Dissertation Results Chapter Help: How to Present Your Findings UK Guide
Last updated: November 2026 · Reviewed by the HND Assignment Help tutoring team
Quick answer
The results chapter (often called “Findings”) of a UK undergraduate or master’s dissertation reports what your data showed, without interpreting it. You present descriptive results first, then the analysis that answers each research question or hypothesis, using numbered tables and figures that you introduce and summarise in text. Most marks come from accurate reporting, a logical order that mirrors your research questions, and clean presentation that follows your department’s style.
This guide is for students on UK bachelor’s and master’s programmes (including top-up degrees after a Pearson BTEC HND) who have collected data and now need to write it up. It covers quantitative and qualitative results, shows a reporting template, and explains where students most often lose marks. It pairs with our guide to the discussion chapter, which is where interpretation belongs.
Dissertation results chapter at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | The chapter that reports your findings objectively, in the order of your research questions or objectives |
| Typical length | Roughly 15–25% of the total word count (check your handbook; some departments combine results and discussion) |
| Deliverables | Text plus numbered tables and figures, each introduced, labelled and referred to in the narrative |
| Where the marks sit | Usually within “analysis” or “presentation of findings” criteria in the dissertation marking scheme |
| Referencing | Few citations needed here; follow your department’s style (often Harvard or APA 7) for any you include |
| Key rule | Report first, interpret later: save explanation and links to literature for the discussion chapter |
Section-by-section approach
1. Open with a short orientation paragraph
Start with three or four sentences that remind the reader of your research questions and tell them how the chapter is organised. Do not repeat your full methodology; one line saying which analysis you ran (for example, “descriptive statistics, then independent-samples t-tests in SPSS”) is enough.
2. Describe your sample and data
Report who or what you collected data from: response rate, number of usable cases, how missing data were handled and the key characteristics of the sample. A single demographic table usually works better than several paragraphs.
| Characteristic | Category | n | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Front-line staff | — | — |
| Supervisors | — | — | |
| Length of service | Under 2 years | — | — |
| 2 years or more | — | — |
Template only: fill in your own data.
3. Report results question by question
Give each research question or hypothesis its own subheading. Under each, follow the same four-step pattern so the marker always knows where to look:
| Step | What to write | Example phrasing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Signpost | Which question or hypothesis this section addresses | “This section addresses RQ2: …” |
| 2. Show | The table or figure, numbered and titled | “Table 4.3 shows …” |
| 3. State | The key result in words, with the statistic or theme | “Mean scores were higher for group A than group B.” |
| 4. Summarise | One sentence on what the result means for the question, without explaining why | “RQ2 is therefore partly supported.” |
Worked method example (not an answer)
Imagine an invented survey of 120 retail employees comparing job satisfaction (scored 1–5) between full-time and part-time staff. A results write-up would report the group sizes (say 70 and 50), the means and standard deviations (say 3.8, SD 0.6 and 3.4, SD 0.7), the test used (an independent-samples t-test), the test statistic, degrees of freedom and p-value, and an effect size. The sentence would read along the lines of “Full-time staff reported higher satisfaction than part-time staff”, followed by the statistics in brackets. Note what is missing: no “because”, no comparison with published studies. Those belong in the discussion. These numbers are invented to show the pattern only.
4. Qualitative results: themes, not transcripts
If you used interviews or focus groups, organise this chapter by theme (from your thematic analysis), not by participant. For each theme give a one-line definition, describe how it showed up across the data, and support it with two or three short, anonymised quotations labelled with participant codes such as P4. Keep quotations short and balanced; one long quote per theme is usually enough.
| Theme | Definition (one line) | Supporting evidence | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1 | — | Short quote + paraphrase | P2, P5, P7 |
| Theme 2 | — | Short quote + paraphrase | P1, P3 |
5. Close with a summary table
End with a short summary linking each research question to its headline result. This gives the marker a quick overview and sets up your discussion chapter neatly.
Formatting rules that save marks
- Number tables and figures by chapter (Table 4.1, Figure 4.2); tables are titled above, figures are captioned below in most UK styles.
- Every table or figure must be mentioned in the text before it appears.
- Round consistently (usually two decimal places) and report p-values in the format your style guide asks for.
- Move large outputs, full codebooks and raw SPSS tables to the appendices.
Common mistake
Mixing interpretation into the results. Sentences like “this is probably because managers lack training, which supports Smith (2019)” belong in the discussion chapter. In the results chapter, state what the data show and stop. The other frequent mistake is pasting raw SPSS or NVivo output without tidying it into a properly labelled table.
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How assessors judge a dissertation results chapter
| Criterion | What a top-band answer shows | What loses marks |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy of reporting | Correct statistics or themes, reported in full and consistent between tables and text | Numbers that do not match, missing test statistics, unsupported claims |
| Structure and logic | Sections follow the research questions in order with clear signposting | Results in the order the analysis was run, not the order of the questions |
| Presentation | Clean, numbered, titled tables and figures introduced in text | Screenshots of software output, unlabelled charts |
| Objectivity | Neutral description; contradictory or non-significant results reported honestly | Hiding results that did not “work”, or interpreting too early |
| Link to aims | Each section ends by stating what the result means for the question | Data presented with no link back to the research questions |
Pre-submission checklist
- Each research question has its own subsection and a clear headline result
- Every table and figure is numbered, titled and mentioned in the text
- Statistics match between tables and narrative
- Non-significant and unexpected results are reported, not hidden
- No literature, explanations or recommendations have crept in
- Qualitative quotations are short, anonymised and labelled
- Raw outputs are in the appendices and referred to correctly
- Word count is within your department’s range for this chapter
Stuck on how to present your findings?
Book a one-to-one session with a UK dissertation tutor who will review your tables, structure and reporting and give written feedback. Ask for our free results chapter template with table shells and signposting phrases.
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Dissertation results chapter answer hints and sample structure
Searching for a “dissertation results chapter example” or “sample findings chapter” is natural, but there is no answer to copy: your results are unique to your data, and a reused chapter would be detected and penalised. What you can reuse is the pattern. Below is a typical structure for a 10,000–12,000 word UK dissertation; always check your own handbook.
| Part | Suggested words | Share of marks (typical) | What to put in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation paragraph | 100–150 | Small | Research questions recap and chapter roadmap |
| Sample and data description | 200–350 | Moderate | Response rate, sample profile, data cleaning |
| Results for RQ1 | 400–600 | High | Table or figure, key statistic or theme, one-line summary |
| Results for RQ2 | 400–600 | High | Same four-step pattern |
| Results for RQ3 (if any) | 300–500 | High | Same four-step pattern |
| Chapter summary | 100–200 | Small | Summary table linking each question to its result |
Treat the marks column as a guide only. The marking scheme for your dissertation decides the real weighting.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the results and discussion chapters?
The results chapter reports what you found, objectively and in order. The discussion chapter interprets those findings, explains why they may have happened and compares them with the literature.
Can I combine results and discussion in one chapter?
Some UK departments allow a combined “Findings and Discussion” chapter, especially for qualitative research. Check your handbook and supervisor; if it is allowed, still separate the reporting and interpretation within each section.
How long should a dissertation results chapter be?
Typically about 15–25% of the total word count, but your department’s guidance takes priority. Tables usually do not count towards the word limit, but confirm this in your handbook.
Should I include literature in my results chapter?
Generally no. Keep citations for the discussion chapter. A brief citation for a statistical test or analysis method is acceptable if your style guide expects it.
How do I report results that were not significant?
Report them exactly as you would a significant result, with the statistic and p-value, and state plainly that the hypothesis was not supported. Hiding them weakens your mark for objectivity.
How many quotations should I use for each theme?
Usually two or three short quotations per theme, drawn from different participants, are enough to show the theme is grounded in the data.
Can a tutor help with my results chapter?
Yes. A tutor can explain statistical reporting, review your structure and give feedback on clarity and presentation. The analysis and writing must remain your own work.
Related help
- Dissertation help UK: tutoring and feedback
- Statistics and SPSS tutoring
- How to write a dissertation discussion chapter
- Thematic analysis for a UK dissertation
Academic integrity note: This guide explains how to approach the task. It is not an answer to copy, and nothing here should be submitted as your own work. Our tutors offer one-to-one tutoring, feedback on your drafts and proofreading only, in line with the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and your university or college academic misconduct policy. Always follow your own brief, marking criteria and your institution’s rules on AI use.