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Writing dissertation chapter 5: the biggest mistake students make, published by steve tippins on june 4, 2020 june 4, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 04:50 am

Chapter 5 of your dissertation is different from all of the previous four chapters.

If you’re beginning to write Chapter 5 of your dissertation, you know that most of the writing you’ve done up until now was fairly formulaic. You’ve probably been following templates with strict requirements about what needs to be included in each section and subsection. Even in Chapter 5, many schools will give you a template. But don’t let that fool you.

Regardless of whether you receive a rubric for it, Chapter 5 of your dissertation is unique. 

Your dissertation’s Chapter 5 is where you get to be more individualistic than in any other chapter and really “sing your song.” Why? It’s where you tell the reader what your results mean. Not just what they are, but what they mean. You tell them what they should take away from your study. You describe how your results can help others in the world or in the field. 

The Most Common Mistake Students Make When Writing Chapter 5 of Their Dissertation

The biggest mistake students make when writing their dissertation’s Chapter 5 is not writing enough. In fact, students often submit an “implications” section that’s only a few paragraphs.

As a committee member , it’s hard to see someone who has spent a year on a research topic and written 100+ pages about it and then get to the implications in Chapter 5 and see two paragraphs. This begs the question, “You mean this is all you have to say?”

Don’t cheat yourself in Chapter 5. Really explain and tell the story of what your results mean.

This is where you get to bring out your intellectual curiosity and help others really understand what you did and why you did it, what it means, and why it’s important. Of course, you’ll need to do this all within the guidelines of what your university will allow you to do. 

Normally Chapter 5 of a dissertation is about 15-20 pages. If it’s under ten pages, you’re really underselling your research. When you get to around 30-40 pages, your committee is going to wonder, “did all this come from your study?” or “couldn’t this have been said more succinctly?” 

Tips for Writing Dissertation Chapter 5

Reference the Literature. If you’re stumped for things to write, look at what you said in Chapter 2 and tell the reader what your results mean in relation to what the researchers you quoted in Chapter 2 were talking about.l How you have added knowledge to the field?

Consider Your Defense. When you do the defense of your final document, Chapter 5 is where you end up at the end of your presentation. This is the last thing you talk about before you get to questions, and it’s where you may be able to answer questions before they come up. 

Address Your Problem and Purpose. Don’t forget to remind the reader what your problem statement and research questions were at the beginning of Chapter 5. Explain how your results apply to the problem and purpose.

Back Everything Up. Also remember that even though it’s your chance to interpret and even express yourself, you still have to back everything up. Use quotes or data points from your results section and relate it to other research.

Use a Bird’s Eye View. This is where you can use graphics, charts, graphs, or other data that are much broader in scope than you might use elsewhere. In Chapter 4, for example, you’re going to use a graph that specifically relates to a statistical test you did. In Chapter 5, you might use one that’s broader in scope if it fits the flow of what you’re writing.

Tell a story. While other chapters might have been written in more of a compartmentalized style because of their formulaic nature, in Chapter 5 you’re really telling the story of your research. In line with that, the writing will need more of a flow. 

Dissertation Chapter 5 Sample Template With Explanations

Introduction 

In the introduction, tell the reader what they’re going to learn in Chapter 5. Reiterate the problem and purpose statements and your research questions and, if appropriate, reference the results from Chapter 4.

Implications

This is where you tell people here’s what the results of your study mean and why they are important. It also acts as a summary or “summing up” of the data. “These people said this,” or “this statistic was significant.” Make sure to support what you say with the research findings and avoid drawing conclusions that are beyond the scope of the study results.

Then discuss the real-world application of your findings. For example, “This is an approach that could be used by schools to help autistic children have better learning outcomes,” or “this is a technique that investors can use to predict valuable stock market returns.” Again, make sure to stay within the scope of your study.

Place your study in context. Describe how the results respond to the study problem, align with the purpose, demonstrate significance, and contribute to the existing literature described in Chapter 2. 

Recommendations

The recommendations section is where you get to say, “and if you want to take this further, here are some suggestions for ways that this could be broadened or enhanced.” Here are some examples of what these suggestions could look like:

• Different samples and populations
• Ways to get at any limitations you reported in your study
• Different approaches: qualitative if your study was quantitative, or quantitative if yours was qualitative, for example. Describe approaches that would be complementary to your study.
• Related research that you’re already working on. Sometimes researchers work on multiple complementary projects simultaneously. Occasionally, they’ll include another related study that they’re working on in their recommendations section. This establishes a clear path of knowledge.
• Practical, real-world suggestions. “Here are some recommendations for how this research could be used in the real world.”

The conclusion of Chapter 5 is where you get to wrap up your story. “And so, boys and girls, this is what all this came down to.” Okay, you might not want to phrase it like that. But that’s essentially what you’re doing.

Don’t try to add new information in the conclusion. Remember, it’s like a speech: tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them. 

Finishing Your Dissertation

Writing Chapter 5 and defending your dissertation is a big step towards getting your degree. Many students benefit from the support of a coach who is an experienced Dissertation Committee Chair at this point. A coach can conduct a mock defense with you in order to prepare you for the types of questions your committee will ask. Having answers to these questions can determine whether or not you pass your defense.

Check out my dissertation coaching services or contact me to book a free 30-minute consultation.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Dissertation Structure & Layout 101: How to structure your dissertation, thesis or research project.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019

So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.

To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .

*The Caveat *

In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).

So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.  

Overview: S tructuring a dissertation or thesis

• Acknowledgements page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Table of contents , list of figures and tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Discussion
• Chapter 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:

• The introduction chapter presents the core research question and aims .
• The literature review chapter assesses what the current research says about this question.
• The methodology, results and discussion chapters go about undertaking new research about this question.
• The conclusion chapter (attempts to) answer the core research question .

In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.

To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.

Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.

The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:

• Succinct (not overly lengthy or verbose)
• Specific (not vague or ambiguous)
• Representative of the research you’re undertaking (clearly linked to your research questions)

Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:

• The broader area of the research (i.e. the overarching topic)
• The specific focus of your research (i.e. your specific context)
• Indication of research design (e.g. quantitative , qualitative , or  mixed methods ).

For example:

A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].

Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).

Acknowledgements

This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.

So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:

• Your dissertation supervisor or committee.
• Any professors, lecturers or academics that helped you understand the topic or methodologies.
• Any tutors, mentors or advisors.
• Your family and friends, especially spouse (for adult learners studying part-time).

There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.

Abstract or executive summary

The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .

For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):

• Your research questions and aims – what key question(s) did your research aim to answer?
• Your methodology – how did you go about investigating the topic and finding answers to your research question(s)?
• Your findings – following your own research, what did do you discover?
• Your conclusions – based on your findings, what conclusions did you draw? What answers did you find to your research question(s)?

So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.

In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .

Need a helping hand?

Table of contents

This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:

If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.

Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…

It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:

• What will you be investigating (in plain-language, big picture-level)?
• Why is that worth investigating? How is it important to academia or business? How is it sufficiently original?
• What are your research aims and research question(s)? Note that the research questions can sometimes be presented at the end of the literature review (next chapter).
• What is the scope of your study? In other words, what will and won’t you cover ?
• How will you approach your research? In other words, what methodology will you adopt?
• How will you structure your dissertation? What are the core chapters and what will you do in each of them?

These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.

If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.

Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:

• What does the literature currently say about the topic you’re investigating?
• Is the literature lacking or well established? Is it divided or in disagreement?
• How does your research fit into the bigger picture?
• How does your research contribute something original?
• How does the methodology of previous studies help you develop your own?

Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.

Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.

Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…

In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:

• Exactly HOW will you carry out your research (i.e. what is your intended research design)?
• Exactly WHY have you chosen to do things this way (i.e. how do you justify your design)?

Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.

Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.

In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!

You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.

Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.

Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).

What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.

Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.

The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).

Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings . In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?

Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!

This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.

It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:

Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.

The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.

Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!

Time to recap…

And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:

• Acknowledgments page

Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).

I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the  Grad Coach Blog .

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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36 Comments

many thanks i found it very useful

Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.

Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!

what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much

Thanks so much this helped me a lot!

Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.

Thanks Ade!

Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..

You’re welcome!

Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?

Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment

You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.

best ever benefit i got on right time thank you

Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .

I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these

You have given immense clarity from start to end.

Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?

Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!

Thanks ! so concise and valuable

This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.

Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.

Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times

Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.

Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills

Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear

Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .

That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!

My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!

Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?

It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂

Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!

Great video; I appreciate that helpful information

It is so necessary or avital course

This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you

Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates

wow this is an amazing gain in my life

This is so good

How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?

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Thesis Writing: What to Write in Chapter 5

Table of contents, introduction.

This article tells what a budding researcher must include in Chapter 5-the Summary. It also includes the tense of the verb and the semantic markers, which are predominantly used in writing the summary, conclusions, and recommendations.

For others, writing Chapter 5 is the easiest part of thesis writing, but there are groups of students who would like to know more about it. If you are one of them, this article on how to write chapter 5 of your thesis is purposely written for you.

What to Write in Chapter 5

1. write the summary.

First, you must go directly to the point of highlighting the main points. There is no need to explain the details thoroughly. You must avoid copying and pasting what you have written in the previous chapters. Just KISS (keep it short and simple)!

Then, write sentences in  simple past  and always use  passive voice  construction rather than the active voice. You must also be familiar with the different semantic markers.

When I was enrolled in Academic Writing in my master’s degree, I learned that there are semantic markers which can be used in order not to repeat the same words or phrases such as  additionally, also, further, in addition to, moreover, contrary to, with regard to, as regards, however, finally, during the past ___ years, from 1996 to 2006, after 10 years, as shown in, as presented in, consequently, nevertheless, in fact, on the other hand, subsequently and nonetheless.

Next, you may use the following guide questions to check that you have not missed anything in writing the summary:

Finally, organize the summary of the results of your study according to the way the questions are sequenced in the statement of the problem.

2. Write the Conclusion or Conclusions

3. write the recommendations.

The recommendations must contain practical suggestions that will improve the situation or solve the problem investigated in the study.

First, it must be logical, specific, attainable, and relevant. Second, it should be addressed to persons, organizations, or agencies directly concerned with the issues or to those who can immediately implement the recommended solutions. Third, present another topic which is very relevant to the present study that can be further investigated by future researchers.

First, it must be logical, specific, attainable, and relevant. Second, it should be addressed to persons, organizations, or agencies directly concerned with the issues or to those who can immediately implement the recommended solutions. Third, present another topic that is very relevant to the present study that can be further investigated by future researchers.

Recommend nothing that is not part of your research or not being mentioned in your findings.

© 2014 July 29 M. G. Alvior | Updated 2024 January 10

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Variables of the study in the research paradigm: which ones to include, a research on the professional development model for teachers, an example of a conceptual framework with statement of the problem, about the author, mary g. alvior, phd, 100 comments.

This is very helpful especially the grammar part. It really jumped start my writing effort… really want to finish my study with style.

Hello maam my PhD research purely a qualitative study on community based organization of slum ..i used 3 tool case study , participant observation and FGDs to analyse role, impact, challenge and aspiration of CBOs . i used tabular form (matrix to analyse ) did not use any software..

Eric, you are welcome. I wish you are able to finish your work.

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Writing a dissertation can be an overwhelming task. There are so many steps that it can be a bit hectic to keep track of them all!

If you're currently in the process of completing your dissertation, then you know that Chapter 5 is one of the most important parts. In this blog post, we will provide a detailed guide on whatever you need to know about Chapter 5 of your dissertation.

What is Chapter 5?

In dissertation, chapter 5 is the conclusion chapter. In chapter 5, you will summarize your research findings and draw conclusions. This chapter should also include future implications for further research related to your topic.

Overview of Chapter 5

The fifth chapter is where you report on your research findings. It means discussing both qualitative and quantitative data collected during your study. You should also include any trends or patterns in the data that may apply to your conclusions.

It’s important to discuss any unexpected results that may have arisen during your study as well as any limitations of the research methodology employed. Finally, this chapter should also provide an analysis of the implications of your work for future research.

Important Things to Consider While Writing Chapter 5

 a.  Length

The conclusion chapter should not be too long or too short. It should be long enough to summarize the key findings and contributions of the research adequately but not so long that it becomes repetitive or overly detailed. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a length of around 10% of the total dissertation word count.

To get detailed insight into how long your dissertation should be, you can visit this link:

How long should my dissertation be?

b.  Significance

In the concluding chapter, it's important to emphasize the significance of the research. It means highlighting not just what was discovered but why it matters. What are the implications of the research for the field or society as a whole? How does it advance knowledge or solve a practical problem? By answering these questions, the writer can help the reader understand the broader impact of the research.

In chapter 5 dissertation’s tone should be sophisticated and professional. However, it's also important to strike a balance between being objective and enthusiastic. While it's important to avoid making unsupported claims or over-hyping the significance of the research, it's also okay to express some excitement about the findings and their potential implications.

d.  Reflection

In addition to summarizing the research, the conclusion chapter is also a good place to reflect on the process of conducting the research.

• What were some of the challenges or surprises that arose during the study?
• What did the researcher learn about the topic, the methods, or themselves?

This kind of reflection can add depth and context to the dissertation.

e.  Organization

It's important to ensure that the conclusion chapter is well-organized and easy to follow. That means using clear headings, transitional phrases, and summary statements to guide the reader through the key points. It's also important to avoid introducing new information or arguments in the conclusion chapter, as this can confuse the reader and undermine the coherence of the overall dissertation.

Very satisfied students

Effective ways to write chapter 5 in dissertation.

To write an effective conclusion chapter, the following steps should be considered:

1.   Recapitulate the Research Questions or Objectives

Begin by restating the research questions or objectives addressed in the dissertation. It helps to ensure that the reader is reminded of the research's focus and the dissertation's purpose.

2.  Summarize the Findings

Provide a summary of the key findings of the research. Highlight the analysis's main points, and ensure that you provide a clear and concise summary of the results. You can discuss the relevance of the findings to the research questions and objectives.

3.  Discuss the Contributions of the Study

It is where you discuss the impact of your research on the field. Highlight the originality and significance of your findings, and explain how they contribute to the current knowledge in the field. You can also suggest how your research can be built upon by future studies.

4.  Address the Limitations of the Study

Every study has limitations, and it is essential to acknowledge them in your conclusion chapter. Discuss any weaknesses or limitations of your study, and explain how they may have affected your findings. It helps to ensure that the reader has a complete understanding of the research and its potential shortcomings.

5.  Offer Recommendations for Future Research

This is an opportunity to suggest areas that require further investigation. Highlight the gaps in the research, and suggest how future studies can address them. It can help to guide future researchers in their work and ensure that the field continues to progress.

Writing a dissertation is hectic, no doubt! But if you break it down into manageable pieces like chapters, it becomes much easier to stay on top of everything needed for completion. In this blog post, we provided a detailed guide on what you need to know about writing Chapter 5 – the conclusion section – which includes summarizing all previous sections and discussing any future implications for further research related to your topic.

Check out these resources below to get more academic assistance:

• How to Write a Reflection Paper: Guidelines with Examples
• Dissertation Acknowledgements Done Right: A Guide on How to Write Acknowledgement for Dissertation
• A Comprehensive Guide on How to Write an Introduction Paragraph. Five plus Examples

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Introduction for Types of Dissertations Overview of the Dissertation Self-Assessment Exercise What is a Dissertation Committee Different Types of Dissertations Introduction for Overview of the Dissertation Process Responsibilities: the Chair, the Team and You Sorting Exercise Stages of a Dissertation Managing Your Time Create Your Own Timeline Working with a Writing Partner Key Deadlines Self Assessment Exercise Additional Resources Purpose and Goals Read and Evaluate Chapter 1 Exemplars Draft an Introduction of the Study Outline the Background of the Problem Draft your Statement of the Problem Draft your Purpose of the Study Draft your Significance of the Study List the Possible Limitations and Delimitations Explicate the Definition of Terms Outline the Organization of the Study Recommended Resources and Readings Purpose of the Literature Review What is the Literature? Article Summary Table Writing a Short Literature Review Outline for Literature Review Synthesizing the Literature Review Purpose of the Methodology Chapter Topics to Include Preparing to Write the Methodology Chapter Confidentiality Building the Components for Chapter Three Preparing for Your Qualifying Exam (aka Proposal Defense) What is Needed for Your Proposal Defense? Submitting Your Best Draft Preparing Your Abstract for IRB Use of Self-Assessment Preparing Your PowerPoint During Your Proposal Defense After Your Proposal Defense Pre-observation – Issues to consider During Observations Wrapping Up Recommended Resources and Readings (Qualitative) Quantitative Data Collection Recommended Resources and Readings (Quantitative) Qualitative: Before you Start Qualitative: During Analysis Qualitative: After Analysis Qualitative: Recommended Resources and Readings Quantitative: Deciding on the Right Analysis Quantitative: Data Management and Cleaning Quantitative: Keep Track of your Analysis The Purpose of Chapter 4 The Elements of Chapter 4 Presenting Results (Quantitative) Presenting Findings (Qualitative) Chapter 4 Considerations The Purpose of Chapter 5 Preparing Your Abstract for the Graduate School Draft the Introduction for Chapter 5 Draft the Summary of Findings Draft Implications for Practice Draft your Recommendations for Research Draft your Conclusions What is Needed What Happens During the Final Defense? What Happens After the Final Defense? Draft the Introduction for Chapter 5 Topic 2:  Chapter 5 Local:    310-421-8927 Have a Question? Call us 24 Hours! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ --> --> --> Monday:   10 am - 9 pm Tuesday:   10 am - 9 pm Wednesday:   10 am - 9 pm Thursday:   10 am - 5 pm Friday:   10 am - 5 pm Saturday:   12 am - 7 pm Sunday:   12 am - 8 pm --> --> This is the final chapter of your dissertation and the most unique of them all. Before this, most of the chapters can easily be written following a template with strict requirements for each section. However, this chapter is the one where you get to be individualistic the most. Your goal in this final chapter is to inform the reader of what your results are and what they mean. You emphasize the key points to take away from the fundamental research you’ve done. You describe how your results can help others both in the real world and in further research in the field. You are free to state your opinion on your results and draw your own conclusions. This chapter aims to remind your reader of your findings from the previous chapters, summarize your interpretations, and illustrate how your research will affect the current understanding of the field and its practical applications. This chapter is crucial to tying up your arguments and solidifying your research work. Everything you’ve written till now builds up to this chapter, where you conclude by giving the strongest and most important statement that highlights the outcome of the study. One of the biggest mistakes often made when writing Chapter 5 is not including enough thoughts about the research. It is easy to find a research work with more than a hundred pages with only three paragraphs in the implications in Chapter 5. Avoid this mistake! Explain your work and its applications and implications in detail. This is why you use all your intellect and help the reader understand your objectives and why it’s important. Don’t undersell your research. Another mistake, apart from writing too little in the conclusion, is writing laborious summaries of the preceding chapters. Although the conclusion needs to review the preceding information, it should be done neatly and concisely, not in lengthy rants that take up your reader’s time. The summary is to provide a framework and context for the main bulk of the chapter. Another common mistake is introducing new material in this section. This can be confusing for your reader. Any information needed to make the concluding case should have been introduced earlier. Any new argument you want to make for your thesis should be included in the discussion section instead. Bringing up new material in the concluding section gives the impression that you are too lazy to go back to make the needed adjustments. Another mistake amateurs, and even some professionals, tend to make is not including an analysis of the research limitations. Making a note of the limitations of the research shows that you have a good grasp of the research topic, and you’ve fully considered the overall picture. You don’t need to overstate the weaknesses of your research, though – include clear statements of what the research does and doesn’t do. Exaggerating your claims, or underestimating your claims, is also another common mistake. – In the introduction of this chapter, restate briefly and succinctly the problem and purposes statements of your research. Reference the results from the preceding chapter. State what the reader should expect in the chapter by giving a brief outline. – The summary aims to refresh the reader’s understanding of the results from chapter 4. Don’t explain in detail; highlight the main points. Make your summary straight to the point. Make use of the past tense in writing this section. – Defend your belief in your findings – what you found in your research and what you didn’t find. Mention your thoughts on the possible factors affecting your findings stated in the Summary section. If the result was not what you were expecting, you must still explain why your methodology did not produce the findings you expected. List the research questions stated in the introductory chapter and answer them with your findings. – This section should illustrate how the results of your study will add to the existing body of knowledge on the concepts addressed in your research. Acknowledge the perspectives of others who share the same or similar views as those indicated in your research. Compare and contrast your research findings with the results of other researchers. Outline how your study has contributed to your theoretical framework and how it could affect the theoretical discourse, if applicable. Indicate how your research findings can significantly impact the general field and the broad implications of that. – In your conclusion, you must relate the research questions and objectives to the existing knowledge and the significance of the study. You can freely state your personal opinion on the collected data. – The recommendations can either be for further study or change or both. The recommendations should be based on your findings and could include practical, real-world suggestions. The references should follow the format of a specific style guide. List the name and year of publication for every reference in this section. – Include letters of permission, invitation and consent forms, as well as data collection instruments. Writing this final chapter and defending your dissertation is a huge step towards achieving your goal. The tips above will prove helpful as you tackle the challenge. You could also benefit from having a coach to guide you through this process.         --> -->   -->   -->         -->          © ThePaperExperts.com All right reserved   |     |   File(s) under embargo until file(s) become available Exploring Online Learners’ Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in the Context of Educational Technology The overarching goal of this dissertation is to explore effective learning strategies for improving online learners’ academic performance in the context of educational technology. Specifically, this dissertation consists of an introduction (Chapter 1), a meta-analysis (Chapter 2), two empirical studies (Chapters 3 & 4), and a summary (Chapter 5). The meta-analysis was conducted to address the relationship between online self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies and academic performance in higher education. The results of the meta-analysis revealed a significant summary effect of online SRL strategies on academic performance ( k = 28, r = .21). Seven out of the 28 studies focus on the major of education. These results suggested the critical role of online SRL in higher education and directed my online SRL research to education. In the first empirical study, I explored the impact of online SRL strategies on preservice teachers’ (PSTs) learning experiences in educational technology using structural equation modeling. The results of the second study revealed that PSTs’ online SRL strategies significantly mediate the relationship between PSTs’ technology integration self-efficacy and their actual technology competencies. Given the significant role of online SRL in PSTs’ technology use, in the second empirical study, I investigated individual differences (i.e., gender, technology self-efficacy, prior online learning experiences, and teacher education programs) in PSTs’ use of online SRL strategies with multilevel modeling technique. Results highlighted significant variations in online SRL among preservice teachers based on individual characteristics. Degree Type Doctor of Philosophy Curriculum and Instruction Campus location West Lafayette Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair Additional committee member 2, additional committee member 3, additional committee member 4, usage metrics. Educational technology and computing Educational psychology Learning sciences 185 IMAGES (PDF) CHAPTER FIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 5.1. Introduction 24+ Dissertation Chapter 5 Table of Contents for Dissertation/ Research Paper & Example Dissertation: Five-Chapter Method in Scientific Research Dissertation Table Of Contents: Definitive Writing Guide Qualitative Research Paper Chapter 5 Summary Of Findings Example / 5 VIDEO 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Dissertation Results Chapter || WritersER How to Manage Stress During Your Dissertation Writing Process Don't Understand the Dissertation Problem Space? Watch THIS! || PhD/EdD Chapter 2 Literature Review #Chapter5 Tips in Writing Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations Exp19_Excel_Ch09_ML1_Expenses Chapter Two of Your Dissertation: Navigating the Literature Review COMMENTS Writing Dissertation Chapter 5: The Biggest Mistake Students Make Writing Chapter 5 and defending your dissertation is a big step towards getting your degree. Many students benefit from the support of a coach who is an experienced Dissertation Committee Chair at this point. A coach can conduct a mock defense with you in order to prepare you for the types of questions your committee will ask. The Purpose of Chapter 5 The Purpose of Chapter 5Topic 2: Chapter 5. The Purpose of Chapter 5. Topic 2: Chapter 5. Learning Goals: Understand the components of Chapter 5. Write the introduction to include the problem, purpose, research questions and brief description of the methodology. Review and verify findings for the study. Write the Summary of Findings. PDF Writing Chapter 5: Discussion interpretation, and implications of dissertation findings •To present an outline of Chapter 5. Overview of Chapter 5 •A well-written Chapter 5 should include ... -Do not make Chapter 5 a repetition of Chapter 4. ARC Guidelines •Templates may be found in the Applied Dissertation Procedures Manual and at the PDF CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION Dissertation Chapter 5 Sample. be research. CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION be. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to identify what motivates. Outline the organization. women to stay in or return to STEM professions, leading to a model of motivation. This. PDF Guidance for Writing Chapter 5 5. When preparing the conclusion section, imagine giving a brief talk to your colleagues. Based on your findings, what are three meaningful conclusions you can share with them? References Blum, K. (2006). Teaching students how to write a chapter four and five of a dissertation. [unpublished paper]. Melville, K. (2009). How To Write A Dissertation Discussion Chapter Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations of your study. The fourth step in writing up your discussion chapter is to acknowledge the limitations of the study. These limitations can cover any part of your study, from the scope or theoretical basis to the analysis method (s) or sample. Dissertation Structure & Layout 101 (+ Examples) The core chapters (the "meat" of the dissertation) Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Literature review; Chapter 3: Methodology; Chapter 4: Results; Chapter 5: Discussion; Chapter 6: Conclusion; Reference list; Appendix; Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your ... PDF Chapter 5 Objectives 5 Introduction to Your Study OVERVIEW The first chapter of your dissertation is the most critical, and everything that follows hinges on how well this first chapter is con-structed. Chapter 1 of your dissertation begins with the context, which introduces the research by providing the background that sets the stage for the problem to be ... What to Write in Chapter 5: 3 Important Tips For others, writing Chapter 5 is the easiest part of thesis writing, but there are groups of students who would like to know more about it. If you are one of them, this article on how to write chapter 5 of your thesis is purposely written for you. What to Write in Chapter 5 1. Write the Summary. Your summary in Chapter 5 may include: (PDF) CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND ... The conclusions are as stated below: i. Students' use of language in the oral sessions depicted their beliefs and values. based on their intentions. The oral sessions prompted the students to be ... PDF Writing a Dissertation's Chapter 4 and 5 1 By Dr. Kimberly Blum Rita Writing a Dissertation's Chapter 4 and 5 2 Definition of Chapter Four and Five Chapter four of a dissertation presents the findings from the data gathered by the researcher. The nature of the design determines the presentation of the data. For example, one student's "purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the How to Write Chapter 5 Dissertation?| A Beginner's Guide To write an effective conclusion chapter, the following steps should be considered: 1. Recapitulate the Research Questions or Objectives. Begin by restating the research questions or objectives addressed in the dissertation. It helps to ensure that the reader is reminded of the research's focus and the dissertation's purpose. The Dissertation: Chapter Breakdown Dissertation OverviewThe traditional dissertation is organized into 5 chapters and includes the following elements and pages:Title page (aka cover page) Signature ... PDF SUGGESTED DISSERTATION OUTLINE Chapter 1 summarize your Chapters 2 and 3, and because of that, Chapter 1 normally should be written after Chapters 2 and 3. Dissertation committee chairs often want students to provide a 5-10 page overview of their proposed "dissertation research" before undertaking a full literature review and detailed development of the methodology. How to Write Chapter 5 Discussion Section Hi, I'm Dr. Lacy, your dissertation life coach, here to help you finish your dissertation, graduate, and become DOCTOR in 12 months or less! Every week, a ne... Chapter 5: Home Chapter 5: Home. Welcome to Chapter Five ; Chapter 5 Webinars; Alignment of Dissertation Components for DIS-9904ABC; Dissertation Title Tips; Proofreading Service in the ASC This link opens in a new window; Dissertation Publishing: ProQuest Dr. Cheryl Lentz: Writing Chapter 5: Analysis of Results and http://www.RefractiveThinker.comhttp://www.DissertationPublishing.comLet Dr. Cheryl Lentz shorten your learning curve as you write up the final chapter regar... Alignment of Dissertation Components for DIS-9904ABC Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Problem Statement: The problem statement provides the anchor for your entire dissertation.The problem should be something scholars agree needs to be solved. Evidence should be supported by recent research and citations 2: Chapter 5 Topic 2: Chapter 5. The Purpose of Chapter 5. Draft the Introduction for Chapter 5. Draft the Summary of Findings. Draft Implications for Practice. Draft your Recommendations for Research. Draft your Conclusions. Recommended Resources and Readings. PDF CHAPTER 5: Implications This section will discuss how the results of this convergent study relate to the previous research findings. The instructors in this convergent study conceived of problem solving in two qualitatively different ways: a linear decision-making process and a cyclical decision-making process. Each conception reflected similarities to different ... Draft the Introduction for Chapter 5 Qualitative research questions can and sometimes should be revised up until the dissertation is completed. Draft Introduction for Chapter 5: Draft the introduction for Chapter 5. Consider your expertise in the study having completed the study. Keep in mind clarity, language, cohesion of its organization, inclusion of necessary components to ... PDF Chapter 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations Summary Chapter 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations Summary The overriding purpose of this study was to determine the relative ... chapter of this dissertation. 150. Conclusions The relative degree of importance of the curriculum content organizer, construction, as rated by technology teacher education faculty members ... Chapter Five: Dissertation Conclusion Writing this final chapter and defending your dissertation is a huge step towards achieving your goal. The tips above will prove helpful as you tackle the challenge. You could also benefit from having a coach to guide you through this process. This page examines chapter 5 of the thesis and dissertation writing process. Exploring Online Learners' Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in the The overarching goal of this dissertation is to explore effective learning strategies for improving online learners' academic performance in the context of educational technology. Specifically, this dissertation consists of an introduction (Chapter 1), a meta-analysis (Chapter 2), two empirical studies (Chapters 3 & 4), and a summary (Chapter 5). The meta-analysis was conducted to address ... assignment essay homework paper phd report review speech thesis