Writing a discussion section: how to integrate substantive and statistical expertise

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Scientific Writing

Background:

• Medical research articles often separate substantive and statistical contributions.
• This separation leads to vague reasoning on bias and potentially misleading conclusions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an integrated approach for discussing research results.
• To enhance the clarity and accuracy of conclusions in medical research.

Main Methods:

• Integrating substantive and statistical expertise based on reasonable assumptions.
• Applying principles of Bayesian thinking to the discussion section.
• Developing specific and general proposals for writing discussion sections.

Main Results:

• Explicitly discussing conclusions under specific assumptions reduces misinterpretation.
• Conditional conclusions allow researchers to interpret findings based on their own knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Improved debate and understanding of data mechanisms.
• Better ability for researchers to address bias in future studies.
• Fostering more accurate and nuanced scientific conclusions.