Video: Six Steps to Write an Effective Discussion Section

Want to write the perfect discussion section in your research paper? In this video, Dr. Daniel Wasser provides a succinct 6-step guide for you!  

We break down the most important steps to help you craft a clear, impactful, and well-structured discussion that shows why your research matters. The discussion is not just about repeating results—it’s about explaining them.  

Step 1: Provide a summary of the central topic of your research. You can even restate the research problem and study objective briefly to link the Discussion back to the Introduction section.  

Step 2: Interpret your results in an unbiased way. Remember, your research paper may be rejected if the results are interpreted incorrectly! So this is a crucial step. 

Step 3: Compare your work with past studies. Explain what research gaps in existing studies are addressed by your study to highlight your contributions. 

Step 4: Discuss the implications of your study and underscore what makes your research unique. The readers should clearly understand how your study contributes to existing research and spurs future studies. 

Step 5: Talk about limitations honestly—without weakening your study! Don’t think of this as a negative for your paper. In fact, specifying the limitations shows that you have enough awareness of what your study could not cover and how you see a future for the research topic.  

Step 6: Suggest future research directions and provide a clear take-home message for your readers. Why is this important? Well, it’s the part that sticks with your readers, reviewers, or conference audience. So, writing a strong take-home message can wrap up your paper well! 

Whether you’re working in medicine, physics, environmental science, or any other field, these steps will help you connect your data with real-world impact. From understanding your contribution to science to being open about study limitations (like small sample sizes or budget constraints), learn to write a Discussion section that elevates your manuscript! 

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