Summary, Conclusions, Discussion, and Recommendations

1
Chapter 5

• Summary, Conclusions, Discussion, and
  Recommendations

2
Ch. 5 Summary

• Provides an overview of the entire study
• Allows readers to understand the rationale and
  methodology for the study
• Should address each element of the dissertation
  in summary fashion

3
Ch. 5 Summary (cont.)

• Generally subdivided into the following
  subsections
• Introduction restates Problem Statement and/or
  Purpose of the Study
• Research Questions restates the studys Research
  Questions or Null Hypotheses (may be included in
  previous subsection)

4
Ch. 5 Summary (cont.)

• Subsections (cont.)
• Review of Literature brief summary of Literature
  Review from Chapter 2
• Methodology Brief restatement of procedures used
  to collect and analyze data for the study
• Findings listing or restatement of study findings

5
Ch. 5 Conclusions

• Conclusions are drawn from study findings
• Often address research questions or null
  hypotheses (not necessarily in a one-to-one
  manner)
• Usually listed succinctly, but may be written in
  more narrative format

6
Ch. 5 Conclusions (cont.)

• Conclusions are often broader and more general
  than findings
• May incorporate two/more findings into each
  conclusion
• Should not be simple restatements of findings
• Usually written in present tense

7
Ch. 5 Discussion

• Provides a form for the researchers to
  explain/examine study findings and conclusions
• May include researcher's interpretation of
  findings and conclusions
• May be used to proposed models or theories based
  on study results

8
Ch. 5 Discussion (cont.)

• Frequently compares or relates study results to
  information presented in the literature review
• Allows researcher more latitude to state opinions
  and explore ideas than other sections of
  dissertation (if related to the study)

9
Ch. 5 Recommendations

• Generally, two types of recommendations
• Practice prescriptive recommendations regarding
  how study results might (or should) be used by
  practitioners (often relate to Significance of
  Study)
• Further Study recommendations regarding proposed
  follow-up or replication studies (often related
  to Limitations/Delimitations)