Writing an Eff effctive Discussion

The discussion may be the most challenging part of the paper to write, since we have to make sense of results which are seldom exactly as anticipated. Many papers fall apart in the discussion as writers struggle to fi nd clarity in their results. It is at this point that the wisdom of a dichotomous (yes or no) hypothesis becomes obvious.

In order to avoid diffi culty, the discussion should focus on the results of the current study and not extrapolate too broadly. Individual studies tend to make incremental advances in knowledge, and it is understood that questions will remain to be answered by future studies. On the other hand, an effort must be made to relate the fi ndings of the current work to established knowledge and current theories. This is where the average reader looks for value — in the synthesis of new information to create a broader understanding of a particular area of science.