanted to represent, try to use a few words, and be more visual. When reporting statistical tests for analysis, including the appropriate and adequate values for the study.³

Visual aids allow better communication of the results; these can be graphs, tables, charts, images, or illustrations, and they should not repeat what is already in the text.³ Tables or figures capture the reader's attention better and allow more efficient communication of what is to be communicated, the use of abbreviations should be avoided, and if they are used, the meaning should be indicated.² It should be remembered that the interpretation of the data is part of the discussion.

When data or results are reported, they should be logical; the results are text descriptions of what was important in the data. Please do not refer to unpublished results unless they carry significant weight.⁴

How to organize the results section:⁴

• 1. Chronological order.
• 2. From general to specific.
• 3. From most important to least important.
• 4. Group the results by topic, study group, or experiment.

It is important not to duplicate or repeat what is in tables or figures or in the text itself; only if it is wanted to emphasize something can be done. They should be placed at the beginning of the paragraph to highlight the significant results, which is the substantial part, and the key findings can receive more attention.⁴

Do not forget to write down the units of measurement, and the units of the laboratory results, and punctuate the hours, if it is a.m. or p.m. regarding numbers, they should be written when they are less than 10.⁴

If this section is well narrated, the reader should understand the data and its implications before reading the author's interpretation.

REFERENCES

1. Sandercock PML. How to write and publish a Scientific Article. Can Soc Forensic Sci J. 2012; 45: 1-5.

2. Busse C, August E. How to write and publish a research paper for a peer review journal. J Canc Educ. 2021; 36: 909-913.

3. Snyder N, Foltz C, Lendner M, Vaccaro AR. How to write an effective results section. Clin Spine Surg. 2019; 32: 295-296.

4. Bahadoran Z, Mirmiran P, Zadeh-Vakili A, Hosseinpanah F, Ghasemi A. The principles of biomedical scientific writing: results. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2019; 17: e92113.

AFFILIATIONS

¹ Editor, Surgeon General. orcid.org/0000-0001-5635-5845

CORRESPONDENCE

Abilene Cirenia Escamilla-Ortiz. E-mail: escamillaoa@amcg.org.mx