General Discussion

General Discussion

This section generally follows Findings and Interpretation (or Findings and then Discussion). It should match the Introduction in the way it moves

from a close focus on your own study
to relating that study more broadly, to other work in the field

The General Discussion section allows you to step back to a more general level of discussion, and to relate your findings to those of other researchers - particularly to the literature you reviewed in the Introduction.

You are expected to discuss the theoretical issues once more (in the light of what you found), and to suggest the kinds of answers your findings provide to your research questions.

Here is the bottom half of the hourglass model. It illustrates how the Discussion mirrors the Introduction.

Note the more inductive shape which corresponds to the unfolding of the Discussion.

Go on to Matching Claims to evidence