English for Writing Research Papers

17.3   Why should I compare my work with that of others?
Dr Greg Anderson and Dr. Donald Dearborn of Bates College (Maine, USA) give 
the following advice to their students:
You may find crucial information in someone else’s study that helps you interpret your own 
data, or perhaps you will be able to reinterpret others’ findings in light of yours. In either 
case you should discuss reasons for similarities and differences between yours and others’ 
findings. Consider how the results of other studies may be combined with yours to derive 
a new or perhaps better-substantiated understanding of the problem.

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17.4 How should I compare my work with that of others?
A good structure for doing this is:
 
1.  Make a general statement regarding your findings
 
2.  Mention another author’s work that relates directly to your findings
 
3.  Make a link between her/his work and your work
 
4.  Clearly state how your work differs from her/his work
 
5.   State the conclusions that can be drawn from your results in light of these considerations