Results - What Results?

I just finished editing a manuscript and was struck by the fact that this young author made the same mistake that I had seen repeatedly in young researchers in writing up their work: they just do not know how to organize the results section! I admit the results section in a scientific manuscript is a bit tricky. You have to point out what the data shows without actually interpreting the data too far (that goes in the discussion section). However, while most new authors manage to point out the significant points or the lack thereof for a particular figure or data set, they do not always do so in an overall logical fashion.

The results section need to be organized such that each point made lays the logical foundation for the next point to be made, thereby building the case for the overall conclusion to be drawn from the research. The points being made should have correspondence with only one figure or part of a figure, and the order of the figures should correspond to the order of the discussion within the text of results section. In addition, each figure or part of a figure MUST BE described, and the 'take-home' point that the data show must be clearly stated. You should be able to list the points made and their corresponding figure/figure part--in fact that is great way to organize the results section before you write! List the points you want to make and list which figure/figure part illustrates that point, making sure that all points have a figure/figure part to illustrate them AND that all parts of a figure actually make a point or two. Then look at the logical order of the points to see if the order you listed them is really the most logical order to present them. And if there is a pretty picture you want use but you haven't got a point for it, then don't use it. Unnecessary data just confuses the reader.