How to Present Answers to Your Research Questions: The Fourth Stage of The Social Research Toolbox, QGAP [How-to Guide]

Once you have gathered data, examined the evidence and undertaken a systematic analysis, it is time to present your findings or your answers to your research question(s). In this guide, we consider the last stage in the social research toolbox, or QGAP, series. We first discuss some of the motivations for publishing or writing up your work and how to get started with the writing process. The guide then explores some of the conventions around how to present qualitative and quantitative findings, focusing on ‘academic voice’ and how to make data accessible and informative for your reader through tables, graphs, quotations and typologies. Then particular attention is paid to the types of information about the process of research that ought to be communicated to enable audiences to make a judgement about the credibility of your research claims. This guide therefore is not only useful to those writing up research but also those wishing to appraise the research claims of others.