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Research Paper Conclusion

Last updated on: Oct 28, 2024

Craft a Compelling Research Paper Conclusion in 4 Easy Steps

By: Betty P.

16 min read

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Published on: Mar 6, 2024

Concluding a research paper sounds easy. It’s the last part of the research paper writing process, and you’ve already completed the most challenging parts.

However, if you tried writing one, you’ll know that instead of a smooth ending, the conclusion stands as a final writing challenge. It becomes even more difficult if you don’t know what to include and how to proceed.

The conclusion serves as the final chapter of your research paper, allowing you to wrap up, establish your points, and situate your work in a wider academic context. Unlike an essay conclusion, it is a comprehensive section that addresses more than what’s included in your research paper.

So how can you craft an excellent conclusion for your research paper?

In this guide, we'll discuss the essential elements you should include in 5 easy steps, along with examples and tips to help you out. Let’s get into it!

How to write a research paper conclusion

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How to Write the Research Paper Conclusion - Step-by-Step

Before we go into how to write the conclusion, you may be wondering what should be included in the conclusion of a research paper.

Conclusions for academic research papers include the following elements:

A summary of the data and analysis/discussion sections.
A restatement of why this research matters and how it contributes to the research topic.
An explanation of how the research establishes the hypothesis or answers the central questions (relating back to the aims of the paper).
A discussion of limitations or caveats of the data, research type, methodology or other research aspects.
A discussion of further potential research

So how to write these elements step-by-step? Read on to find out!

Step 1: Summarize with Your Arguments

As you start your conclusion, resist the temptation to rehash your main points merely. Similarly, this is not the time to introduce new information or arguments. Instead, convey the essence of what you have already discussed in a concise and comprehensive way.

You can use the following strategies to summarize your main points:

Highlight the most significant findings or implications of your research. You can use words or phrases such as "the most noteworthy", or "the most relevant" to emphasize the key findings that you want your readers to take away from your paper.
Restate the main ideas expressed in the discussion or analysis section in a concise form. These are the sections where you express your core contributions, and briefly summarizing those key points is essential for a good conclusion.
Synthesize the main points into a coherent whole by showing how they relate to each other and to your overall argument. You can use transition words or phrases such as "therefore", "thus", "in conclusion", "in summary", or "as a result" to connect your main points and show the logical flow of your paper.

Here is an example of how to summarize the main points of a research paper:

The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

In this paper, we have examined the effects of social media on mental health, focusing on three aspects: self-esteem, social comparison, and loneliness. We have found that social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental health, depending on how it is used and by whom. On the one hand, social media can enhance self-esteem, foster social support, and reduce loneliness, especially for people who have low self-esteem, high social anxiety, or limited offline social networks. On the other hand, social media can also lower self-esteem, increase social comparison, and exacerbate loneliness, especially for people who have high self-esteem, low social anxiety, or extensive offline social networks. Therefore, the effects of social media on mental health are not uniform, but rather depend on the individual characteristics and preferences of the users, as well as the features and functions of the social media platforms.

Step 2: Explain How the Results Support Your Thesis

Now that you’ve summarized your main points, you should move on to why they matter. That is, how they contribute to the hypothesis or research problem that you established in the beginning.

Revisit the fundamental argument of your research and underscore its significance. Emphasize how your findings have not only addressed the research question but have broader implications within the academic or real-world context.

Here’s what you should do:

Restate your research problem or hypothesis in different words than you used in the research paper introduction. Do not copy and paste it, but rather paraphrase it using synonyms or alternative expressions. Make sure that you maintain the same meaning and tone as the original thesis.
Reinforce your hypothesis by showing how your main points support it. You can use words or phrases such as "this shows that", "this proves that", "this demonstrates that", or "this confirms that" to link your main points to your thesis and show how they validate your argument.
Mention how your research contributes to the topic. Restate how your research matters in the light of your arguments and thesis.

Here’s an example that builds upon the example given in the previous step.

The main argument this paper presents is that the effects of social media on mental health are not uniform, but rather depend on the individual characteristics and preferences of the users, as well as the features and functions of the social media platforms. This thesis has been supported by the main points of the paper, which have shown that social media can have both positive and negative effects on self-esteem, social comparison, and loneliness, depending on how it is used and by whom. However, this thesis is not without limitations, as it does not account for other factors that may influence mental health, such as personality, mood, life events, or offline relationships. Therefore, more research is needed to explore the complex and dynamic relationship between social media and mental health.

Step 3: Discuss Limitations

The third step in writing a conclusion for a research paper is to discuss the limitations of your research. Limitations are the factors that affect the validity, reliability, or generalizability of your findings. Addressing the limitations demonstrates academic honesty and makes your contribution clearer and specific.

Remember, limitations are not the same as errors or mistakes but rather the inherent constraints of your research design, methods, or analysis.

Here’s how to discuss the limitations:

Identify the main limitations of your research. For instance, whether the limitation is in the scope, method, data, or any other part. You do not need to list every single limitation but rather focus on the most relevant or significant ones that affect the interpretations.
Explain the impact of the limitations on your research. That is, how are the identified limitations significant, or how do they affect the results of your study?
Suggest ways to address the limitations in future research. This will help you connect and transition to the next step, which is about proposing further endeavors.

Check out this example, continued from above:

One of the limitations of this research is that it relied on self-reported measures of social media use and mental health. This may have introduced some biases or inaccuracies in the data, such as social desirability, recall errors, or response styles. This limits the validity and reliability of the findings, as they may not reflect the actual behaviors or experiences of the participants. One way to overcome this limitation is to use more objective measures of social media use and mental health, such as digital traces, physiological indicators, or clinical assessments. Future research should also use more diverse and representative samples of social media users, as this research mainly focuses on young adults from developed countries. This would enhance the generalizability and applicability of the findings to different populations and contexts.

Step 4: Propose Potential for Further Research

The next step is to propose potential for further research. This is where you can suggest new avenues or directions for future studies that can build on your research or address the gaps or limitations that you have identified.

Suggest potential avenues for further exploration. That is, how future researchers can benefit from and take your research forward. By doing so, you position your work as a catalyst for further academic and intellectual dialogue around the topic.

Follow these tips when talking about further research:

Articulate unanswered questions. Pose thought-provoking questions that arise from your research but remain unanswered. By articulating these questions, you not only stimulate intellectual curiosity but also guide future scholars in formulating hypotheses and research objectives.
Suggest methodological improvements. Reflect on the methodologies employed in your study and suggest areas for improvement or alternative approaches. This not only contributes to the methodological discourse but also invites researchers to refine and innovate in their future investigations.
Encourage diverse perspectives. Emphasize the importance of diverse perspectives in approaching the research topic. Advocate for interdisciplinary collaborations and varied methodologies to enrich the depth and breadth of future research endeavors.
Highlight emerging trends. If applicable, shed light on emerging trends or technologies related to your research. This not only showcases the relevance of your work in a dynamic context but also prompts researchers to explore the cutting edge of the field.
Reference promising areas for exploration. Direct attention to specific areas within your study that hold promise for further exploration. This helps future researchers to focus their efforts and build upon the foundations you've laid.

Here’s an example:

One of the areas that need further exploration is the role of personality traits in moderating the effects of social media on mental health. This is important because personality traits may influence how people use social media, how they perceive and react to social media feedback, and how they cope with social media stress. This could help to explain the individual differences in the effects of social media on mental health and to identify the risk factors or protective factors for social media users. A possible way to explore this area is to use a longitudinal design that measures the personality traits and the mental health outcomes of social media users over time, and to use statistical methods such as moderation analysis or mediation analysis to examine the relationships among the variables. Future research should also consider the cultural and contextual factors that may affect the effects of social media on mental health, such as the social norms, values, and expectations of different societies or groups. This is relevant because culture and context may shape the meaning and purpose of social media use, the types and quality of social media interactions, and the sources and levels of social media pressure. This could help to understand the cross-cultural and situational variations in the effects of social media on mental health and to develop culturally sensitive and context-specific interventions for social media users. An alternative way to investigate this issue is to use a comparative design that compares the effects of social media on mental health among different cultural or contextual groups, and to use qualitative methods such as interviews or focus groups to explore the experiences and perspectives of social media users from different backgrounds.

Tips for Writing a More Effective Research Paper Conclusion

The conclusion of a research paper is your last chance to make a good impression on your readers and leave them with a clear understanding. So it’s important to follow some guidelines and avoid some common pitfalls when writing your conclusion.

Here are some of the do’s and don’ts of research paper conclusion:

The Do’s

Write in a clear and confident tone. Use a tone that shows that you have achieved the goals of your research and that you are confident in your findings and conclusions. Avoid using tentative or vague language such as "it seems", "it appears", or "it might be".
Use a logical and coherent structure. The conclusion should follow the order of your paper and connect it to the introduction and the body. It reinforces the points and arguments in the readers’ minds.
Use transition words or phrases. Connect the different elements of the conclusion through signal phrases and transition words to signal the end of your paper and to link your conclusion to your main points.
Use a memorable and impactful closing sentence. That leaves a lasting impression on your readers and encourages them to think further about your topic or take action. You can use a rhetorical question, a quotation, a call to action, or a personal reflection to end your paper with a bang.
Use appropriate citations and references. You should cite any idea in your conclusion that comes from an external source. Follow the citation style and format that is required by your field or your instructor. Provide a reference list or a bibliography at the end of your paper that includes all the sources that you have cited in your paper.

The Don’ts

Don’t introduce new information in the conclusion. Your conclusion is a synthesis, not an opportunity to present novel findings.
Don’t use generic statements. Ensure your language is clear and specific, reinforcing the unique aspects of your research.
Don’t overwhelm your conclusion with excessive details. Balance conciseness with completeness to keep your readers engaged.
Don’t neglect the limitations. Acknowledge constraints transparently to build credibility and guide future research directions.
Don’t rush the conclusion. Take the time to carefully craft a closing that encapsulates the essence of your research journey.
Don’t repeat the exact same sentences. That is, do not use the same words that you have used in the introduction or the body of your paper. This will bore your readers and make your conclusion seem redundant or unoriginal.
Don’t make exaggerated or unsupported claims. Avoid statements that go beyond the scope or evidence of your research. This will weaken your credibility and make your conclusion seem biased.

Research Paper Conclusion Example

Here’s a complete example of a research paper conclusion. It combines the examples presented in the step-by-step instructions with the provided tips to present you with a complete picture of an excellent conclusion.

Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Conclusion

However, this thesis is not without limitations, as it does not account for other factors that may influence mental health, such as personality, mood, life events, or offline relationships. Therefore, more research is needed to explore the complex and dynamic relationship between social media and mental health. One of the limitations of this research is that it relied on self-reported measures of social media use and mental health. This may have introduced some biases or inaccuracies in the data, such as social desirability, recall errors, or response styles. This limits the validity and reliability of the findings, as they may not reflect the actual behaviors or experiences of the participants.

One way to overcome this limitation is to use more objective measures of social media use and mental health, such as digital traces, physiological indicators, or clinical assessments. Future research should also use more diverse and representative samples of social media users, as this research mainly focused on young adults from developed countries. This would enhance the generalizability and applicability of the findings to different populations and contexts.

These limitations present opportunities for future researchers. One of the areas that need further exploration is the role of personality traits in moderating the effects of social media on mental health. This is important because personality traits may influence how people use social media, how they perceive and react to social media feedback, and how they cope with social media stress. This could help to explain the individual differences in the effects of social media on mental health and to identify the risk factors or protective factors for social media users. A possible way to explore this area is to use a longitudinal design that measures the personality traits and the mental health outcomes of social media users over time, and to use statistical methods such as moderation analysis or mediation analysis to examine the relationships among the variables. Future research should also consider the cultural and contextual factors that may affect the effects of social media on mental health, such as the social norms, values, and expectations of different societies or groups. This is relevant because culture and context may shape the meaning and purpose of social media use, the types and quality of social media interactions, and the sources and levels of social media pressure. This could help to understand the cross-cultural and situational variations in the effects of social media on mental health and to develop culturally sensitive and context-specific interventions for social media users. An alternative way to investigate this issue is to use a comparative design that compares the effects of social media on mental health among different cultural or contextual groups, and to use qualitative methods such as interviews or focus groups to explore the experiences and perspectives of social media users from different backgrounds.

Finally, the findings of this paper have important implications for both researchers and practitioners who are interested in understanding and improving the mental health of social media users. Social media is a pervasive and influential phenomenon that affects the lives of millions of people around the world. Therefore, it is essential to examine its effects on mental health from multiple perspectives and dimensions, and to develop effective strategies and interventions that can enhance the well-being and happiness of social media users.

Here are some more conclusions you can read:

Research Paper Conclusion Example

Research Paper Conclusion Example MLA

Research Paper Conclusion Sample

To Wrap it Up,

Writing a conclusion for a research paper is not as easy as it may seem. However, you can make it simpler and more effective by following some simple steps and avoiding common mistakes.

Follow the steps, examples, and tips provided above for writing a conclusion for any topic or type of research paper. This will make your conclusions more effective and impactful.

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Betty P.

Literature

Betty is a freelance writer and researcher. She has a Masters in literature and enjoys providing writing services to her clients. Betty is an avid reader and loves learning new things. She has provided writing services to clients from all academic levels and related academic fields.