Chapter 10 – Evaluating Analysis and Results Sections: Quantitative Research

Most research articles published in social science academic journals are quantitative in nature. To be a knowledgeable consumer of research, it is essential to understand the basics of how statistical research results should be presented in the Analysis and Results sections of journal articles. This chapter explains when rates, percentages, and numbers of cases should be reported, why means may not be meaningful for skewed distributions, why descriptive statistics should always be reported before inferential statistics, and how statistical significance does not always mean substantive significance. The chapter also pays attention to such critical aspects of the presentation of results as tables, visuals, and storytelling, as well as emphasizes the importance of connecting the results back to the underlying research questions and goals of the study. Exercises at the end of the chapter help reinforce the key takeaways.