How should conflicting findings be handled in a report?

Handling conflicting findings in a report requires a transparent and analytical approach, which is why acknowledging and analyzing them openly is the best practice. When conflicting findings are presented, it is essential to discuss them thoroughly to provide context, understand the reasons behind these discrepancies, and assess their implications. This helps in building credibility and trust with the reader because it shows a commitment to a balanced and comprehensive evaluation of the data.

By openly discussing conflicting findings, the report allows for a more nuanced understanding of the issue at hand, may highlight areas that require further investigation, and encourages critical thinking. This approach can also lead to a richer discussion and potentially identify underlying factors or dynamics influencing the findings, thus offering a more complete picture of the subject being examined.

In contrast, ignoring conflicting findings, emphasizing them without analysis, or hiding them in the text diminishes the report's integrity, limits the reader's understanding, and undermines the overall analysis. These other approaches may lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, or a lack of confidence in the research and its conclusions.