The APA results section reports what you found — nothing more, nothing less. It presents your findings objectively, in enough statistical detail for readers to evaluate them, without interpretation or discussion of what the findings mean. Interpretation belongs in the Discussion section.
Results Section Format
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Section heading | Results — centered, bold (Level 1 heading) |
| Tense | Past tense («Scores were higher…», «The analysis revealed…») |
| Voice | Active preferred («We found…») but passive is acceptable |
| Order | Follow the same order as your research questions or hypotheses |
| Statistics format | Italicize statistical symbols: M, SD, t, F, p, r |
Source: APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition, Section 3.7.
How to Report Common Statistics in APA
Descriptive statistics
The sleep-deprived group scored significantly lower on the exam (M = 71.3, SD = 12.4) compared to the adequate-sleep group (M = 82.5, SD = 9.3).
Independent samples t-test
Students who slept fewer than six hours performed significantly worse on the examination than those who slept seven or more hours, t(198) = 6.34, p < .001, d = 0.91.
ANOVA
There was a significant main effect of sleep group on exam scores, F(3, 308) = 18.42, p < .001, η² = .15.
Correlation
Sleep duration was positively correlated with exam performance, r(310) = .42, p < .001.
Chi-square
The distribution of pass/fail outcomes differed significantly by sleep group, χ²(3, N = 312) = 14.72, p = .002.
APA Statistical Reporting Standards
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Italicize statistical symbols | M, SD, t, F, p, r, N, n |
| Report p-values without leading zero | p = .03 (not p = 0.03) |
| Report exact p-values | p = .043 (not p < .05, unless below .001) |
| Two decimal places for most statistics | M = 3.45, SD = 0.87 |
| Effect size with every inferential test | Cohen’s d, η², r, ω² |
| Confidence intervals | 95% CI [lower, upper] |
Structuring the Results Section
Organize findings to mirror your research questions. A clear structure looks like this:
- Preliminary analyses — data screening, descriptive statistics, assumption checks
- Primary analyses — tests for each research question or hypothesis, in order
- Secondary or exploratory analyses — if any were pre-planned
Start with a brief paragraph that orients the reader to the structure. Then walk through each finding systematically. Use tables and figures for complex data; report simpler statistics in the text.
Using Tables and Figures in the Results Section
| When to use a table | When to use a figure | When to use text only |
|---|---|---|
| 4+ numbers to report | Trends, patterns, or distributions | 1–2 statistics |
| Comparing groups on multiple variables | Interactions or group trajectories | A single test result |
| Full descriptive statistics | Distributions, scatterplots | One-sentence summary |
Reference every table and figure in the text before it appears: «Table 2 presents descriptive statistics…» or «As shown in Figure 1, scores increased…»
What NOT to Include in the Results Section
| Does NOT belong in Results | Where it belongs |
|---|---|
| Interpretation of findings («This suggests that…») | Discussion section |
| Comparison to previous literature | Discussion section |
| Limitations of the findings | Discussion section |
| Description of the method | Method section |
| Raw data (unless in an appendix) | Appendix |
Common Results Section Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Interpreting results («This means that students need more sleep») | Report only what the data show; save interpretation for Discussion |
| Omitting effect sizes | APA requires effect sizes with every inferential test |
| Not italicizing statistical symbols | M, SD, t, F, p, r must all be italicized |
| Using «p < .05» without reporting the exact p-value | Report the exact p-value unless p < .001 |
| Repeating table data in the text | Text should highlight the key finding; not repeat every number in the table |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the results section include a summary at the end?
No. The results section presents data without narrative framing. A brief transitional sentence leading into the Discussion is acceptable («These findings are examined in the following section»), but a results summary with interpretation belongs in the Discussion.
How long should the results section be?
Length depends on how many analyses you ran. A simple study with one or two tests might have a one-page results section. A complex multivariate study might require five pages with multiple tables. Length is determined by the data, not by a target word count.
Can I report non-significant results?
Yes — and you should. Report all pre-planned analyses regardless of outcome. Selectively reporting only significant results is a form of reporting bias. Non-significant results are still informative and contribute to the scientific record.
For the full APA paper structure — methods, results, discussion, and reference list — see the APA Format Guide.