user return assigned to variable

// WHY IS IT THAT WHEN WE USE $user->find_this_query ONLY WE GET AN EMPTY array EVEN THOUGH THE find_this_query METHOD RETURNS
//return //$the_object_array;

$user->find_this_query("SELECT * FROM users");

echo gettype($user->find_this_query("SELECT * FROM users"));

 echo "<pre>";
 print_r($user);
 echo "<pre>";

 // returns empty array see below

// array

// User Object
// (
//     [id] =>
//     [username] =>
//     [password] =>
//     [first_name] =>
//     [last_name] =>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//
/// BUT WHEN ASSIGNED $user->find_this_query("SELECT * FROM users") TO A VARIABLE WE GET THE ARRAY FILLED

$var=$user->find_this_query("SELECT * FROM users");

echo gettype($var);

 echo "<pre>";
 print_r($var);
 echo "<pre>";


//  Array
// (
//     [0] => User Object
//         (
//             [id] => 1
//             [username] => rico
//             [password] => 123
//             [first_name] => John
//             [last_name] => Doe
//         )

//     [1] => User Object
//         (
//             [id] => 2
//             [username] => fred
//             [password] => 123
//             [first_name] => Fred
//             [last_name] => Smith
//         )

//     [2] => User Object
//         (
//             [id] => 3
//             [username] => anne
//             [password] => 123
//             [first_name] => Anne
//             [last_name] => Baird
//         )

//     [3] => User Object
//         (
//             [id] => 28
//             [username] => keith
//             [password] =>   123
//             [first_name] =>   Nut
//             [last_name] =>   Case
//         )

// )