Table of Contents
Index
Glossary
Table of Contents
Index
Glossary

   
Interpretation (m5)

• Report on the interpretation (as a process) of the results that are not described in the Methods or the Results. If this involves calculations, provide sufficient details for the reader to be able to follow the calculations.
• If input parameters are used in the calculations, link them to their source by a linked typed as `Input from'.
• Describe the resulting interpretation(s) in terms of chemical or physical phenomena. For example, results obtained in terms of scattering can be explained 1) in terms of reaction mechanisms specified in a molecular dynamics model, or 2) in terms of intermolecular potential parameters. Different interpretations can be given, such as a qualitative and a quantitative explanation of the results, or interpretations in which different factors are taken into account (e.g. translational coupling only, or rotational coupling as well).
• Link the interpretation (and its restrictions) to the results that are interpreted (and their restrictions) and to the theoretical method used to interpret them (and their restrictions) by a `Depends on' link.
• If the target audience is unlikely to be convinced beforehand of the reliability and the applicability of this interpretation to the solution of the central problem, provide explicit argumentation supporting the standpoints that the interpretation is reliable and helps to solve the problem. This discussion can include a comparison to the results and interpretations published in other work.
• If more than one interpretation is considered and if more than one of these interpretations is reported in sufficient detail to warrant the distinction of a module that can be consulted separately, create a complex module Interpretation containing constituent modules distinguished by their physics contents. The constituents can be components aggregating into the complete interpretation, or they can focus on specific interpretations that are generalised in the complex module. If the different interpretations are only summarised and further made available by means of links, present the entire interpretation in an elementary Interpretation module.
• If the interpretation is complicated and elaborate without warranting the distinction of separate constituent modules, start the elementary Interpretation module with a brief outline of its contents.
• If a separate qualitative and quantitative interpretation are described and discussed, distinguish two constituent modules, that can otherwise simply be made explicit as parts of an elementary module:  

  1.

  Qualitative interpretation m5a  The qualitative interpretation of experimental results can involve a discussion of special features of the results as given in a figure (such as oscillations, bumps or spikes) in terms of physical phenomena (such as interference).

  2.

  Quantitative interpretation m5b  The quantitative interpretation of experimental results can involve a comparison of these results with theoretical results calculated on the basis of the experimental results, (e.g. by fitting or averaging). For a quantitative interpretation the dimensions of the quantities must be well-defined.