Step-by-Step Process for Writing a Dissertation Conclusion

Now that we’ve provided a detailed outline of the conclusion chapter, let’s take a look at how to write one following the same outline.

Step 1: Summary of the Research

Begin your dissertation conclusion by restating the research problem and research questions. This reminds your reader of the primary focus of your study. Use similar language to what you used in your introduction section, but rephrase it slightly to avoid redundancy.
Briefly summarize the main findings of your study, highlighting the key results that have emerged from your analysis. Consider organizing this section by the research questions or hypotheses that you posed in your study.
After summarizing your main findings, discuss their implications for your research problem and the broader research field. Consider addressing questions such as: What do your findings tell us about the phenomenon you studied? How do they advance our understanding of the research problem? What are the practical or theoretical implications of your findings?

Step 2: Conclusions

Discuss the significance of your study’s findings by linking them to the research problem you set out to investigate. Explain how your findings help to answer your research questions or hypotheses and what they reveal about the phenomenon you studied. Consider the following questions: What new insights do your findings offer? How do they help to fill gaps in the existing literature? How do they contribute to theory or practice?
Evaluate the extent to which your study achieved its objectives. Explain whether you were able to answer your research questions or hypotheses and to what extent you were able to accomplish your research aims. Discuss any factors that may have affected your study’s success, such as limitations in your research design or data collection methods.
Identify and discuss any limitations of your study, such as sample size or data collection methods, and discuss how they may have affected the results. Be honest about the limitations of your study, but also highlight the strengths of your research design.

Step 3: Contribution to Knowledge

Discuss the originality of your study and its contribution to the existing literature. Identify how your study builds on previous research and what new insights or perspectives it offers. Consider questions such as: What is novel about your research? How does it advance existing knowledge? How does it challenge or confirm existing theories or assumptions?
Highlight any new insights or perspectives gained from your study, emphasizing their significance and relevance to the research field. Consider questions such as: What new perspectives emerged from your research? How do they help to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon you studied? What new avenues for future research do they suggest?
Discuss the potential impact of your research on theory, practice, or policy. Consider how your findings may be applied in the real world and what implications they may have for future research. Consider questions such as: What are the practical implications of your findings? How might they inform policy or practice? What new questions do they raise that future research could explore?

Step 4: Recommendations

Provide recommendations for future research based on the limitations of your study or unanswered questions that emerged from your research. Identify areas where further investigation is needed and suggest potential research designs or methodologies that could be used.
Next, discuss any practical recommendations that can be drawn from your study’s findings. Consider how your research could be applied in practice and provide specific recommendations for practitioners or policymakers. Be sure to base your recommendations on the evidence and findings of your study.
Provide suggestions for how your study’s results could be applied in practice or policy. Consider how your findings could be used to inform decision-making or improve existing practices. Provide specific recommendations and be sure to explain the rationale behind them.

Step 5: Reflections on the Research Process

Reflect on the research process and discuss any challenges that you encountered. Explain how you overcame these challenges and what you learned from them. Consider how your research experience has shaped your understanding of the research field and your future research interests.
Evaluate the research methodology you used and discuss any changes that could be made for future research. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your research design and explain how it could be improved upon in future studies. Consider how your research design could be adapted to address new research questions or hypotheses.
Finally, discuss any lessons you learned from the research process. Reflect on what you learned about the research field, your research skills, and the research process itself. Consider how you might apply these lessons to future research endeavors.

Step 6: Final Remarks

Summarize the main points of your dissertation conclusion, emphasizing the significance of your study’s findings and the contribution it has made to the research field.
Discuss the significance of your study for the research field and its potential impact on theory, practice, or policy. Consider how your study has advanced our understanding of the phenomenon you studied and what new questions it has raised for future research.
Provide any final reflections or recommendations, emphasizing the importance of your study and its relevance to the research field. Consider how your findings could be used to inform future research and practice.

Keep in mind that writing a thesis or dissertation conclusion requires careful consideration of the main findings of the research, their interpretation, and their significance. By following these steps, you can create an effective and impactful conclusion that demonstrates the importance and contributions of your research project to the field of study

Step-by-Step Process for Writing a Dissertation Conclusion

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