Tassii / Getty Images

Interpreting Scientific Results

For researchers in the natural sciences who want to interpret their scientific findings with more confidence, or mentor others through the process

5 experts in interpreting results, including a Nature Portfolio journal Editor and experienced researchers, statisticians and data scientists

3.5 hours of learning

10-20-minute bite-sized lessons

1 module course with certificate

About this course

‘Interpreting Scientific Results’ is aimed at all researchers in the natural sciences who want to develop their skills in adequately interpreting results. It provides the knowledge, life-long practical skills and confidence required to address their scientific question, contextualise their findings to understand the bigger picture, as well as what they bring to their scientific field, and write an interpretation with a focus on their key message.

What you’ll learn

  • Recognise and avoid the most common pitfalls when interpreting results 
  • Understand the steps you can take if their results are unexpected
  • Address your research aims, contextualise your findings and understand how they advance their scientific field
  • Communicate findings with a focus on your key message

The course

Free Sample
Interpreting scientific results

12 lessons 3h 30m

Get access

Free Sample
Interpreting Scientific Results - sample

No subscription yet? Try this free sample to preview lessons from the course

Developed with expert academics, professionals and editors

This course has been created with an international team of experts with extensive experience in interpreting results, including:

  • Expertise in data analysis, biostatistics and bioinformatics
  • Backgrounds in geophysics, ecology, physics and genetics
  • Editorial perspectives on common mistakes and good practice when interpreting results

Mark Gardener

Ecologist, lecturer and author, DataAnalytics.org.uk

Bhramar Mukherjee

Professor and Chair of Biostatistics, University of Michigan

Andrea Taroni

Chief Editor, Nature Physics

Advice from experienced researchers

The course has additional insights through video interviews from:

C. Daniela Robles-Espinoza

Assistant Professor, National Autonomous University of Mexico

Yiming Wang

Research Scientist, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History

Discover related courses

Data Analysis: Planning and Preparing

Maximise the outputs of your data and avoid time-consuming mistakes

Data Analysis: Conducting and Troubleshooting

Develop your data skills for more effective results

Access options

For researchers

Access to courses is by subscription via your lab, department or institution

Already have access?
Register or log in to access a course.

Unsure?
Find out here.

No subscription?
Subscriptions are not available to individual users
You can, however:

For institutions, departments and labs

Find out which of our subscription plans best suits your needs

Does my institution provide full course access?


When registering, you’ll be asked to select your institution first. If your institution is listed, it has subscribed and provides full access to our on-demand courses catalogue.


My institution isn’t listed!


Select „other“ and register with an individual account. This allows you to access all our free sample course modules, and our entirely free course on peer review.
You might also want to recommend our courses to your institution.

I am in charge of purchasing training materials for our lab / department / institution.

Start this course


Full course access via institutional subscription only. More info

Institutions, departments and labs:
Give your research full access to our entire course catalogue

Tassii / Getty Images