How to Write a Conclusion for a Dissertation | Scribbr đ
Summary
TLDRJessica from Scribbr guides viewers on crafting an impactful thesis or dissertation conclusion. She advises keeping it concise, around 5-7% of the total word count, and refraining from introducing new data. The conclusion should answer the research question, summarize findings, reflect on the methodology, make recommendations, and highlight the research's contributions. She also suggests writing the abstract next and proofreading the thesis for clarity and language errors.
Takeaways
- đ The conclusion should be concise, engaging, and the very last part of your thesis or dissertation.
- đ The conclusion is more general and does not discuss specific results but summarizes the most important insights.
- đ« Avoid introducing new data or interpretations in the conclusion.
- đ The conclusion's length should be about 5-7% of the overall word count, varying by thesis type.
- đ§ Empirical research conclusions are often short, stating main findings and recommendations.
- đŻ A humanities thesis might need more space in the conclusion to tie chapters together.
- đ Four key elements of a good conclusion: answering the research question, summarizing and reflecting, making recommendations, and emphasizing contributions.
- đ€ Reflect on the methodology's effectiveness and any new questions or insights that arose.
- đĄ Make recommendations as suggestions for practical implementation or future research.
- đ Highlight your research's contributions to the field by addressing the problem statement and literature review.
- đ After writing the conclusion, write the abstract, ensure references are complete, and proofread the thesis.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of a conclusion in a thesis or dissertation?
-The conclusion serves as a concise and engaging summary of the most important insights of the research without introducing new data or interpretations.
How does the conclusion differ from the discussion section in a thesis?
-The conclusion is shorter and more general, focusing on broad statements rather than discussing specific results.
What is the recommended length of a conclusion relative to the overall thesis?
-The conclusion should typically be around 5-7% of the overall word count of the thesis.
How does the length of a conclusion vary between empirical research and humanities theses?
-Empirical research often has a shorter conclusion, while a humanities thesis might require more space to conclude its analysis and tie chapters together.
What are the four elements that make a good conclusion according to the script?
-The four elements include answering the research question, summarizing and reflecting on the research, making recommendations, and emphasizing the contributions of the research.
Why is it important to answer the research question in the conclusion?
-Answering the research question in the conclusion is crucial as it shows that the research objectives have been met and provides a clear, concise final takeaway.
How should the researcher reflect on their methodology in the conclusion?
-The researcher should consider the effectiveness of their methodology in answering the research questions and whether any new questions or unexpected insights arose during the process.
What is the appropriate way to make recommendations in a conclusion?
-Recommendations should be framed as suggestions rather than imperatives, especially for policy or practical implementation.
How can the conclusion emphasize the contributions of the research to the field?
-The conclusion can emphasize contributions by returning to the problem statement, referring back to the literature review, discussing how findings confirm or challenge existing theories, and summarizing key points.
What are the next steps to take after writing the conclusion of a thesis?
-After writing the conclusion, the next steps include writing the abstract, ensuring the reference list is complete and correctly formatted, and proofreading the entire document.
What resources does Scribbr offer to assist with the final stages of thesis writing?
-Scribbr offers free citation generators and a proofreading and editing service to assist with the final stages of thesis writing.
Outlines
đ Writing an Effective Thesis Conclusion
Jessica from Scribbr introduces the importance of a well-crafted conclusion in a thesis or dissertation. She emphasizes that the conclusion should be concise, engaging, and should not introduce new data or interpretations. It should summarize the key insights of the research without discussing specific results. The length of the conclusion is suggested to be around 5-7% of the overall word count, varying by the type of thesis. The paragraph outlines four elements for a good conclusion: answering the research question, summarizing and reflecting on the research, making recommendations, and emphasizing the research's contributions to the field.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄConclusion
đĄDiscussion
đĄResearch Question
đĄSummarize
đĄReflect
đĄRecommendations
đĄContributions
đĄAbstract
đĄReference List
đĄProofreading
đĄEmpirical Research
đĄHumanities Thesis
Highlights
The conclusion should be concise and engaging.
Conclusion is shorter and more general compared to discussion.
Avoid introducing new data or interpretations in the conclusion.
Conclusion length should be about 5-7% of the overall word count.
Empirical research conclusions are typically short and to the point.
Humanities theses might require more space in the conclusion.
Answer the research question in the conclusion.
Summarize and reflect on the research in a reflective manner.
Make recommendations for policy, business, or further research.
Frame recommendations as suggestions, not imperatives.
Emphasize the contributions of your research to the field.
Return to the problem statement to explain how research helps solve the problem.
Refer back to the literature review to show how you addressed a knowledge gap.
Discuss how your findings confirm or challenge existing theories.
Sum up the most important points and put findings into context.
Write the abstract next, while the research is fresh in your mind.
Ensure your reference list is complete and correctly formatted.
Read through the thesis to ensure clarity and correctness.
Use Scribbr's free citation generators to speed up the process.
Consider using Scribbrâs proofreading and editing service for final checks.
Transcripts
The conclusion is the very last part of your thesis or dissertation.
It should be concise and engaging.
Wanna know how to write a good one?
Then keep watching!
I'm Jessica from Scribbr, here to help you achieve your academic goals.
The line between discussion and conclusion is sometimes quite blurry, to clear things
up, conclusion is shorter and more general.
You donât discuss specific results but make broad statements that sum up the most important
insights of the research.
That being said, you should not introduce new data or interpretations in the conclusion.
So, how long should your conclusion be?
Depending on the type of thesis, the conclusion should typically be around 5-7% of the overall
word count.
An empirical research will often have a short conclusion that concisely states the main
findings and recommendations, while a humanities thesis might require more space to conclude
its analysis and tie all the chapters together in an overall argument.
Now letâs take a look at the 4 elements that make a good conclusion!
First, answer the research question Begin with the main question that your thesis
aimed to address.
Let's take a look at the example here.
Since the conclusion is your final chance to show that youâve done what you set out
to do, make sure to formulate a clear, concise answer, like the example does in the next
sentence.
The results are synthesized into one final takeaway.
Second, summarize and reflect on the research The conclusion is an opportunity to remind
the reader why you took the approach you did, what you expected to find, and how well the
results matched your expectations.
You should write more reflectively here, for example, consider how effective your methodology
was in answering your research questions, and whether any new questions or unexpected
insights arose in the process.
You can write something like: This research clearly illustrates X, but it
also raises the question of Y.
Third, make recommendations The conclusion is a good place to elaborate
and look ahead.
If youâre making recommendations for policy, business or other practical implementation,
itâs generally best to frame them as suggestions rather than imperatives.
So something like: Based on these conclusions, practitioners
should considerâŠ
If youâre making recommendations for further research, be sure not to undermine your own
work.
Future studies might confirm, build on or enrich your conclusions, but they shouldnât
be required to complete them.
For example: To better understand the implications of these
results, future studies could addressâŠ
Fourth, emphasize your contributions Make sure your reader is left with a strong
impression of what your research has contributed to knowledge in your field.
Some strategies to achieve this include: Returning to your problem statement to explain
how your research helps solve the problem.
Referring back to the literature review and showing how you have addressed a gap in knowledge.
Discussing how your findings confirm or challenge an existing theory or assumption.
Pick out the most important points and sum them up into an overview that puts your findings
in context.
Finally, finish your thesis
Once youâve finished writing your conclusion, itâs time to wrap up your thesis.
Itâs a good idea to write the abstract next, while the research is still fresh in your
mind.
If youâre not sure where to begin, watch this video on how to write an abstract.
Then you need to make sure your reference list is complete and correctly formatted.
To speed up the process, you can use Scribbr's free citation generators.
Lastly, read through the whole document again to make sure your thesis is clearly written
and free from language errors.
You can proofread it yourself, ask a friend of yours, or take a look at Scribbrâs proofreading
and editing service.
The finish line is in sight, you can do it!
Make sure to drop a like and let us know in the comment below if you find this video helpful,
Iâll see you in the next one!
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