What is the primary purpose of the Results section?

• A. To discuss how findings relate to existing literature.
• B. To present the findings without interpretation.
• C. To provide an overview of the literature.
• D. To propose future research directions.

Answer: (B)

Presenting findings clearly and without interpretation is what the Results section does. In this part of a report, you show the data you collected—tables, figures, statistics, measurements—so readers can see exactly what happened. No judgments, explanations, or comparisons belong here; that kind interpretation goes in the Discussion. By sticking to the numbers and observed patterns, the Results section provides an objective account of what was found.

Other tasks described in the other options belong in related sections. Discussing how findings relate to existing literature is the job of the Discussion, where you interpret results and connect them to what is already known. Providing an overview of the literature is typically part of the Introduction or literature review, which sets up the study. Proposing future research directions also fits best in the Discussion or Conclusion, where you reflect on next steps and implications.