1 What Is the Difference between Observations and the Results of an Experiment?

Observations are usually tabulated, graphed, or charted after conducting a study. The interpretation of the observations is called the results.

To understand the difference between the two, we are citing an example below:

Experiment—To study the seropositivity of COVID-19 antibodies in ten hot spots in Delhi.

Observations—Blood tests for IgG antibodies against COVID-19 were done in 26,127 patients. Table 20.1 depicts the number of samples screened in each hot spot, the total number which were positive and the number of males who were positive.

Table 20.1 Observations on community transmission of COVID-19 in hot spots in Delhi
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However, while submitting for publication a better way to represent the above data would be by Table 20.2.

Table 20.2 Community transmission in COVID hot spots in Delhi
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2 Results

  1. 1.

    The seropositivity rate in the community was found to be 40.3% for COVID-19 antibodies and ranged from 2.7 to 98.8%. The minimum positivity rate was seen in hot spot number 6 and the maximum in number 10.

  2. 2.

    The seropositivity rate for males in the community was 25.5%.

3 What Should Be Included in the Results?

In this section, you should include all the data in the form of tables, charts, graphs, and figures [1]. Then analyze this data explaining its meaning in sentences. The results should provide information on how the data was collected and the participants recruited. Secondary outcomes and subgroup analyses should be also included. Like in the example the COVID antibody titre might be mentioned if it was recorded.

There is no one way to represent the results but graphic representation is probably the easiest to understand [2]. In case a graph is self-explanatory, we should avoid duplication of the same data in a tabular form. Most journals have a limitation on the number of tables and figures that can be submitted and the manuscript should be adjusted according to their requirements. One size does not fit all and graphic representation may need to vary from manuscript to manuscript. Fig. 20.1 shows the commonly used various ways to represent the results, i.e., from line graphs, bar charts, pie diagrams, and histograms.

Fig. 20.1
figure 1figure 1

Various ways of displaying results

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4 What Are the Ten Steps for Presenting the Results?

  • Step 1: Organize your draft in such a way that it gives maximum communication to the readers. Frame simple sentences to achieve this [3].

  • Step 2: Start with an opening sentence that restates the research questions.

  • Step 3: Follow this by the number of patients screened, number enrolled, and who were included and excluded.

  • Step 4: State the principal findings.

  • Step 5: All Tables and Figures should be numbered according to the order in which they appear in the manuscript. All tables should have a descriptive caption on the head. The figures and tables should require a minimum amount of explanation in the results or discussion section.

  • Step 6: Check for the language and scientific mistakes and revise your draft constantly to achieve the best results. Make sure that the graphs and figures are all correct and no values of the observations have been wrongly copied.

  • Step 7: Refer to the Instructions to Authors given on the journal website about this section. Read about how many graphs and figures are allowed to represent the results. This will help you to reframe the manuscript according to their guidelines.

  • Step 8: Include all the positive as well as the negative results which are statistically significant.

  • Step 9: Make sure that the results section jells with the other sections and does not look like a stand-alone piece. Check for grammar and tense at this stage. All results have to be reported in the past tense [3].

  • Step 10: Any data which have not been mentioned in the results section cannot be discussed later. If there are too many results then try and categorize them further into subheadings.

5 What Is the Role of Statistics in the Results Section?

Most papers now need to include statistical analyses in their results section. This has been discussed in greater depth elsewhere in this volume. John Shaw Billings (1838–1913), the eminent American Librarian, said that ‘Statistics are somewhat like old medical journals, or like revolvers in newly opened mining districts. Most men rarely use them, and find it troublesome to preserve them so as to have them easy of access; but when they do want them, they want them badly’.

6 Conclusions

  • The main goal of a medical article is to display the results. Both the positive and significantly negative ones need to be mentioned.

  • The organization of this section requires a stepwise approach.

  • Visual aids, like graphs, figures, tables, pie charts, and histograms usually make the results easier to comprehend.