Chapter 4.

The Discussion
In the Discussion chapter, you are expected to use critical analysis and argumentation or
arguments to evaluate the findings which have been presented in the Results chapter(s) with
several objectives in mind, which are
1. the reliability of your findings
2. the meaning of your findings and the relative meaning of different results to each other
3. the meaning of your findings in relation to other work
4. the relevance of your findings to the wider field

If you had several Results chapters, you should start off with a summary in which you
summarise all Results from all chapters in a way a summary of the 'Summary' sections at
the end of each Results chapter.

4.1 The reliability of your findings

In the case of laboratory experiments or quantitative field measurements, this is a classical
error analysis, where you assess the uncertainty of your results using basic statistics
(e.g. mean, standard deviation, linear regression). Using those you can assess and discuss
how well your experiments went compared to the reading accuracy of your equipment and
how accurate and precise your result is. If you have carried out several different but related
experiments, you use the statistics to discuss agreement and differences between those
experiments.

In the case of more qualitative work, such as questionnaires or policy analyses, you would be
discussing how reliable the responses or interpretation of policies is, and how an uncertainty
in those would affect your results.
In the case of questionnaires, for example, you would use statistics to ascertain
whether there are any significant patterns in the responses.

4.2 The meaning of your findings and the relative meaning of different
findings to each other
The discussion of the meaning of your findings expects you to study the results presented in
the previous chapter(s) and interpret them. For example, if you have found a significant linear
regression between measurements and adjustable parameters, what does this regression tell
you about the process linking the two; (?) is one quantity caused by the other through a
physical mechanism? (Is there a physical mechanism connecting one quantity caused by the
other?) Is the link due to a common cause?
(Is there a common cause behind the link?)
In the case where you have tested different conditions or configurations, you would discuss
similarities and differences between those and try to find common or different factors as
possible causes of them.
Examples are if you had used different types of solar collectors for a common
purpose, if you had used the electricity output from turbines at different locations, or if
you had used different types of anemometers to measure the wind at a certain
location.
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.2

Similarly, if you had used different approaches to test the same problem, you would discuss
what each of the methods tells you and how the comparison of the two methods gives you
even more information.
An example of this is if you used electricity meter readings and questionnaires to
assess electricity use in homes. The meters would give you objective numbers of
consumption while the questionnaires would give you a subjective impression of the
amount of energy people use and what they use it for. Just using the meters will give
you reliable numbers but you will not be able to interpret them to any degree. On the
other hand, the questionnaire responses will give you a lot of information about the
consumption but no objective reliable measurements of the consumptions. Through
the combined use of both, however, you can build up quite a detailed picture of the
consumption ( but it will still have some uncertainty which you also need to discuss
...)

4.3 The meaning of your findings in relation to other work

The first two types of discussion are thesis-internal in the sense that you only discuss your
findings, how reliable they are and what they mean in isolation. The next step is, to progress
to include thesis-external information and put your results into the framework of other
research.
When you started your dissertation, you carried out an extensive literature survey after having
introduced your project. The chapters on the Methodology and Results tend to make little or
no reference to the literature since they are the chapters where you describe what you (and
you alone) did and discovered. But now you need to begin to close the circle and put your
work into the context of all the work you described in the Literature Review. How much do
your results agree to other people's results? How do they differ and, if they differ, what might
be the reason for the difference? How do your findings complement other people's work?

4.4 The relevance of your findings to the wider field

In this discussion, you come very close to drawing conclusions. In fact, in many cases it
might be the beginning of the Conclusions chapter rather than the end of the Discussion
chapter.
In the previous section, you have described and discussed what you have contributed to the
field. In this section, you assess what this contribution might mean for other people. Here
you describe and discuss the potential benefit of your contribution both to the immediately
relevant work and also to other people.
Example: If you have tested a new PV array, then the contribution, discussed in the
previous section could be a comparison of the performance of the new PV array
compared to others documented in the literature, together with a discussion of the
relative strengths and weaknesses of the new PV array. In this section, you would
then move on from types of PV arrays (and their manufacturers) to potential users of
PV arrays. You would discuss who would benefit from the new design, why they
would benefit, and how much they would benefit. Could the new design offer new
application opportunities, such as fabric-integrated or building-integrated PV? Is it
just much more efficient or much cheaper?
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.3

4.5 Some Examples

For some types of research, I pose a few questions designed to probe the things which would
probably be addressed in a typical discussion of such a dissertation.

4.5.1 Experiments in a laboratory

Examples are measuring the heat flux in a heat exchanger, designing a wind turbine and
testing a model in a wind tunnel, testing a modification in an internal combustion engine.
In the Introduction, you would have given an overview over the technology tested or
developed.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail your experimental rig, the dimensions
of your model, the instrumentation used to take measurements (together with the reading
accuracy of the instruments), how you carried out the experiments, what your experience
was, and how you overcame technical problems
In the results section, you would have presented the results of your tests, organised according
to which parameter you changed or different sections for different design options
Discussion:
1. How accurate are the results? How accurate is the further analysis of the results?
2. When you compare different experimental sets, do they form a coherent picture? Can
you compare the performance of different design options? Is the behaviour for
changing one parameter consistent with those found by changing other parameters?
Can you combine different sets to obtain a more general correlation? How accurate
would that be?
3. How do your tests compare to the literature which you have discussed in the
Introduction?
Are your tests of the heat transfer consistent, or do they present a different picture?
If it is different, why is it different and can you use your correlation and published
correlation to fill a gap in the published literature?
Do your wind turbines have clear advantages over other designs? Under which
conditions do they prove better?
4. Who would benefit from your work? Can you identify researchers, industries, people,
governments who could benefit immediately from your work, or more in the future?

4.5.2 Purely quantitative field work

Examples are monitoring the wind and output from a wind turbine at one or more locations, or
testing the performance of solar collectors in houses, or measuring the traffic and air quality at
one or more locations, or monitoring the operation of a hydropower station.
In the Introduction, you would have given an overview over the technology tested or
developed.
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.4

In the Methodology, you would have described in detail your field work and the
instrumentation used to take measurements (together with the reading accuracy of the
instruments), how you carried out the field work, what your experience was, and how you
overcame technical problems
In the results section, you would have presented the results of your tests, according to
conditions that changed (different day of the week, different season, different weather
conditions)
Discussion:
1. How accurate are the results? How accurate is the further analysis of the results?
What is the variability in the conditions surrounding your measurements?
2. When you compare results from different locations or different dates, do they form a
coherent picture? Can you combine different sets to obtain a more general correlation?
How accurate would that be?
3. How do your tests compare to the literature which you have discussed in the
Introduction?
4. Who would benefit from your work? Can you identify researchers, industries, people,
governments who could benefit immediately from your work, or more in the future?

4.5.3 Combining quantitative and qualitative field work

Examples are monitoring the gas and electricity consumption of a building and asking people
using that building about their activities in that building (how often they use it, what they use it
for, which electrical items they use, how much and for what purpose), or conducting a market
analysis of the sale and use of energy-saving devices by getting sales statistics for those
devices and forming a questionnaire on people's perception on their attitude towards and
application of energy saving actions, or measuring traffic flow and compiling a questionnaire
about traffic use and reasons for using the car.
In the Introduction, you would have given an overview over the issue you are going to
investigate, the way it had been considered before, and what the current consensus or
disagreement is on this topic.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail your field work and the
instrumentation used to take measurements (together with the reading accuracy of the
instruments) as well as the type of qualitative data gathering tool (e.g. describe and justify the
questionnaire you have used), how you carried out the field work, what your experience was,
and how you overcame problems.
In the Results section, you would have presented the results of your tests, organised
according to conditions that changed (different day of the week, different season, different
weather conditions)
Discussion:
1. How successful was your approach, and how reliable are your results?
2. What type of information have you got from the quantitative and qualitative part of your
field work? Can you combine the two in a meaningful and useful way? What is the
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.5

overall emerging picture? Can you identify statistically different groups in your
sample? If so, what might be the factors determining the grouping (e.g., urban versus
rural; highly educated vs. less educated; high income vs. low income)
3. How does the picture you are developing compare to previous reports of it?
How does it compare to other countries?
4. How do your findings help the country or people? Who can use the information
(manufacturers, wind farm planners, town planners, local population, the government)?
How could you use the information to enhance the larger picture? For example, how
could you use traffic data to improve traffic control and traffic flow identifying a
problem is important but once you have identified it, does the information help to
develop realistic actions?

4.5.4 Purely qualitative field work

Examples are questionnaires carried out door-to-door, in companies, or in schools. Other
type of qualitative field work is purely observational, for example observing teaching methods
and student responses during energy education. Another type of qualitative field work is
monitoring publications (e.g. Newspapers) on different types of reporting on energy issues.
In the Introduction, you would have given an overview over the issue you are going to
investigate, the way it had been considered before, and what the current consensus or
disagreement is on this topic.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail your field work including the type of
qualitative data gathering tool (e.g. describe and justify the questionnaire you have used),
how you carried out the field work, what your experience was, and how you overcame
problems.
In the Results section, you would have presented the results of your work, structured
according to conditions that changed (different day of the week, different school year, different
newspaper).
Discussion:
1. What type of information could you extract from your work, which type could you not
extract? How reliable are your results and what are their limitations?
2. Can you combine your observations in a meaningful and useful way? What is the
overall emerging picture? Can you identify different groups in your sample? If so,
what might be the factors determining the grouping (e.g., urban versus rural; highly
educated vs. less educated; high income vs. low income).
3. How does the picture you are developing compare to previous reports of it?
How does it compare to other countries?
4. How do your findings help the country or people? Who can use the information
(teachers, pupils, the government)? How could you use the information to enhance the
larger picture? For example, how could you use your observations on pupils
reactions to improve energy education identifying a problem is important but once
you have identified it, does the information help to develop realistic actions?
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.6

4.5.5 A 'field development' task

An example is the planning and designing of a wind farm.
In the Introduction, you would have given information on the use and typical layout of a wind
farm, together with the usual planning permission process required.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail your chosen site for the wind farm, the
method used to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment, the data sources used to
estimate the demand, the wind resource and resulting electricity yield, and the grid
connection. Then you would have described how you carried out the work, what your
experience was, and how you overcame problems.
In the Results section, you would have presented the results of your demand/resource/yield
analysis, the EIA, the planning permission process you have completed, etc.
Discussion:
1. How sensitive are your demand/resource/yield data? What is the uncertainty in the
calculated payback period and what are the main factors in that uncertainty?
2. A critical appraisal of your planning process: was it successful? Which aspects would
you have done differently?
3. Was your experience similar to that reported by other wind farm developers in your
region? How does your experience depend on local constraints such as political and
legislative frameworks? How does it compare to other countries?
4. Who is going to benefit from your work?

4.5.6 A 'field' assessment task

An example is an analysis as to whether and how a building or an island could develop its use
of Renewable Energy to meet its energy demand completely or partially.
In the Introduction, you would have given information on the building or island, including its
energy demand profile, and its range of Renewable Energy resources, together with reports
on similar developments for other buildings or islands.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail how the data sources were used to
estimate the demand, the different resources and resulting electricity yield, and how you
calculated those quantities from your data. Then you would have described how you carried
out the work, what your experience was, and how you overcame problems.
In the Results section, you would have presented the results of your demand/resource/yield
analysis for the different resources.
Discussion:
1. How sensitive are your demand/resource/yield data? What is the uncertainty in the
calculated payback period and what are the main factors in that uncertainty?
2. Can you use your findings to put together a realistic proposal for implementing such a
scheme? What will the expected hurdles and opportunities be?
3. Have similar projects been proposed and were they accepted or rejected? Can you
Chapter 4: Discussion 4.7

compare your proposal to similar projects? How does it compare to other countries?
4. Who is going to benefit from your work?

4.5.7 A literature review or analysis

Examples are a discussion of some national or international policies, such as a discussion of

the EU's position to the Kyoto protocol. Compared to all previous examples, such a project
varies slightly in that you do not gather new information but merely use the literature. So, the
Introduction chapter will give more of an overview over the problem, while what is traditionally
the 'Results' chapter will be a chapter compiling all the facts and information which you need
for your discussion, and the bulk of your own contribution to the work will be focussed on this
Discussion chapter.
In the Introduction, you would have given information on the background and the specific
case (e.g., the origin, aims, history, and future of Kyoto, and then how the EU has shaped or
adopted the Kyoto directives.
In the Methodology, you would have described in detail what sources you have used to
analyse the topic. Then you would have described how you carried out the work, what your
experience was, and how you overcame problems.
In the Results section, you would have presented the different factors and scenarios
presented in the literature and current debate.
Discussion:
1. How objective or subjective are the facts you have compiled? How reliable are the
facts?
2. Using all the facts assembled, you will discuss your topic in detail?
3. Have similar topics been discussed and can you compare your case to those?
4. Who is going to benefit from your work?