Module 8 –

Reporting and
Sharing Research
Findings
Dr. Ma. Martha Manette
A. Madrid
Professor
Lesson 1- Formulating
Recommendations Based on
Conclusions
Research Conclusions
 Generally, it may be briefly described as the last or
ending part of the paper.
 It wraps up the different parts or components of the
paper.
 A good conclusion has to be connected well with
the data analysis.
 It must be written well in order to ensure coherence
with the information written in the report.
 More importantly, it must answer the questions
in the research problem and must contain the
findings and result of the study.
Review of writing the Summary of
Findings
 Kretchmer(2009) suggest the following:
 1. An introductory context for understanding the
results by restating the research problem
underpinning your study.
 2. A summary of your key findings arranged in a
logical sequence that generally follows your
methodology section.
 3. Inclusion of non-textual elements, such as,
figures, charts, photos, maps, tables, etc. to further
illustrate key findings, if appropriate.
Review of writing the Summary of
Findings
 4. A systematic description of your results,
highlighting for the reader observations that are most
relevant to the topic under investigation (remember
that not all results that emerge from the methodology
used to gather the data may be relevant).
 5. Use of the past tense when referring to your results.
 6. The page length of your results section is guided by
the amount and types of data to be reported. However,
focus only on findings that are important and related to
addressing the research problem.
In summary of key findings, the ff.
characteristics must be observed:
1. Presence of a statement on the main
purpose of the study, the respondents,
the period of the study, research
methods used, research instrument, and
the sampling design.
Example on the next slide:
 This study was concluded for the purpose
of determining the status of teaching
science in the high schools of Province A.
The descriptive method of research was
utilized and the normative survey technique
was used for gathering data. All the
teachers handling science and a 20%
representative sample of the students were
the respondents. The inquiry was
conducted during the school year 1989-
1990.
In summary of key findings, the ff.
characteristics must be observed:
2. The findings may be taken all
together but each specific question in
the statement of the problem must be
specified then followed by the findings
that would answer it.
Example on the next slide:
 Considering this Question: How qualified
are the teachers handling science in the high
schools of Province A.
 Of the 59 teachers, 31 or 53.54% were
BSE graduates and three or 5.08% were
MA degree holders. The rest, 25 or 42.37%,
were non-BSE baccalaureate degree holders
with at least 18 education units. Less than
half of all teachers, only 27 or 45.76% were
science majors and the majority, 32 or
54.24% were nonscience majors.
In summary of key findings, the ff.
characteristics must be observed:
 3. The findings should be textual overviews, that’s is,
a synopsis of the important data comprising of text
and numbers. Every statement of the facts should
consists of words, numbers, or statistical measures
merged into a meaningful statement. No deductions,
no inference, no interpretation should be made
otherwise it will only be duplicated in the
conclusions.
 Only the important findings and highlights of the data,
should be incorporated in the summary, especially
those upon which the conclusion will be based.
Writing the Conclusions
These are inferences, deductions,
abstraction, implications,
interpretations, general statements,
and/or generalizations based on
findings.
Ex. All the teachers were qualified to
teach in the high school but the
majority of them were not qualified to
teach science.
Writing the Conclusions
 A good quality conclusion answers the specific
questions identified at the introductory phase of
the research.
 Ex. If the question identified is, “How adequate
are the needs and the facilities for teaching
science?”. And then the findings reveal that the
facilities are less than the needs of the students,
the answer and the conclusion should be:
 “The facilities for the teaching of science are
inadequate”.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 1. Implicitly restate your thesis/position.
 -Restating your argument in a more general
form is important because it shows the reader
you have a cohesive argument that is evident
in your work from start to finish.
 -The thesis is meant to establish the direction
of your essay; the conclusion should make it
clear to the reader that you have kept on track
and supported your argument.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 2. Emphasize the importance of your subject
by placing it in a larger context.
 -This meant answering the “so what” question
that all readers of academic writing ask.
What meaning does it have in your filed of
study, or even in society as a whole.
 -Show how your argument might advance
knowledge in a discipline, take a position in a
larger debate, or provide solutions to a
problem.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 3. Other suggestions for the future based on what you
have argued.
 -Projecting what you have argued into the future
allows the reader to see the meaningfulness of the
argument.
 -Assuming that you have made your point effectively,
the reader is likely to take your predictions seriously
and thus see additional relevance in what you have
argued up to this point.
 -Looking into the future can also make your reader
consider your argument long after they have finished
with your paper.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 4. End on a relevant and powerful quote or
anecdote that serves to “sum up” your paper.
 -End your conclusion (and thus, your paper) on
a concise quote or illustrative example of your
argument.
 -End it with a cohesive and meaningful way.
 -Quotes, anecdotes, or examples can allow you
to do end your essay in a way that both gets
your main point across and is stylistically
effective.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 5. Do not bring in the new normal.
 - It is one thing to generalize or place your
argument in a broader academic context, but
it is quite another to introduce a whole new
idea that you do not have room to develop.
 - If you are mentioning additional ideas in
the conclusion, add in another body
paragraph and expand on the new idea in an
effective way before placing it in the
conclusion.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 6. Do not weaken your position by
apologizing for what you have already argued.
 - If your paper has followed the conventions
of academic writing-if you have create a
thesis and given evidence to support your
position-then you have met the reader’s
expectations.
 -Ending your essay by apologizing for the
stance detracts from the argument you should
actually be emphasizing.
Writing the Conclusions
 Guidelines in writing conclusions:
 7. Do not end on a “cliff hanger”, leaving the
reader feeling unsatisfied.
 - Your goal should be to conclude in such a way
that the reader feels all questions have been
addressed.
 - A paper that hints at further information, or that
promises to resolve an issue but never does, will
not help you make your argument.
 - Your goal is to create a self-contained argument
within the essay, not leave the reader waiting for a
sequel.
Writing the Recommendations
Is a part of the paper where you make
suggestions about some resolutions as
a response to the research problem.
It must be the consistent part of the
conclusion.
It proposes specific solutions
connected with the findings and must
be supported by relevant data and
specific data from the findings.
Tips on How to Write
Recommendations(Teijlingen (2011)
 1. You should not recommend anything that
you have not previously discussed in the
discussion. The rule “no new” material in your
conclusion is also applicable to your
“recommendations”.
 2. It is not the same as conclusions. Consider it
to go one step further than conclusions as (a)
something; (b) someone; and (c) needs to do.
Tips on How to Write
Recommendations(Teijlingen (2011)
 3.There may be different levels within your
set recommendations: for (a) academic (i.e.,
more research is needed into…); (b) for
policy-makers (e.g., data protection act needs
to be change to accommodate..); for (c)
practitioners (i.e., managers in local
government need to consider the mental well-
being of their staff); or recommendation for
(d) training/education.