Written in advance in (pessimistic) anticipation, so that we can make the experiment better. If the experiment cannot be made better, then this can be thrown out as a challenge to future researchers to see if they can do better.

Arizona State University

School of Visual Arts

The discussion section is the final major component of a research article where authors summarize their findings, interpret these results within the context of previous studies, and acknowledge experimental limitations. Crucially, researchers use this section to suggest directions for future research, often presenting specific, empirically testable questions that have already been identified as significant by experts in the field.

Discussion Section

Write the Discussion in Advance

A highly effective strategy for formulating empirically testable research questions is to closely examine the discussion section of a recent academic article. Because experienced researchers use this section to propose directions for future studies, the specific questions they suggest provide ready-made, scientifically important topics that can be pursued through additional research.

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