Which item is not typically included in the results section?

• A. Literature review
• B. Reporting data
• C. Describing data collected or calculated
• D. Describing patterns in the data

Answer: (A)

The results section is where you show what the data reveal from your study. It focuses on the actual findings: the numbers and statistics you computed (reporting data), summaries of what you collected or calculated (describing data collected or calculated), and the patterns or trends you see in those data (describing patterns in the data). These elements communicate the outcomes of your analyses without delving into background or justification.

A literature review, by contrast, provides background, context, and rationale. It discusses what previous research has found and identifies gaps or questions your study aims to address, which is information that belongs earlier in the report—typically in the introduction. That’s why the literature review isn’t a typical part of the results section.