FYP Seminar Series 2019‐2020

Thesis Writing
Result, Discussion & Conclusion Chapter

By:
Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosmiwati Mohd Mokhtar
(20th April 2020)
 Learning Objective… We l e a d

• To produce clear, descriptive, comprehensive

and well‐implemented of result and discussion
chapter.

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 Learning Outcomes We l e a d

• At the end of this session you will be able…

1. To organize research findings and

appropriately localize the
content for result and discussion
chapter.

2. To apply skills and techniques to

outcome clear, descriptive,
comprehensive and well‐
implemented written thesis.

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 We l e a d

Chapter 4

Result and Discussion

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Purposes of Results & Discussion Chapter
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1. To tabulate the outcome that you produced / obtained from

your research investigation.

2. To demonstrate the evaluation / testing analysis being made.

3. To observe and interpret the outcome/findings and relate it

to the theories, hypothesis or research question being made
for the investigation.

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What kind of result?
Software:
• Simulation result
• Validation result
• Performance analysis result
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Hardware
• The final product/prototype
• Hardware testing result
‐ Mechanical, material etc.
• Electrical circuit analysis
• Electronic circuit analysis
• Testing analysis
• Performance analysis
• Validation/verification 
analysis
6 /33
 We l e a d

• Usually the TOC for Chapter 4 goes as…

4 Result and Discussion
4.1 Introduction
.
.
4.X Chapter Summary

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 We l e a d

Before starting with writing, make sure to

1. List all the important findings from your research.

2. Organize the flow of showing the result. Prioritize the work

from most important to less important [If it too many, the
less important can be placed as appendix; Same goes to
repetitive results].

Remember!!!
This chapter is not only for putting the final result but the
analysis that being carried out before, during and after the
product is obtained are also important.

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 We l e a d

• Results and Discussion Chapter is a section where students

nurture themselves with higher level of Bloom Taxonomy.

B4 (Analysis) – Ability to compare and elaborate the similarities,

differences and relationship between one and the other.

B5 (Synthesis) – Ability to merge, combine and integrate facts

and ideas.

B6 (Evaluation) – Ability to prove, evaluate, verify, criticize or to

give opinion on a statement, invention, principles, theories
etc.
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 So..what need to be in Chapter 4?
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• Most common – Tables, Figures and Graphs representing /

supporting the outcome of the research.

‐ Tables and figures must clearly labeled and appropriately scaled

(Table caption on top of the table while Figure caption at the
bottom of the figure).

‐ For every table and figure shown, we need to address it in text.

E.g. Figure 4.1 shows…; the result is tabulated in Table 4.2; When
+ve instruction given, robot will turn to the right (Figure 4.6) .

‐ Text should highlight/explain the importance or meaning of the

figures and tables (Do not expect self‐explanatory figures/tables!).

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 Sample We l e a d

Table 4.1 Measured and Estimated Output

Measured Estimated Difference

(mm3) (mm3) (mm3)
4 4.7
6 7
8 8.2
10 10.5
“Table 4.1 tabulates the measured 
and estimated output  from ….”
0.7
1
0.2
0.5
Figure 4.8 Fluorescence intensity based on 
first and second capillary fraction 
“The fluorescence intensity based on
first and second capillary fraction has
led to several observations (Figure
4.8). There are … “

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 We l e a d

• Result interpretation and discussion should be consistent

with study objectives/research question.
• You should explain how the results answer the question
under study.
• Emphasize what is new, different, or important about
your results.
• If the results is successfully achieved, fine. If they do not,
explain why not and provide alternative or suggestion.
• Results can be supported by appropriate references too!
• Remember to always give technically sound justification.

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 4.0 Result & Discussion (sample) We l e a d

4.1 Introduction
‐ Provide brief description from Chapter 3 (Methodology) and relate
it with one to be discussed in Chapter 4.
‐ Outline the section and subsection.
4.2 Result & Discussion
‐ Descriptive and comprehensive explanation supporting with
figures and tables where necessary.
4.3 Performance analysis / Testing analysis / Comparative analysis
‐ In‐depth analysis supporting with figures and tables where
necessary.
4.4 Summary
‐ A concluding statement for Chapter 4.

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 We l e a d

Use the Appropriate Tense
(normally never the future)

• Introduction
 Past or present tense 
• Results 
 Past tense (What you did and what you found)
• Discussion 
 Past and/or present tense

*Source – Scientific Writing by Anton McLachlan

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 We l e a d

Use Passive not Active Voice
• Active
 We used ANOVA to compare distances moved.
 I sampled 50 sites. 
Our methods have been divided into 3 categories. 

• Passive
 ANOVA was used to compare distances moved.
 Fifty sites were sampled.
 The research methods have been divided into 3 
categories.
*Source – Scientific Writing by Anton McLachlan

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 We l e a d

If result and discussion are prepared for 
different subsection…. Avoid Repetition

• Discussion in the Results section
• Results in the Discussion section
• Repetition of information in Tables and Figures in
the Text

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 Common Mistakes in Chapter 4 We l e a d

General…
• Figure or table not clear.
• Figure or table occur right after Section / Subsection
Title.
• Active sentences are used.
• Figure or table number is not referred in the text.
• Figure / table show but no explanation supporting it.
• Figure / table is too far from when it is first
mentioned.

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 We l e a d

Formatting…
• No caption for figures and tables.
• Caption for table is placed after the table.
• Size of figure and table is more than the writing
margin space.
• Floating figure / table.
• Font size in figure / table is not appropriate.
• Improper long table/figure caption.

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 We l e a d

Technical…
• Self‐explanatory figure / table.
• Lack of critical assessment.
• Unable to provide justification / solution for the
outcome produced.
• Repetitive of same way sentences especially when
showing multiple results of almost similar findings.

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 Examples – Figure placement We l e a d

Wrong… X Correct… 
Section 4.4    Performance Analysis Section 4.4    Performance Analysis

Figure 4.8 shows the result obtained 
from… 

Figure 4.8 Fluorescence intensity based on 
first and second capillary fraction 

Figure 4.8 shows the result obtained from…  Figure 4.8 Fluorescence intensity based on 

first and second capillary fraction 

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 Examples – Oversize figure
Wrong… X
The system main power supply is
under the government of 3 main switches,
which are readily installed on the PLC trainer
board. Figure 4.11 describes how these 3
buttons work to perform the crucial task.
Once the MASTER ON push button is
pressed…
Figure 4.11: Rungs 1 and 2 of ladder diagram
An Emergency STOP button is pressed when
emergency happened and immediately the
system will stop the train from any motion.
This button also serves as a reset button for
the train.
20th April 2020
We l e a d
Correct… 
The system main power supply is
under the government of 3 main switches,
which are readily installed on the PLC trainer
board. Figure 4.11 describes how these 3
buttons work to perform the crucial task.
Once the MASTER ON push button is
pressed…
Figure 4.11: Rungs 1 and 2 of ladder diagram
An Emergency STOP button is pressed when
emergency happened and immediately the
system will stop the train from any motion.
This button also serves as a reset button for
the train.
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 Examples – Too big font size We l e a d

• Wrong… X • Correct… 
10
9 Chart Title If the font size use for writing is 12‐
8 pt, then the font size in the table or
7
6 figure also should be equal or
Age

5
4 Series1 smaller (if graph or table is big) .
3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2
1
Carefully resizing the figure as that
0 will also tend to grow the font size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Number of people in the figure, and lead to unsharp or
blurr image resolution.

A B A*B
5 4 20
5 5 25

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How to deal with long figure / table?
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(a) (d)

(b) (e)
Figure 4.5 Five segments 
display (a) 30 angle, (b) 60…

(c)
Figure 4.5 Continues…
50 51
*Page number in the list of figures for Figure 4.5 is 51

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 We l e a d

Table 4.20 Heat measurement Table 4.20 (Continued)

50 51
*Page number in the list of tables for Table 4.20 is 50

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 We l e a d

OK...we done with 
Chapter 4

Good job!
You almost 
there...

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Chapter 5

Conclusion & Future Work

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This is the chapter where student usually put less

effort by assuming that
1. This chapter is not so important.
2. Examiner already tired to reach to this end.

The actual fact is that...

1. Conclusion chapter is very important!
2. The examiner usually read the abstract,
introduction and conclusion first, before heading
to other chapters.

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• The conclusion chapter is more than just a summary of the

data you have presented in the main text.
• Along with summarizing the basic arguments, you must
show your conclusions and discuss the implications of your
findings.
• Without a conclusion, your thesis would be just a
description of method and data.
• It would show only that you are good at compiling data.
• but what they really want to see is what you do with that
data, what conclusions you draw from it, how your study
ties into the larger picture.
• It should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
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 5.1 Conclusion We l e a d

The conclusion chapter should include the following: 

1. A restatement of your subject / research question / objectives

achievement.
2. A presentation of your findings, a summary. Be careful to avoid
making a chapter by chapter list of the contents of your main text. It
should sound like a discussion.
3. Discuss and interpret findings. Give answers. Draw inferences from
your study and discuss the relevance of your data.
4. Graceful exit. Make sure your ending has an ending. You could talk
about the overall significance of the study, of the subject in general,
and how it is important to know about it, how it can "change the
world", or maybe world view. Make the reader feel that it has been
worth his or her time to read your thesis.

Source ‐ http://www.sbegraduatethesisoffice.boun.edu.tr/conclusion.html

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 5.2 Recommendation for Future Work
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• Point to areas of further research. No doubt

while you were researching your topic, in
some areas, you found more questions than
answers.

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 Remember!!! We l e a d

• Know what you write. Don’t just cut and paste till the
end you also do not know what you are writing.
• Always have coherence in writing from chapter to
chapter.
• Avoid last minute preparation – you may miss out
many important points that you have work through
and forgot to put it all due to “not enough time”.
• Let your supervisor to read and verify that what you
are doing is correct, sufficient and all in order.

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 We l e a d

DO:
Let your FYP thesis is
something that you
proud of and can be
shared with others as
guidance and reference
in future.

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 Thank you

Presented by
Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosmiwati Mohd Mokhtar | SEEE, USM