Research

Methods
(MIE317)

Chapter 4: Data
Presentation
Violet Kurira

Mining, Chemical and Metallurgical

Engineering

University of Zimbabwe
 About

 This is a chapter of the thesis that present the findings and outcomes of research and
reasons for that particular results in form of text, figures, graphics, and charts.

Results Discussion
 Introduction

 Once the researcher returns from their data collection in the field they are ready to
address their research questions and hypotheses through a presentation of relevant
data.
 Presenting data involves the use of a variety of different graphical techniques to
visually show the reader the relationship between different data sets, to emphasise
the nature of a particular aspect of the data or to geographically ‘place’ data
appropriately on a map.
 The data presentation section is commonly written up at the same time, and
alongside, the performance of data analysis.
 Results

 Tell about outcomes/findings of the research study.

 Present the data and findings, ordered/analysed in ways justified earlier
(methodology).
 Past tense is a feature here (usually).
 Describe the findings in a simple way with the help of data.
 Figures and tables appear here.
 Discussion

 What does the result or data from the experiment mean to us is described in
discussion.
 Functions of discussion are to:
 Interpret results in light of what was already known about the subject and
 Explain new understanding of the problem after taking results into consideration.
 Explain how the results answer the question(s) under study.
 Results & Discussion

Results Discussion
 Core of the research/research paper.  Stating cause for particular results.
 Data generated by doing research, after  Discuss the meaning of the results.
validation and verification is written.  Stating clearly what their significance
 Results are important in answering the is.
objectives  Compare the results with theoretical
 Findings of the research.. expectations.
Presentation of Data

Violet Kurira
 Presentation of data

 Tables and figures (photographs, drawings, graphs and flow diagrams) are often
used to present details whereas the narrative section of results tends to be used
to present the general findings.
 Numerical data can usually be presented more effectively in tables or graphs that
in the text.
 The order of presentation of the results should be either chronological to
correspond with the methods of from the most to he least important.
 Table

Classifier Overall accuracy Kappa

coefficient
 A table is an organised set of Random Forest 81.15% 0.79
data elements (values) using a Support Vector Machines 79.85% 0.77
model of vertical columns
(which are identified by their Maximum Likelihood 77.99% 0.75
name) and horizontal rows.

 The cell is the unit of table

where a row and column
intersect.
Chart

 A chart is a graphical
representation of data, in
which “the data is represented
by symbols, such as bars in bar
charts, lines in a line chart, or
slices in a pie chart.”

 A chart represent tabular

numeric data.
A poor example of data
presentation
 Graphics

 Graphics are visual images or design

used for pictorial representation of
data.
 Examples:
 Photographs
 Drawings
 Graphs
 Diagrams
 Symbols
 Maps etc.
Sankey diagram
Flowchart
Purpose of the Results and
Discussion Sections
 They answer these questions:
 What’s the answer?
 What are the implications of your answer?

These two questions are the object of the results and discussion sections,
respectively.
 Preparing Results and Discussion

Processing of data Analysis of data

Processing operation

Edi
• Examination of collected raw data to detect errors
tin and omissions & to correct these when possible.
g
Co
• Process of assigning numerals or other symbols do
din that response can be put into a limited class.
g
Clas • Convergence of raw data into homogeneous
sific
atio
groups in order to get meaningful relationship(s)
n
• Arranging of classified data into a concise and
Tabula
tion
logical order i.e. in form of statistical table.
Statistical measures for Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency
i. Mean
ii. Mode
iii. Median

Measures of Relationship
Measures of Dispersion i. Correlation
i. Standard deviation ii. Regression analysis
ii. Variance iii. T test & Z test
 Points to be considered

 Divide chapter into sections according to the objectives

 Choose on best way instead of presenting same data in several ways.
 Do not present tables and figures in text form.
 Tables and figures should be clearly labelled in order of being referred in text.
Example: Table 4.2, Figure 4.1 etc.
 Each table should be given a name.
 Table captions are always placed above the table, whereas figure captions are
placed below the figure.
 Common Pitfalls

 Presenting data that has nothing to do with a research question. If the data does not have a role in
the answering of the main aims of the study then it should be ignored, even if a lot of time was spent
collecting that particular set of data.
 Presenting only some of data. If you think you will want to draw conclusions from it or refer to the
data in some supportive way, it must be presented.
 Using inappropriate and generic data presentation techniques. Selecting a data presentation
technique simply from a drop down menu in a computer-based spreadsheet shows a lack of
imagination and there is a danger that a poor selection will result in demonstrating a lack of
understanding of the complexity of the data in question.
 Using a data presentation technique which is inappropriate for the data itself. Think carefully about
the type of data (continuous or discrete) and whether the technique you have chosen is appropriate
for that type of data
 Common Pitfalls (cont…)

 Using the same data presentation technique more than once. Show some imagination and try
to come up with an original data presentation technique, unique to your particular data.
 Combining more than one data presentation together. Remember, the ultimate aim is to make
the data, patterns and relationships easy to see, not to create confusion for the reader.
 Presenting the same piece of data more than once. This can waste time and effort – choose the
most appropriate technique only. If that technique does not show everything you want it to, it is
not the right technique to use.
 Using techniques in an inaccurate fashion. Spend time checking that you have labelled keys and
axes appropriately – marks can be easily lost without these checks.
Thank you!!!!!

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