The discussion reviews the findings and puts them into the context of the overall research. It brings together all the sections that came before it and allows a reader to see the connections between each part of the research paper. In a discussion section, the author engages in three necessary steps: interpretation, analysis, and explanation. An effective discussion section will tell a reader why the research results are important and where they fit in the current literature, while also being self-critical and candid about the shortcomings of the study.