Transcript Technical Writing S03

Providence University
College of Management
Results
Wu-Lin Chen ([email protected])
Department of Computer Science and
Information Management
Results
• The result section of the report presents
the findings of the study in both figures
and written text.
• Figures (graphs, tables, and diagrams)
present the complete findings in numerical
terms.
• The accompanying text helps the reader to
focus on the most important aspects of the
results and to interpret them.
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Text in Results
• The text in the result section consists of
three basic elements on information.
– Element 1: a statement that locates the
figures where the results can be found.
– Element 2: statements that present the most
important findings.
– Element 3: statements that comment on the
results.
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Alternate Short Text
• Elements 1 and 2 (combined): statements that
present the most important results and that
indicate in parentheses the figure where they
can be found.
• Element 3: statements that comment on the
results.
• Example: Caffeine was somewhat more potent
than theophylline in preventing leaf-eating
(Figure 1). In contrast, caffeine has been
reported elsewhere to be ten times weaker than
theophylline as an adenosine antagonist.
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Commenting on Results – Two Patterns
• Two ways to order your comment
statements
– Alternating Pattern: Put a short comment (one
or two sentences) after each significant result
you mention.
– Sequential Pattern: Leave your comments
until all the results have been mentioned.
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Two Patterns For Ordering Comments
Alternating Pattern
R1+C1; R2+C2; R3+C3
Sequential Pattern
R1+R2+R3+C
R = Results (Element 2); C = Comments (Element 3)
Note: The alternating pattern is best if you have many individual results with specific
comments about each result. The sequential pattern is used when there are several
individual results to which one general comment applied.
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Functions of Comments
• The comments (Element 3) in results
sections may serve a variety of different
functions. Comments may:
– generalize from the results
– explain possible reasons for the results
– compare the results with results from
other studies
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Choose Verb Tense for Results
• In Element 1, use the present tense to
locate your data in a figure.
– EX: Results of the t-tests are presented in
Table 1.
– EX: Table 4 summarizes the test results on
precontaminated insulators.
• Note: locational statements can be written
in either the active or passive voice.
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Choose Verb Tense for Results
• When you report your findings (Element 2),
use the past tense.
– EX: As a group, divorced mothers spent over
twice as much time in employment as married
mothers (Figure 2).
– EX: The coefficient of correlation was found to
be significant at .001 level.
• Note: In some field such as engineering
and economics, authors may present their
findings in the present tense.
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Choose Verb Tense for Results
• When commenting on the findings
(Element 3), it is conventional to use the
present tense or modal auxiliaries.
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Comments on The Results
• When the comment compares your results
with the results of other studies, use the
present tense.
– EX: This is consistent with earlier findings
suggesting that personal characteristics are
not related to attrition and teaching.
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Comments on The Results
• When the comment gives a possible
explanation for the results, use a modal
auxiliary.
– EX: These results can (may) be explained by
considering the voltage distribution on 230 kV
insulators during freezing conditions.
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Comments on The Results
• When the comment generalizes from the
results, use may.
– EX: Hyperactive children may be generally
responsive to amphetamines.
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Comments on The Results
• You may also use tentative verbs in the
present tense instead of modal auxiliaries
to generalize from results.
– EX: It appears (seems or is likely) that
hyperactive children are generally responsive
to amphetamines.
– EX: These results suggest that children who
display learning problems are depending on
only one cerebral hemisphere.
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Presenting Different Types of Findings:
Comparisons Among Groups
• If you studies involve a comparison among groups (often
one or more experimental groups with a control group),
Element 2 statements are often written using
comparative or superlative expressions.
Group 1
Comparison
Group 2
The professional athletes
had faster eye movements
than our other subjects.
Quartz I reactors
had a higher mass flow
than Quartz II.
Superlative
Group 1
The highest incidence of Otitis Media
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was found among Australian Indians.
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Presenting Different Types of Findings:
Fluctuation of A Variable Over Time
• To report the findings show the tendency of a variable to
fluctuate over time, use expressions of variation or
special verbs of variation in your Element 2 statements.
Variable
Prices
The percentage of
female students
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Verb
Phrase of variation
showed
tended
Time period
a tendency to increase over three-year period.
to decline
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in the second half of the
decade.
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Presenting Different Types of Findings:
Fluctuation of A Variable Over Time
Variable
The concentration of
sulfur dioxide
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Verb of variation
rose
fell
increased
decreased
dropped
remained constant
declined
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Time period
over the period studied.
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Presenting Different Types of Findings:
Relationship Between Two or More Variables
• When you report the relationship of one variable with
another, or relationships among variables, it is common
to use verbs of correlation or association in Element 2.
Variable X
Choice of location
Dry weight of
top growth
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Verb of correlation / association
correlated with
negatively correlated with
associated with
was
was not
highly
significantly
closely
related to
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Variable Y
marital status.
total nitrogen.
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