Graziano & Raulin
Research Methods (9th edition)
Discussion Section
You interpret and evaluate the results in the discussion section.
It is helpful to begin the discussion section by briefly summarizing the results in non-technical language. Then the reader should be told what you believe the results mean. The interpretation of the results should follow logically from the actual data obtained in the study.
It is useful in the discussion section to focus on the future directions that research might take. If there are weaknesses in the current study, you should acknowledge them and describe ways that they may be overcome in future studies. If the study suggests new hypotheses, you should suggest ways in which the hypotheses might be tested. The goal of any research project is to find answers to questions, but the outcome of most good research projects is to suggest new and important questions that still need to be answered. Suggesting directions for future research is a natural part of any well-designed, well-executed research project.