How to Write a Conclusion for a Dissertation | Scribbr 🎓

Summary

Jessica 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

• 📝 The conclusion should be concise, engaging, and the very last part of your thesis or dissertation.
• 🔍 The conclusion is more general and does not discuss specific results but summarizes the most important insights.
• 🚫 Avoid introducing new data or interpretations in the conclusion.
• 📏 The conclusion's length should be about 5-7% of the overall word count, varying by thesis type.
• 🧐 Empirical research conclusions are often short, stating main findings and recommendations.
• 🎯 A humanities thesis might need more space in the conclusion to tie chapters together.
• 🔑 Four key elements of a good conclusion: answering the research question, summarizing and reflecting, making recommendations, and emphasizing contributions.
• 🤔 Reflect on the methodology's effectiveness and any new questions or insights that arose.
• 💡 Make recommendations as suggestions for practical implementation or future research.
• 🌟 Highlight your research's contributions to the field by addressing the problem statement and literature review.
• 🏁 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

00:00

📚 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.

Keywords

💡Conclusion

The conclusion is the final section of a thesis or dissertation, where the writer summarizes the main findings and reflects on the research's significance. In the script, it's emphasized that the conclusion should be concise, engaging, and not introduce new data, aligning with the video's theme of providing guidance on academic writing. The example given illustrates how to synthesize results into a final takeaway, which is a key aspect of concluding effectively.

💡Discussion

Discussion refers to the part of a research paper where the writer analyzes, interprets, and discusses the results. The script clarifies the distinction between discussion and conclusion by noting that the conclusion is more general and does not delve into specific results, which is crucial for understanding the structure of academic writing.

💡Research Question

The research question is the central inquiry that guides a thesis or dissertation. The video script advises starting the conclusion by answering the research question, which is integral to demonstrating the fulfillment of the research's objectives. It serves as a reminder of the research's purpose and allows the reader to see how the findings address the initial query.

💡Summarize

To summarize in the context of a conclusion means to provide a brief overview of the key points and findings of the research. The script suggests summarizing and reflecting on the research to remind the reader of the methodology and expectations, which is essential for tying together the research narrative.

💡Reflect

Reflecting in a conclusion involves considering the effectiveness of the research approach and any unexpected outcomes. The script encourages a reflective tone to evaluate how well the results matched expectations and to consider new questions that arose, which adds depth to the conclusion by showing critical analysis of the research process.

💡Recommendations

Recommendations in a conclusion are suggestions for future actions or research based on the findings. The script advises framing these as suggestions rather than imperatives, which is important for maintaining an objective and considerate tone in academic writing. It also stresses the importance of not undermining the current research with future recommendations.

💡Contributions

Emphasizing contributions in a conclusion highlights the research's significance and impact on the field. The script provides strategies for achieving this, such as returning to the problem statement and discussing how the findings confirm or challenge existing theories, which is crucial for demonstrating the value of the research.

💡Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper, typically written after the conclusion. The script suggests writing the abstract next, indicating its role as a concise overview of the research for readers. It's an important component of academic writing that encapsulates the essence of the thesis.

💡Reference List

A reference list is a compilation of all the sources cited in a research paper. The script mentions ensuring the reference list is complete and correctly formatted, which is essential for academic integrity and providing a roadmap for further research.

💡Proofreading

Proofreading is the process of reviewing a document for errors in grammar, spelling, and clarity. The script encourages reading through the thesis to ensure it is free from language errors, which is a critical step in the final stages of thesis writing to ensure professional presentation.

💡Empirical Research

Empirical research is a type of research that relies on observable evidence, often involving data collection and analysis. The script mentions that empirical research conclusions are typically short and focused on stating main findings, which illustrates the varying approaches to conclusions based on the research type.

💡Humanities Thesis

A humanities thesis is a research paper in the fields of humanities, which often involves analysis and interpretation of cultural or historical materials. The script notes that a humanities thesis might require more space in the conclusion to tie chapters together, indicating the diversity in academic writing styles across disciplines.

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 Scribbr’s 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 don’t 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 let’s 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 you’ve 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 you’re making recommendations for policy, business or other practical implementation,

it’s generally best to frame them as suggestions rather than imperatives.

So something like: Based on these conclusions, practitioners

should consider…

If you’re 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 shouldn’t

be required to complete them.

For example: To better understand the implications of these

results, future studies could address…

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 you’ve finished writing your conclusion, it’s time to wrap up your thesis.

It’s a good idea to write the abstract next, while the research is still fresh in your

mind.

If you’re 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 Scribbr’s 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,

I’ll see you in the next one!