conclusions
After presenting the results, the authors provide their conclusions and potential implications of the study in the Discussion section. This section should start with a summary of the most important results, and then get into a discussion of how the results address the research questions.
As you read the Discussion section of a report of an empirical study, ask yourself:
- “What conclusions do the researchers draw from their results?”
- “ Are the conclusions important? Why or why not?”
Thinking about these questions will help you evaluate the overall "worth" of the research in terms of theory, applications, and/or relevance for understanding psychology.
Keep in mind that some researchers may try to cast their results in a positive light. A critical reader (like you should be!) generates his or her own conclusions prior to reading the discussion section.
