Most physical geography dissertations will include separate chapters for results and discussion. If divided into two chapters: Geography Dissertation, NUI, Ireland
| University | National University of Ireland (NUI) |
| Subject | Geography |
Most physical geography dissertations will include separate chapters for results and discussion. If divided into two chapters, the results chapter should present the data that have been generated during the course of your research, while the discussion chapter should discuss the findings in relation to your aims, objectives, and pertinent literature. For most human geography dissertations, the results and discussion are amalgamated into one chapter where a critical analysis of the evidence is used to address your aims and objectives in relation to pertinent literature.
Regardless of how you structure your results and discussion, aim for a discussion that is supported by your evidence to avoid over-interpretation. Keep in mind that the purpose of your discussion is to explain the meaning of your results to the reader. You should clearly state your major findings and carefully link them to your conceptual, theoretical, and methodological framework. Any limitations in the analysis should also be discussed. This will not weaken your dissertation; rather the research will be strengthened if students are able to demonstrate that they are aware of any potential limitations in the original research design.