How Results chapter should be set in the dissertation / or thesis?

Analysing the collected data using the appropriate instrument, formulating Tables and Figures and of course interpreting the results are another important area. Results contribute to 30-40%% weight age for your thesis. If the collected data was not analysed properly, you will not able to prove or disapprove your hypothesis. There is software available to analyse qualitative and quantitative data.

In terms of structure always start your results chapter with introduction, stating purpose of dissertation, research methodology used in brief, tool applied to collect the data, duration of survey, number of people targeted, number responded, reason for non-response, and total number taken for analysis, number of missing variables, how you tackled to address missing variables, brief description about missing data, and software used to analyse the data. Do not forget to present variable definition at the end of your PhD thesis report.

Secondly, your first figure or table should always be descriptive and figure about the response rate. In any study response rate is important as it provides an idea about the representative of the population in case of survey analysis.

Descriptive or general characteristics table can be presented for all the variables included in your questionnaire but in a collative format. Finally, your hypothesis analysis as highlighted in your research questions and Literature review.

In some PhD dissertation, both results and discussion are presented together and in others there will be a separate section for discussion. Before taking any decision it’s always better to consult with your university professor or mentor or check the previous dissertation.

The structure of the results chapter can be as follows: This only gives direction

1. Introduction
2. Response rate and Missing data analysis
3. Descriptive Analysis: Tables and Graphs (Figures)
4. Hypothesis Analysis
5. Conclusion