How To Write the Discussion Chapter: A Step-by-Step Guide
Published: 01-09-2025
Modified: 01-09-2025
The discussion section of your dissertation is where your work becomes alive, and you get a chance to make sense of your findings. This is where you get to justify the importance of what you've discovered, relate it to the existing body of literature, and prove that you can think critically. Writing this section deserves to be clear, concise, and systematic.
From discussing the findings to explaining the limitations or suggesting further research, this blog will teach you how to produce a powerful and engaging discussion section.
What is the Discussion Section?
A discussion is a section where you go deeper into analyzing your results, interpret your data by making meaning out of it and relating it to the existing knowledge in your domain, and it's not just about stating facts—it's about how you explain facts, as well as how you analyze them, how you discuss the significance of facts and sometimes even admit that facts might be not perfect at all.
A good discussion contributes another dimension and valuable analysis to your dissertation.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Brilliant Discussion

1. Start with a Strong Opening
First of all, it is necessary to review the main results of this study. In this section, you should be concise in your language and restate the primary outcomes of your research without rewriting what you have already included in the results section. For example:
As for the hypothesis that the digital behavior of teenagers affects the level of anxiety, the data of this study confirm this assumption, noting the existence of a connection between the use of social networks and anxiety.
2. Interpret the Results
Here is the place to explain why and how. Explain the implications of your results regarding the research questions and objectives you inserted at the beginning of your study. This uses previous works to set the context for interpretations and comparisons with the current job.
Before diving into the discussion, it's essential to have a clear presentation of your data. Refer to our article on Results and Findings in Dissertation for guidance.
Pro Tip: If you get results different from what you thought, do not hide! Surb counts can be regarded as a door to new investigations. Please treat them politely and be straightforward.
3. Highlight Implications
Ask the 'So What?' question—why are your findings significant and should interest your discipline? One should consider the theoretical, practical, and, perhaps, the social aspects. For instance:
Theoretical implications: Are your findings consistent with or inconsistent with what theory predicts?
Practical implications: If you had to stay specific about it, how exactly can practitioners apply your findings in their professional practice?
Policy implications: Did your research provide ideas to help policy adjustments or decisions?
4. Acknowledge Limitations
Every study will always have flaws and knowing that does not make your work any less credible; it makes it more scholarly. Explain difficulties, such as sample selection, research method choice, or data discrepancies. This creates confidence and establishes the foundation for the subsequent research.
Recognizing the constraints of your study is vital. For a detailed approach to concluding your research, see Writing a Dissertation Conclusion.
5. End with Recommendations
As is always the case, conclude your discussion by recommending areas for future research. Feature issues to explore further those questions or topics that remain unanswered or increasingly coming up frequently. See below file for discussion example.
Discussion Example
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overloading with jargon: Avoid jargon when writing the content, even though the information they will be presenting may be complicated.
- Rewriting the results: In other words, it emphasizes interpretation instead of repetition.
- Avoiding limitations: Do not give the impression that your study is free from all types of flaws. Address concerns with professionalism.
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Final Thoughts: Key Points of Winning a Discussion
The writing of the discussion section is where you get to excel. You will impress your readers by interpreting your findings, relating your work to the broader context, and even handling problems with diplomacy.
And remember, if the process is getting too much to handle, Owlisdom is just a click away to take you through each step of the dissertation writing process.