Conclusions

This section of the study aims to answer the general statement of the problem. It usually begins with the clause, “Based from the findings, the researcher therefore concludes the following:”.

For quantitative non-experimental research, present the results from the inferential findings in statement form. Did your study demonstrate a significant relationship/difference? Characterize that relationship or difference. No need to put numbers.

For quantitative experimental research or qualitative outcomes research, answer the question: was the intervention/treatment/product/program/service effective? Characterize that effect.

For qualitative research, present and describe concisely the superordinate themes or higher level abstraction categories which directly address the general research problem.

For mixed methods research, focus more on the integration of research strands or phases that address the general research problem.

For research with output, also give a brief description of the output.

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Summary

This section of the study reorients the reader regarding the research objective of the study and the design and process it used in order to collect and analyze the data. Then it represents in outline form the general/major findings of the study that answers each research question.

The first paragraph is a concise description of the research problem and the methods used. Include only the important details on the methods, such as the research design, research method, population and sampling and data analysis procedure. See example below:

This study sought to analyze the predictive relationship of the ethical standing of shampoo brands as perceived by adolescent consumers and their buying behavior. This is a descriptive cross-sectional correlational study surveyed 2,000 adolescents recruited from public and private universities in South Manila. Findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression.

The first paragraph is followed by an outline of the findings of the study that is patterned from the specific research questions. Composite scores and major statistical values are also presented. See example below: 

Findings of the study are as follows: ·      Majority of the respondents are female (f=1,500; 75%), 18 years old (f=1,000, 50%), studying in private schools (f=1,200; 60%), single (f=1,900; 95%) and Roman Catholic (f=1,800; 90%). ·      The weighted means on ethical standing of shampoo brands as rated by the adolescents are 3.74 for brand A, 3.56 for brand B and 3.24 for brand C. All of the brands have an ethical standing with a verbal interpretation of very high ethical standards. ·      The mean score buying behavior of the adolescents for the shampoos are as follows: brand A with 7.5 times a year; brand B with 6.89 times a year and brand C with 2 times a year. ·      For all three brands, high ethical standing positively predicts buying behavior (p<0.01).

For qualitative research, the findings section of the summary indicates the major themes and the subordinate themes, and other lower level abstraction categories under them. Below is an example from a phenomenological study by Smethurst and Kuss (2018) on the weblogs documenting the inside experience of recovering from Anorexia Nervosa.

Findings on the super-ordinate themes, subordinate themes and subcategories that emerged from the analysis of data are as follows:       1.     Barriers to recovery 1.1.Perception of others 1.1.1.     Society’s ideal 1.1.2.     Others’ behavior 1.2.Time/patience 1.3.AN identity 1.3.1.     AN voice 1.3.2.     AN as a person influencing behavior       2.     Factors increasing recovery likelihood 2.1.Regaining control 2.2.Reclaim self-identity 2.2.1.     Increased self-worth 2.2.2.     Changed values/perspective 2.3.Recognizing the consequences of the disorder (AN)       3.     Support 3.1.Professional help 3.2.Interpersonal connections 3.2.1.     Family 3.2.2.     Friendships

For mixed methods or multi-phase research, answers for each strand or phase must be presented in the outline.

For research with outputs, briefly describe the output that you have created based on the empirical findings of your research.

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Chapter 4: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

This chapter presents the summary of the study, the conclusions, recommendations and implications of the study. This reorients the reader to the problem and procedure undertaken by the study, the composite and major findings of the study, the conclusions based from the results, the recommendations forwarded by the researcher based from the findings and the implications of the study as deemed by the researcher.

Table 1

Parts of chapter 4 and short description for each

Section	Description
Summary	Summarizes the research objective, research methods and re-presents the major findings of the study
Conclusions	Answers the general statement of the problem, generalizing from all the findings yielded from the study
Recommendations	Provides theoretical and practical recommendations based from the findings and to previously identified beneficiaries/stakeholders
Implications	Presents a discussion on how the findings may be important for the policy, professional practice, theory and ethico-moral standards
___________________________	_____________________________________________

Quantitative Results: Test for Relationships

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Note 1: even the hypotheses that were not rejected (not significant difference) should also be analyzed. The analysis can be either or both of the following: (1) literature that support the lack of significance, and; (2) a characteristic or flaw in the study design that could have been the source of the lack of significance.

Note 2: there is no specific rule on the length of discussion for the analysis of each result. However, it is generally understood that the more comprehensive the discussion of analysis, the better.