future work dissertation

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How to Write the Conclusion and Future Work section of Your Dissertation or Thesis?

The conclusion and future work section of a PhD or Post Graduate dissertation serves as the pivotal culmination of extensive research, critical analysis, and scholarly exploration. It is the chapter where the researcher brings their study to a satisfying closure, summarizing the main findings, discussing their implications, and paving the way for future investigations. In this discussion, we will delve into the intricacies of crafting an impactful conclusion and future work section, focusing on their purpose, significance, and key elements.

The conclusion and future work section holds paramount importance in a dissertation, as it encapsulates the essence of the entire research endeavor. It provides a concise and comprehensive summary of the study’s outcomes, reinforcing the significance of the research questions and objectives. By carefully crafting this section, researchers not only reinforce the value of their own work but also contribute to the broader body of knowledge in their respective fields.

Within the conclusion section, the researcher has the opportunity to restate the research questions and objectives, emphasizing their relevance and the study’s focus. This serves as a gentle reminder to the reader, bringing them back to the core aspects of the research. Additionally, summarizing the main findings allows for a concise overview of the research outcomes, enabling readers to grasp the key insights and discoveries at a glance. Moreover, discussing the implications of the findings showcases the researcher’s understanding of how their work contributes to the existing knowledge in the field, addresses gaps, and potentially influences future practices or theories.

Equally crucial is the future work section, which demonstrates the researcher’s awareness of the study’s limitations and presents directions for future research. By acknowledging the constraints and suggesting potential avenues for further investigation, the researcher invites future scholars to build upon the current work, advancing the field and propelling innovation. It is through this section that researchers showcase their thought leadership and forward-thinking mindset, leaving a lasting impact on the academic community.

In the following sections, we will explore the art of writing a conclusion for PhD or Post Graduate dissertation. We will delve into the importance of restating the research questions and objectives, summarizing the main findings, discussing the implications, reflecting on the significance of the research, and providing a concise summary. Additionally, we will examine the significance of the future work section, highlighting its purpose in demonstrating awareness of limitations and offering directions for future research.

By meticulously crafting the conclusion and future work section, researchers can not only conclude their dissertation effectively but also make a lasting impression on readers and inspire the next generation of scholars to push the boundaries of knowledge in their respective fields.

Let us now embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of writing an exceptional conclusion and future work section in a dissertation.

If you are in paucity of time, not confident of your writing skills and in a hurry to complete the writing task then you can think of hiring a research consultant that solves all your problems. Please visit my article on Hiring a Research consultant for your research tasks for further details.

Introduction

A. restating the research questions/objectives, b. summarizing the main findings, c. discussing the implications, d. reflecting on the significance of the research, e. providing a concise summary, writing the future work.

In a dissertation, the conclusion section serves as a crucial component that brings together the research findings and provides a comprehensive summary of the study. It allows researchers to reflect on the implications of their work and discuss potential future directions. – The future work section, on the other hand, highlights the researcher’s awareness of the study’s limitations and provides suggestions for further research to build upon the current work.

The conclusion section consolidates the main findings and insights from the research, emphasizing the significance of the study. It allows the researcher to demonstrate the impact of their work and its contributions to the field.

The future work section offers a forward-looking perspective by identifying areas that warrant further investigation, addressing research gaps, and proposing potential extensions or improvements to the existing research.

Example 1: In the field of computer vision , the conclusion section of a dissertation might summarize the key findings and insights obtained from developing a novel object detection algorithm. It could discuss the algorithm’s performance in terms of accuracy and efficiency, highlighting its potential applications in various domains such as autonomous vehicles, surveillance systems, and medical imaging. The conclusion might also reflect on the challenges faced during the research and suggest improvements or alternative approaches to enhance the algorithm’s performance in future work.

Example 2: In the domain of natural language processing , the conclusion section could summarize the results of a dissertation focused on sentiment analysis in social media data. It might discuss the effectiveness of the proposed sentiment analysis model in capturing the nuances of sentiments expressed in user-generated content. The conclusion could emphasize the practical implications of the research, such as aiding businesses in understanding customer feedback and improving their products or services. The future work section might suggest exploring multilingual sentiment analysis, investigating sentiment evolution over time, or incorporating contextual information for more accurate sentiment classification.

By providing these examples, researchers can understand how the conclusion and future work sections serve as essential components of a dissertation, allowing them to effectively communicate the significance of their research and guide future studies.

Writing the Conclusion

Restating the research questions or objectives in the conclusion section is crucial as it helps the reader remember the main purpose of the study. It serves as a reminder of the specific goals and objectives that guided the research process.

For instance:

“The primary research question of this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of accurately classifying sentiment in social media posts using machine learning techniques. In pursuit of this goal, we designed and implemented a novel sentiment analysis system and evaluated its effectiveness on a diverse dataset. By restating the research question and objectives, we emphasize the primary aim of the study and provide the reader with a clear reminder of the research’s specific focus.”

Restating the research questions or objectives in the conclusion helps create a cohesive conclusion by maintaining the connection between the findings and the original research intent. It allows the reader to see how the research directly addresses the initial questions or objectives.

Summarizing the main findings in the conclusion allows the reader to quickly grasp the essential outcomes of the research. It provides a condensed overview of the key results and insights gained from the study.

Example: Building upon the previous example of developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data, let’s consider the main findings of the study. The findings may include the accuracy achieved by the developed system, comparisons with existing approaches, and insights into the challenges and limitations of sentiment analysis in the social media domain.

In the conclusion section, summarizing the main findings would involve providing a concise overview of the key results and insights. For instance:

“Our findings demonstrate that the developed sentiment analysis system achieved an accuracy of 85% on the social media dataset, outperforming existing state-of-the-art approaches by a significant margin. This highlights the effectiveness of incorporating contextual information and deep learning techniques for sentiment classification. Furthermore, the study shed light on the challenges of sentiment analysis in social media due to the presence of slang, abbreviations, and contextual nuances. These insights emphasize the importance of developing robust models that can handle the intricacies of social media data.”

By summarizing the main findings, researchers allow readers to gain a quick understanding of the crucial outcomes and insights obtained from the study. It helps readers identify the key contributions and impact of the research in a concise manner. Summarizing the main findings also assists readers in connecting the dots between the research questions or objectives and the results obtained, providing a clear and coherent picture of the research outcomes.

Moreover, a well-crafted summary of the main findings serves as a reference point for readers, enabling them to recall the significant results without revisiting the entire dissertation. It allows researchers to convey the core contributions of their study efficiently and reinforces the value and relevance of the research in the field of computer science.

Continuing from the previous example of developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data, let’s consider the implications of the findings, the research’s contribution to the existing knowledge, and the limitations addressed in the conclusion section.

Discussing the implications of the findings in the conclusion helps provide a broader understanding of the research’s significance. It allows the researcher to explore the practical and theoretical implications of the results and their potential impact on the field.

Analyzing how the research contributes to the existing knowledge in the field helps situate the study within the broader research landscape. It allows the researcher to demonstrate how their work fills gaps, extends current understanding, or challenges existing theories or practices.

“The findings of this study have significant implications for various domains relying on sentiment analysis, such as brand monitoring, market research, and customer feedback analysis. The high accuracy achieved by our sentiment analysis system demonstrates its potential for real-world applications, enabling organizations to gain valuable insights from social media data. The system’s ability to handle contextual nuances and accurately classify sentiment can help businesses make informed decisions and enhance customer satisfaction.” Addressing the limitations or constraints of the study in the conclusion section shows the researcher’s awareness of the study’s boundaries. It also provides an opportunity to suggest areas for future research, building upon the current study’s findings.

“This study contributes to the existing knowledge in sentiment analysis by incorporating deep learning techniques and contextual information specific to social media data. Our research extends current understanding by demonstrating the effectiveness of leveraging these approaches for improved sentiment classification. Additionally, the insights gained from addressing the challenges of sentiment analysis in the social media domain contribute to the ongoing discourse on refining sentiment analysis models for diverse text sources.”

Reflecting on the significance and impact of the research in the broader context of the field allows the researcher to highlight the relevance and importance of their work. It helps the reader understand the broader implications and potential contributions of the research.

Example: Continuing from the previous example of developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data

Significance and Impact:

“Reflecting on the significance and impact of our research reveals its potential to revolutionize sentiment analysis methodologies. By developing an accurate sentiment analysis system tailored to social media data, our study addresses a critical need in today’s digitally connected world. The insights gained from this research have far-reaching implications for understanding public sentiment, market trends, and brand perception. Our work has the potential to empower businesses and organizations with actionable insights, leading to informed decision-making and improved customer satisfaction.”

Advancement of Knowledge and Filling Gaps in Existing Literature:

“Our study contributes to advancing the knowledge in sentiment analysis by addressing several gaps in the existing literature. By incorporating deep learning techniques and considering the contextual nuances specific to social media data, our research provides a fresh perspective on sentiment analysis approaches. We extend current understanding by showcasing the effectiveness of these techniques in improving sentiment classification accuracy. Additionally, our work sheds light on the challenges of sentiment analysis in the social media domain, highlighting areas where further research and refinement are required.”

Practical Implications in Real-World Scenarios:

“The practical implications of our research are significant, with potential applications in various domains. Our sentiment analysis system can be leveraged by businesses for brand monitoring, customer feedback analysis, and market research. It enables organizations to gain valuable insights into customer sentiment, enabling them to identify areas for improvement, monitor brand reputation, and make informed business decisions. Furthermore, our work opens avenues for the development of new tools and applications that can assist in sentiment analysis across diverse social media platforms.”

By reflecting on the significance and impact of the research, researchers convey the broader relevance and importance of their work. It allows readers to understand the potential contributions and implications of the research in a wider context.

Explaining how the study advances knowledge and fills gaps in existing literature demonstrates the originality and novelty of the research. It showcases how the research addresses unanswered questions, challenges prevailing methodologies, or provides new insights, thereby contributing to the growth of the field.

Considering the potential practical implications of the research in real-world scenarios helps highlight its relevance and application. It allows researchers to discuss how the findings can be implemented or used to solve real-world problems, thereby bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications.

Overall, by reflecting on the significance and impact, explaining the advancement of knowledge and filling gaps, and considering practical implications, researchers highlight the broader implications and potential contributions of their research. It allows readers to appreciate the relevance, novelty, and practicality of the study, paving the way for future advancements in the field of study.

A concise summary within the conclusion section plays a pivotal role in reinforcing the main points and takeaways from the research. By distilling the essential findings, implications, and future research directions, researchers ensure that readers grasp the core essence of their work.

Highlighting the key points discussed throughout the dissertation reaffirms the significance and contributions of the research. It allows readers to quickly grasp the overarching themes and outcomes, reinforcing the main arguments and supporting evidence presented in the study. By providing a condensed overview of the research, researchers ensure that the core messages resonate with readers, leaving a lasting impact.

A concise and impactful summary also aids in information retention. As readers progress through a lengthy dissertation, a well-crafted summary serves as a mental anchor, reinforcing the most salient aspects of the study. It enables readers to revisit and recall the main findings, implications, and future research possibilities long after they have completed reading the document.

To achieve a concise and impactful summary, researchers should focus on extracting the most relevant and significant elements from each section of the dissertation. They should avoid repetition and prioritize clarity and precision in their language. By distilling complex ideas into digestible snippets, researchers ensure that their summary effectively encapsulates the core essence of their research.

Example: Continuing from the previous example of developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data, let’s explore how a concise summary within the conclusion section helps reinforce the main points and takeaways from the research.

“In conclusion, our study on developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data has demonstrated significant advancements in the field. By incorporating deep learning techniques and considering contextual nuances, we achieved an accuracy of 85%, surpassing existing state-of-the-art approaches. The practical implications of our research are substantial, with potential applications in brand monitoring, market research, and customer feedback analysis.

Furthermore, our findings contribute to the existing knowledge in sentiment analysis by filling gaps in the literature. We highlight the challenges posed by social media data, such as slang and contextual nuances, and propose future research directions for handling these complexities. This study underscores the importance of refining sentiment analysis models to cater to the unique characteristics of social media platforms.

In summary, our research not only advances sentiment analysis methodologies but also offers valuable insights for businesses and organizations seeking to harness the power of social media data. We emphasize the need for further exploration in adapting sentiment analysis to different domains and languages, as well as refining models to handle sarcasm and irony. Overall, our work showcases the relevance and potential impact of sentiment analysis in today’s digital age.”

In conclusion, a concise summary within the conclusion section is an invaluable tool for reinforcing the main takeaways from the research. By highlighting the key points and delivering them in a concise and impactful manner, researchers leave readers with a clear understanding of the study’s significance and contributions. A well-crafted summary ensures that the main findings and implications resonate with readers long after they have completed reading the dissertation, solidifying the research’s impact in the field.

Including a future work section in a dissertation is significant as it demonstrates the researcher’s understanding of the study’s limitations and the potential for further research. It acknowledges that research is an iterative process and provides valuable insights for future researchers in the field.

The future work section showcases the researcher’s awareness of the limitations and constraints of their study. It acknowledges that there may be unanswered questions, unexplored avenues, or areas that require further investigation. By providing directions for future research, the researcher contributes to the continuous advancement of knowledge in their field.

Example1 : Continuing from the previous example of developing an automated sentiment analysis system for social media data, let’s explore how including a future work section in the conclusion acknowledges the study’s limitations and offers valuable insights for future research.

“The inclusion of a future work section in this dissertation is crucial in acknowledging the limitations of our study and providing a roadmap for future research endeavors. While our research has made significant advancements in sentiment analysis for social media data, several areas warrant further investigation.

Firstly, the scalability of our sentiment analysis system can be explored to handle large volumes of data in real-time. As social media platforms continue to grow, the need for efficient and scalable sentiment analysis techniques becomes paramount.

Additionally, investigating the generalizability of our model across different languages and cultural contexts is an exciting avenue for future research. Adapting sentiment analysis techniques to diverse languages, understanding regional variations in sentiment expressions, and accounting for cultural nuances can enhance the applicability of sentiment analysis in a global context.

Moreover, exploring the integration of multimodal data, such as text, images, and videos, presents an intriguing opportunity. Sentiment analysis systems that can effectively analyze and interpret multimodal content have the potential to offer deeper insights into user sentiments and experiences.

Furthermore, the ethical implications of sentiment analysis in terms of privacy, bias, and fairness need to be thoroughly investigated. Designing and implementing ethical guidelines and frameworks for sentiment analysis can ensure responsible and unbiased use of these technologies.

By including a future work section, we recognize that research is an ongoing process and acknowledge the possibilities for further exploration. This section serves as a valuable resource for future researchers in the field, providing a starting point and suggesting intriguing directions for their investigations.

In summary, the future work section of this dissertation highlights the limitations of our study and opens up exciting avenues for future research. The research community can build upon our work to address the identified challenges, expand the scope of sentiment analysis, and develop more robust and context-aware models. By continually advancing the field, we can enhance the accuracy, applicability, and ethical use of sentiment analysis techniques in the digital age.” Example 2: In the field of data mining, a dissertation might propose a new algorithm for anomaly detection in large-scale datasets. In the future work section, the researcher can acknowledge the limitations of the proposed algorithm, such as its performance on specific types of anomalies or scalability to even larger datasets. They can suggest investigating techniques to handle these challenges, exploring the application of the algorithm to different domains, or evaluating its performance under various real-world scenarios. This demonstrates the researcher’s awareness of the study’s limitations and provides clear directions for future research in improving and extending the anomaly detection algorithm. Example 3: In the domain of computer networks, a dissertation focused on improving network performance might present a novel congestion control mechanism. In the future work section, the researcher can acknowledge potential limitations in the mechanism, such as its adaptability to dynamic network conditions or its interoperability with different network protocols. They can suggest conducting further experiments to evaluate the mechanism’s performance in more complex network topologies, exploring its integration with emerging network technologies, or investigating the impact of various parameters on its effectiveness. This showcases the researcher’s awareness of the study’s limitations and provides concrete guidance for future researchers interested in advancing network performance optimization.

By including a future work section in a dissertation, researchers demonstrate their awareness of the study’s limitations and contribute to the ongoing progress in their field. Providing directions for future research guides the efforts of future researchers and fosters the continuous development of knowledge and innovation.

The conclusion and future work section of a PhD or Post Graduate dissertation holds immense significance as it brings the research journey to a satisfying close while setting the stage for future explorations. Throughout this discussion, we have explored the key elements and best practices for crafting an impactful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on readers.

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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 .

Dissertation structure and layout - the basics

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.

A dissertation's structure reflect the research process

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?

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 .

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The acknowledgements section of a thesis/dissertation

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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Future Research – Thesis Guide

Table of Contents

Future Research

Definition:

Future research refers to investigations and studies that are yet to be conducted, and are aimed at expanding our understanding of a particular subject or area of interest. Future research is typically based on the current state of knowledge and seeks to address unanswered questions, gaps in knowledge, and new areas of inquiry.

How to Write Future Research in Thesis

Here are some steps to help you write effectively about future research in your thesis :

Identify a research gap: Before you start writing about future research, identify the areas that need further investigation. Look for research gaps and inconsistencies in the literature , and note them down.
Specify research questions : Once you have identified a research gap, create a list of research questions that you would like to explore in future research. These research questions should be specific, measurable, and relevant to your thesis.
Discuss limitations: Be sure to discuss any limitations of your research that may require further exploration. This will help to highlight the need for future research and provide a basis for further investigation.
Suggest methodologies: Provide suggestions for methodologies that could be used to explore the research questions you have identified. Discuss the pros and cons of each methodology and how they would be suitable for your research.
Explain significance: Explain the significance of the research you have proposed, and how it will contribute to the field. This will help to justify the need for future research and provide a basis for further investigation.
Provide a timeline : Provide a timeline for the proposed research , indicating when each stage of the research would be conducted. This will help to give a sense of the practicalities involved in conducting the research.
Conclusion : Summarize the key points you have made about future research and emphasize the importance of exploring the research questions you have identified.

Examples of Future Research in Thesis

SomeExamples of Future Research in Thesis are as follows:

Future Research:

Although this study provides valuable insights into the effects of social media on self-esteem, there are several avenues for future research that could build upon our findings. Firstly, our sample consisted solely of college students, so it would be beneficial to extend this research to other age groups and demographics. Additionally, our study focused only on the impact of social media use on self-esteem, but there are likely other factors that influence how social media affects individuals, such as personality traits and social support. Future research could examine these factors in greater depth. Lastly, while our study looked at the short-term effects of social media use on self-esteem, it would be interesting to explore the long-term effects over time. This could involve conducting longitudinal studies that follow individuals over a period of several years to assess changes in self-esteem and social media use.

While this study provides important insights into the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance among college students, there are several avenues for future research that could further advance our understanding of this topic.

This study relied on self-reported sleep patterns, which may be subject to reporting biases. Future research could benefit from using objective measures of sleep, such as actigraphy or polysomnography, to more accurately assess sleep duration and quality.
This study focused on academic performance as the outcome variable, but there may be other important outcomes to consider, such as mental health or well-being. Future research could explore the relationship between sleep patterns and these other outcomes.
This study only included college students, and it is unclear if these findings generalize to other populations, such as high school students or working adults. Future research could investigate whether the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance varies across different populations.
Fourth, this study did not explore the potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance. Future research could investigate the role of factors such as cognitive functioning, motivation, and stress in this relationship.

Overall, there is a need for continued research on the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance, as this has important implications for the health and well-being of students.

Further research could investigate the long-term effects of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health outcomes among individuals with chronic pain. A longitudinal study could be conducted to examine the sustainability of mindfulness practices in reducing pain-related distress and improving psychological well-being over time. The study could also explore the potential mediating and moderating factors that influence the relationship between mindfulness and mental health outcomes, such as emotional regulation, pain catastrophizing, and social support.

Purpose of Future Research in Thesis

Here are some general purposes of future research that you might consider including in your thesis:

To address limitations: Your research may have limitations or unanswered questions that could be addressed by future studies. Identify these limitations and suggest potential areas for further research.
To extend the research : You may have found interesting results in your research, but future studies could help to extend or replicate your findings. Identify these areas where future research could help to build on your work.
To explore related topics : Your research may have uncovered related topics that were outside the scope of your study. Suggest areas where future research could explore these related topics in more depth.
To compare different approaches : Your research may have used a particular methodology or approach, but there may be other approaches that could be compared to your approach. Identify these other approaches and suggest areas where future research could compare and contrast them.
To test hypotheses : Your research may have generated hypotheses that could be tested in future studies. Identify these hypotheses and suggest areas where future research could test them.
To address practical implications : Your research may have practical implications that could be explored in future studies. Identify these practical implications and suggest areas where future research could investigate how to apply them in practice.

Applications of Future Research

Some examples of applications of future research that you could include in your thesis are:

Development of new technologies or methods: If your research involves the development of new technologies or methods, you could discuss potential applications of these innovations in future research or practical settings. For example, if you have developed a new drug delivery system, you could speculate about how it might be used in the treatment of other diseases or conditions.
Extension of your research: If your research only scratches the surface of a particular topic, you could suggest potential avenues for future research that could build upon your findings. For example, if you have studied the effects of a particular drug on a specific population, you could suggest future research that explores the drug’s effects on different populations or in combination with other treatments.
Investigation of related topics: If your research is part of a larger field or area of inquiry, you could suggest potential research topics that are related to your work. For example, if you have studied the effects of climate change on a particular species, you could suggest future research that explores the impacts of climate change on other species or ecosystems.
Testing of hypotheses: If your research has generated hypotheses or theories, you could suggest potential experiments or studies that could test these hypotheses in future research. For example, if you have proposed a new theory about the mechanisms of a particular disease, you could suggest experiments that could test this theory in other populations or in different disease contexts.

Advantage of Future Research

Including future research in a thesis has several advantages:

Demonstrates critical thinking: Including future research shows that the author has thought deeply about the topic and recognizes its limitations. It also demonstrates that the author is interested in advancing the field and is not satisfied with only providing a narrow analysis of the issue at hand.
Provides a roadmap for future research : Including future research can help guide researchers in the field by suggesting areas that require further investigation. This can help to prevent researchers from repeating the same work and can lead to more efficient use of resources.
Shows engagement with the field : By including future research, the author demonstrates their engagement with the field and their understanding of ongoing debates and discussions. This can be especially important for students who are just entering the field and want to show their commitment to ongoing research.
I ncreases the impact of the thesis : Including future research can help to increase the impact of the thesis by highlighting its potential implications for future research and practical applications. This can help to generate interest in the work and attract attention from researchers and practitioners in the field.

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Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Compiling Your Work into a Dissertation

First Online: 26 May 2018

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Eva O. L. Lantsoght 2 , 3

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In this chapter, we discuss writing the dissertation. The first topic deals with planning the writing of a dissertation. We discuss how to estimate the amount of time that you need for your writing, and how you can spread out the writing so that you can move forward slowly but surely, without needing to pull all-nighters or other forms of writing sprints. A second topic deals with structuring a dissertation: you have all your material ready, or you are at a point where you have a good grasp of your work and what remains to be done – how do you now bring everything together into a coherent dissertation? A third topic deals with self-care during the writing of a dissertation. Writing a document of 100,000 words takes time, and often PhD students burn out before finishing their writing. To avoid this pitfall, we stress the importance of a good planning that allows sufficient time for writing, and the importance of routines and other activities that keep your mind balanced. A fourth topic deals with the practicalities of writing the introduction and conclusions chapters of your dissertation. We also touch upon the topic of future work, and how to identify additional elements for future research. The fifth topic deals with the defense committee. We talk about how to compile a balanced committee, for those who have a voice in the selection of their committee members. Then, we look at how to implement the comments of the committee members. The final part of this chapter talks about the thesis defense. To prepare for a defense we outline some standard questions.

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Provided that you find working with goal word counts motivating.

You can simply list the topics you want to discuss and organize later if outlines don’t work for you.

If your promotor likes seeing a table of contents as a starting point.

It’s a journey of finding your identity as a scholar.

This section is written from the perspective that implementing the comments of the committee comes before the defense. You can implement this advice as well if you need to submit a revised version after your defense.

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Lantsoght, E.O.L. (2018). Compiling Your Work into a Dissertation. In: The A-Z of the PhD Trajectory. Springer Texts in Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77425-1_12

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GETTING STARTED
Introduction
FUNDAMENTALS
Acknowledgements
Research questions & hypotheses
Concepts, constructs & variables
Research limitations
Getting started
Sampling Strategy
Research Quality
Research Ethics
Data Analysis

FUTURE RESEARCH

Types of future research suggestion.

The Future Research section of your dissertation is often combined with the Research Limitations section of your final, Conclusions chapter. This is because your future research suggestions generally arise out of the research limitations you have identified in your own dissertation. In this article, we discuss six types of future research suggestion. These include: (1) building on a particular finding in your research; (2) addressing a flaw in your research; examining (or testing) a theory (framework or model) either (3) for the first time or (4) in a new context, location and/or culture; (5) re-evaluating and (6) expanding a theory (framework or model). The goal of the article is to help you think about the potential types of future research suggestion that you may want to include in your dissertation.

Before we discuss each of these types of future research suggestion, we should explain why we use the word examining and then put or testing in brackets. This is simply because the word examining may be considered more appropriate when students use a qualitative research design; whereas the word testing fits better with dissertations drawing on a quantitative research design. We also put the words framework or model in brackets after the word theory . We do this because a theory , framework and model are not the same things. In the sections that follow, we discuss six types of future research suggestion.

Addressing research limitations in your dissertation

Building on a particular finding or aspect of your research, examining a conceptual framework (or testing a theoretical model) for the first time, examining a conceptual framework (or testing a theoretical model) in a new context, location and/or culture.

Expanding a conceptual framework (or testing a theoretical model)

Re-evaluating a conceptual framework (or theoretical model)

In the Research Limitations section of your Conclusions chapter, you will have inevitably detailed the potential flaws (i.e., research limitations) of your dissertation. These may include:

An inability to answer your research questions

Theoretical and conceptual problems

Limitations of your research strategy

Problems of research quality

Identifying what these research limitations were and proposing future research suggestions that address them is arguably the easiest and quickest ways to complete the Future Research section of your Conclusions chapter.

Often, the findings from your dissertation research will highlight a number of new avenues that could be explored in future studies. These can be grouped into two categories:

Your dissertation will inevitably lead to findings that you did not anticipate from the start. These are useful when making future research suggestions because they can lead to entirely new avenues to explore in future studies. If this was the case, it is worth (a) briefly describing what these unanticipated findings were and (b) suggesting a research strategy that could be used to explore such findings in future.

Sometimes, dissertations manage to address all aspects of the research questions that were set. However, this is seldom the case. Typically, there will be aspects of your research questions that could not be answered. This is not necessarily a flaw in your research strategy, but may simply reflect that fact that the findings did not provide all the answers you hoped for. If this was the case, it is worth (a) briefly describing what aspects of your research questions were not answered and (b) suggesting a research strategy that could be used to explore such aspects in future.

You may want to recommend that future research examines the conceptual framework (or tests the theoretical model) that you developed. This is based on the assumption that the primary goal of your dissertation was to set out a conceptual framework (or build a theoretical model). It is also based on the assumption that whilst such a conceptual framework (or theoretical model) was presented, your dissertation did not attempt to examine (or test) it in the field . The focus of your dissertations was most likely a review of the literature rather than something that involved you conducting primary research.

Whilst it is quite rare for dissertations at the undergraduate and master's level to be primarily theoretical in nature like this, it is not unknown. If this was the case, you should think about how the conceptual framework (or theoretical model) that you have presented could be best examined (or tested) in the field . In understanding the how , you should think about two factors in particular:

What is the context, location and/or culture that would best lend itself to my conceptual framework (or theoretical model) if it were to be examined (or tested) in the field?

What research strategy is most appropriate to examine my conceptual framework (or test my theoretical model)?

If the future research suggestion that you want to make is based on examining your conceptual framework (or testing your theoretical model) in the field , you need to suggest the best scenario for doing so.

More often than not, you will not only have set out a conceptual framework (or theoretical model), as described in the previous section, but you will also have examined (or tested) it in the field . When you do this, focus is typically placed on a specific context, location and/or culture.

If this is the case, the obvious future research suggestion that you could propose would be to examine your conceptual framework (or test the theoretical model) in a new context, location and/or culture. For example, perhaps you focused on consumers (rather than businesses), or Canada (rather than the United Kingdom), or a more individualistic culture like the United States (rather than a more collectivist culture like China).

When you propose a new context, location and/or culture as your future research suggestion, make sure you justify the choice that you make. For example, there may be little value in future studies looking at different cultures if culture is not an important component underlying your conceptual framework (or theoretical model). If you are not sure whether a new context, location or culture is more appropriate, or what new context, location or culture you should select, a review the literature will often help clarify where you focus should be.

Expanding a conceptual framework (or theoretical model)

Assuming that you have set out a conceptual framework (or theoretical model) and examined (or tested) it in the field , another series of future research suggestions comes out of expanding that conceptual framework (or theoretical model).

We talk about a series of future research suggestions because there are so many ways that you can expand on your conceptual framework (or theoretical model). For example, you can do this by:

Examining constructs (or variables) that were included in your conceptual framework (or theoretical model) but were not focused.

Looking at a particular relationship aspect of your conceptual framework (or theoretical model) further.

Adding new constructs (or variables) to the conceptual framework (or theoretical model) you set out (if justified by the literature).

It would be possible to include one or a number of these as future research suggestions. Again, make sure that any suggestions you make have are justified , either by your findings or the literature.

With the dissertation process at the undergraduate and master's level lasting between 3 and 9 months, a lot a can happen in between. For example, a specific event (e.g., 9/11, the economic crisis) or some new theory or evidence that undermines (or questions) the literature (theory) and assumptions underpinning your conceptual framework (or theoretical model). Clearly, there is little you can do about this. However, if this happens, reflecting on it and re-evaluating your conceptual framework (or theoretical model), as well as your findings, is an obvious source of future research suggestions.

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How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Conclusion

How to Write a Dissertation Conclusion | Checklist and Examples

Published on 9 September 2022 by Tegan George and Shona McCombes. Revised on 10 October 2022.

The conclusion is the very last part of your thesis or dissertation . It should be concise and engaging, leaving your reader with a clear understanding of your main findings, as well as the answer to your research question .

In it, you should:

Clearly state the answer to your main research question
Summarise and reflect on your research process
Make recommendations for future work on your topic
Show what new knowledge you have contributed to your field
Wrap up your thesis or dissertation

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Discussion vs. conclusion, how long should your conclusion be, step 1: answer your research question, step 2: summarise and reflect on your research, step 3: make future recommendations, step 4: emphasise your contributions to your field, step 5: wrap up your thesis or dissertation, full conclusion example, conclusion checklist, frequently asked questions about conclusion sections.

While your conclusion contains similar elements to your discussion section , they are not the same thing.

Your conclusion should be shorter and more general than your discussion. Instead of repeating literature from your literature review , discussing specific research results , or interpreting your data in detail, concentrate on making broad statements that sum up the most important insights of your research.

As a rule of thumb, your conclusion should not introduce new data, interpretations, or arguments.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Depending on whether you are writing a thesis or dissertation, your length will vary. Generally, a conclusion should make up around 5–7% of your overall word count.

An empirical scientific study will often have a short conclusion, concisely stating the main findings and recommendations for future research. A humanities topic or systematic review , on the other hand, might require more space to conclude its analysis, tying all the previous sections together in an overall argument.

Your conclusion should begin with the main question that your thesis or dissertation aimed to address. This is your final chance to show that you’ve done what you set out to do, so make sure to formulate a clear, concise answer.

Don’t repeat a list of all the results that you already discussed
Do synthesise them into a final takeaway that the reader will remember.

An empirical thesis or dissertation conclusion may begin like this:

A case study –based thesis or dissertation conclusion may begin like this:

In the second example, the research aim is not directly restated, but rather added implicitly to the statement. To avoid repeating yourself, it is helpful to reformulate your aims and questions into an overall statement of what you did and how you did it.

Your conclusion is an opportunity to remind your reader why you took the approach you did, what you expected to find, and how well the results matched your expectations.

To avoid repetition , consider writing more reflectively here, rather than just writing a summary of each preceding section. Consider mentioning the effectiveness of your methodology , or perhaps any new questions or unexpected insights that arose in the process.

You can also mention any limitations of your research, but only if you haven’t already included these in the discussion. Don’t dwell on them at length, though – focus on the positives of your work.

While x limits the generalisability of the results, this approach provides new insight into y .
This research clearly illustrates x , but it also raises the question of y .

You may already have made a few recommendations for future research in your discussion section, but the conclusion is a good place to elaborate and look ahead, considering the implications of your findings in both theoretical and practical terms.

Based on these conclusions, practitioners should consider …
To better understand the implications of these results, future studies could address …
Further research is needed to determine the causes of/effects of/relationship between …

When making recommendations for further research, be sure not to undermine your own work. Relatedly, while future studies might confirm, build on, or enrich your conclusions, they shouldn’t be required for your argument to feel complete. Your work should stand alone on its own merits.

Just as you should avoid too much self-criticism, you should also avoid exaggerating the applicability of your research. If you’re making recommendations for policy, business, or other practical implementations, it’s generally best to frame them as ‘shoulds’ rather than ‘musts’. All in all, the purpose of academic research is to inform, explain, and explore – not to demand.

Make sure your reader is left with a strong impression of what your research has contributed to the state of your field.

Some strategies to achieve this include:

Returning to your problem statement to explain how your research helps solve the problem
Referring back to the literature review and showing how you have addressed a gap in knowledge
Discussing how your findings confirm or challenge an existing theory or assumption

Again, avoid simply repeating what you’ve already covered in the discussion in your conclusion. Instead, pick out the most important points and sum them up succinctly, situating your project in a broader context.

The end is near! Once you’ve finished writing your conclusion, it’s time to wrap up your thesis or dissertation with a few final steps:

It’s a good idea to write your abstract next, while the research is still fresh in your mind.
Next, make sure your reference list is complete and correctly formatted. To speed up the process, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Once you’ve added any appendices , you can create a table of contents and title page .
Finally, read through the whole document again to make sure your thesis is clearly written and free from language errors. You can proofread it yourself , ask a friend, or consider Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service .

Here is an example of how you can write your conclusion section. Notice how it includes everything mentioned above:

V. Conclusion

The current research aimed to identify acoustic speech characteristics which mark the beginning of an exacerbation in COPD patients.

The central questions for this research were as follows: 1. Which acoustic measures extracted from read speech differ between COPD speakers in stable condition and healthy speakers? 2. In what ways does the speech of COPD patients during an exacerbation differ from speech of COPD patients during stable periods?

All recordings were aligned using a script. Subsequently, they were manually annotated to indicate respiratory actions such as inhaling and exhaling. The recordings of 9 stable COPD patients reading aloud were then compared with the recordings of 5 healthy control subjects reading aloud. The results showed a significant effect of condition on the number of in- and exhalations per syllable, the number of non-linguistic in- and exhalations per syllable, and the ratio of voiced and silence intervals. The number of in- and exhalations per syllable and the number of non-linguistic in- and exhalations per syllable were higher for COPD patients than for healthy controls, which confirmed both hypotheses.

However, the higher ratio of voiced and silence intervals for COPD patients compared to healthy controls was not in line with the hypotheses. This unpredicted result might have been caused by the different reading materials or recording procedures for both groups, or by a difference in reading skills. Moreover, there was a trend regarding the effect of condition on the number of syllables per breath group. The number of syllables per breath group was higher for healthy controls than for COPD patients, which was in line with the hypothesis. There was no effect of condition on pitch, intensity, center of gravity, pitch variability, speaking rate, or articulation rate.

This research has shown that the speech of COPD patients in exacerbation differs from the speech of COPD patients in stable condition. This might have potential for the detection of exacerbations. However, sustained vowels rarely occur in spontaneous speech. Therefore, the last two outcome measures might have greater potential for the detection of beginning exacerbations, but further research on the different outcome measures and their potential for the detection of exacerbations is needed due to the limitations of the current study.

Checklist: Conclusion

I have clearly and concisely answered the main research question .

I have summarized my overall argument or key takeaways.

I have mentioned any important limitations of the research.

I have given relevant recommendations .

I have clearly explained what my research has contributed to my field.

I have not introduced any new data or arguments.

You've written a great conclusion! Use the other checklists to further improve your dissertation.

In a thesis or dissertation, the discussion is an in-depth exploration of the results, going into detail about the meaning of your findings and citing relevant sources to put them in context.

The conclusion is more shorter and more general: it concisely answers your main research question and makes recommendations based on your overall findings.

While it may be tempting to present new arguments or evidence in your thesis or disseration conclusion , especially if you have a particularly striking argument you’d like to finish your analysis with, you shouldn’t. Theses and dissertations follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the discussion section and results section .) The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

For a stronger dissertation conclusion , avoid including:

Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5-7% of your overall word count.

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation should include the following:

A restatement of your research question
A summary of your key arguments and/or results
A short discussion of the implications of your research

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(and hopefully thriving), how to write: future work/conclusions.

This post is the final part of a series on how to write a paper. The first was on abstracts , the second on introductions , the third on related work and fourth on methodology and analysis of results .

I’m combining future work and conclusions into a single post since they are often found combined in a single section in a paper. While a conclusion is always necessary, sometimes people don’t include future work. While I don’t think it’s always necessary to have a future work section, I would argue that it’s always worthwhile to include some mention of future work.

Let’s start with Future Work .

The future work section is a place for you to explain to your readers where you think the results can lead you. What do you think are the next steps to take? What other questions do your results raise? Do you think certain paths seem to be more promising than others?

Another way to look at the future work section, is a way to sort of “claim” an area of research. This is not to say that others can’t research the same things, but if your paper gets published, it’s out there that you had the idea. This lets people know what you’re thinking of doing next and they may ask to collaborate if your future research area crosses over theirs.

If you do include a future work section, it should be pretty short. The goal should not be to go into a bunch of details, but instead just a sentence or two explaining each idea. It should just provide enough information as to a possible research path and why the path may be important. Motivation is always key in research. I stressed earlier that you need to motivate your research. This also applies to future work. If you can’t motivate a good reason to continue research down some path, then why should/would you?

Conclusions

Conclusions are the last section people read in your paper, and therefore it’s what they leave remembering. You need to make sure they walk away thinking about your paper just the way you want them to.

Your conclusions needs to do three main things:

Recap what you did. In about one paragraph recap what your research question was and how you tackled it.
Highlight the big accomplishments. Spend another paragraph explaining the highlights of your results. These are the main results you want the reader to remember after they put down the paper, so ignore any small details.
Conclude. Finally, finish off with a sentence or two that wraps up your paper. I find this can often be the hardest part to write. You want the paper to feel finished after they read these. One way to do this, is to try and tie your research to the “real world.” Can you somehow relate how your research is important outside of academia? Or, if your results leave you with a big question, finish with that. Put it out there for the reader to think about to.
Optional Before you conclude, if you don’t have a future work section, put in a paragraph detailing the questions you think arise from the work and where you think researchers need to be looking next.

Things to not do in your conclusion:

Introduce new information. The conclusion is for wrapping up everything you’ve done. It’s not a place to say “oh yeah, and we also got result y.” All results should be first presented and detailed in the result section. Think of the conclusion as a place to reflect on what you’ve already said earlier in the paper.
Directly re-quote anything you’ve already written. I’ve seen conclusions that are almost identical to the abstract or a collection of sentences from throughout the paper. As a reader, it makes me think the author was lazy and couldn’t be bothered to actually summarize their results for the paper. Take the time to write a proper conclusion so that the reader walks away with good thoughts about your work.
Write a conclusion longer than your introduction. A conclusion should be short, and to the point. You’ll rarely see them over 3 paragraphs, and three is often long. A lot of the time they are usually only one or two. Think about a conclusion as a chance to see how concisely you can summarize your entire research project. It’s your “30 second” research spiel .

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The Future of Work

Climate Solutions
Commencement 2024

The global pandemic changed the way we work and how our workplaces function. Our experts investigate what changes may be here to stay and what else to expect in the future.

The future is calling

Work is beginning to look very different across all fields and around the globe.

Will we all go back? Will they ever be the same?

What can we learn from the pandemic?

Internships

How can we make them more equitable?

What will digital health care look like?

Can technology help farmers connect to their customers?

Is the open office a thing of the past?

Which skills have staying power in this rapidly changing market?

Global talent

How do you attract talent from around the world?

Legal professionals

Will online litigation help our clogged courts?

What is “The Great Resignation”?

Harvard economist Lawrence Katz explains some of the factors that led to the highest quit rate in US history.

Well-being at work

Business owners, employees, and researchers are looking at ways to make workplaces safer and healthier.

Predictable scheduling

Requiring more notice in scheduling for hourly workers results in more predictable shifts and increased stability for workers, which also leads to improvements in worker well-being, sleep quality, and economic security.

Air quality

The air quality in an office can have significant impacts on employees’ cognitive function, including response times and ability to focus, and it may also affect their productivity, according to new research.

Worker safety and health

COVID-19 forced companies to act quickly and decisively to keep workers safe, and employers have had to adapt new business processes and address existing structures that are lacking.

Flexibility

While working from home, employees have enjoyed an unprecedented sense of agency and autonomy. Contrary to some expectations—but consistent with years of research—that flexibility has actually spurred worker productivity to improve.

For a broader view on workplace innovations, explore the work of our experts from a variety of institutes and centers including:

The Project on Workforce
GrowthPolicy
Harvard i-lab
Center for Work, Health, & Well-being
Corporate Responsibility Initiative
Labor and Worklife Program
Working Knowledge
The Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness

Harvard Business School

Managing the future of work

Co-chaired by William R. Kerr and Joseph B. Fuller, this project explores solutions and adaptations to rapid technological change, shifting global product and labor markets, evolving regulatory regimes, outsourcing, and the fast emergence of the gig economy.

Learn more from the Business School

Explore the podcast

An illustration of a person with screens orbiting them

Harvard Kennedy School

Reimagine the world of work

Experts investigate ways to help workers gain new skills, get companies to drop outdated practices, and other forward thinking ideas.

Learn more from the Kennedy School

Graduate School of Education

Reshaping work

Experts discuss how the pandemic is altering jobs and careers and how education can respond.

Using Infrastructure Gaps as Social Sensors for Informing Equity Aims in Policymaking

My dissertation work aims to assess the feasibility of using established gaps in equity due to infrastructure provision as a mechanism for , rather than a byproduct of , infrastructure investment policy to address issues of social equity created and perpetuated by infrastructure systems. To explore this, I start by assessing the potential of using large-scale infrastructure networks as social sensors to detect aspects of inequity to better inform investment policy. I focus my exploration on broadband infrastructure to begin with, exploring the possibility of using U.S. county-level broadband penetration rates as a social sensor to predict rates of unemployment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic (Chapter 2). This work specifically asks, “How can infrastructure serve as a social sensor that allows for sharper detection of those groups which are most vulnerable to disruption?”. I find that broadband can serve as an effective social sensor which is sharpened when applied to employment contexts relevant to broadband, but, as with any sensor, is prone to error (either false positives or false negatives). I then shift my interest from the macro-system to a more micro-focused approach of how to incorporate preferences from end-users into the investment process. To do this, I develop an innovative approach to incorporating qualitative interview responses into a multi-criteria decision-making process (Chapter 3). I find that hauled system water users in Alaska have a strong preference for the aesthetic properties of their water provision which they balance against the need for reliable water system delivery. I end my investigation by understanding the role that skills play as a sensor for detecting effective and equitable use of infrastructure. To do this, I explore broadband connectivity throughout Rwanda and its impact on a critical aspect of development, public health (Chapter 4). To explore this question, I ask to what degree are wireless biomedical devices (specifically EKGs) available and used in the public hospital system in Rwanda? And what impact does broadband access have on the kinds of services which are offered? I find that the first tier of the digital divide influences the ability of offer telehealth services and propose additional future work on the compounded impacts of this access on both second and their tier access.

Degree Type

Dissertation
Engineering and Public Policy

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Usage metrics

Engineering not elsewhere classified

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How To Write About Future Work In A Research Paper? Simple Tricks For Research Recommendations
Sample Dissertation Timeline
🔥 Future work paper example. Future Research Paper Examples That Really
A guide on how to write/structure a dissertation report
Dissertation Examples
How to write future work in dissertation by rachaelgemz

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Dissertation & internship work/ biotechnology/ microbiology/ agriculture students
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Workforce of the Future
Future of Work Virtual Conference 2023: Innovation & Leadership in a Rapidly Evolving World of Work
My Dissertation Topic Revealed

COMMENTS

Writing Conclusion and Future Work section of Dissertation
The conclusion and future work section of a PhD or Post Graduate dissertation serves as the pivotal culmination of extensive research, critical analysis, and scholarly exploration. It is the chapter where the researcher brings their study to a satisfying closure, summarizing the main findings, discussing their implications, and paving the way ...
How to properly describe future works in Master's Thesis?
Since this is the standard state of affairs, there is a standard place for describing future work in your thesis. This place is at the end of the Conclusions chapter. If you are writing that chapter well, you can both address future work that remains to be done, and give the impression that the work in your thesis has been worthwhile. ...
How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Conclusion
Step 2: Summarize and reflect on your research. Step 3: Make future recommendations. Step 4: Emphasize your contributions to your field. Step 5: Wrap up your thesis or dissertation. Full conclusion example. Conclusion checklist. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about conclusion sections.
How to Write a Discussion Section
Table of contents. What not to include in your discussion section. Step 1: Summarize your key findings. Step 2: Give your interpretations. Step 3: Discuss the implications. Step 4: Acknowledge the limitations. Step 5: Share your recommendations. Discussion section example. Other interesting articles.
Dissertation Structure & Layout 101 (+ Examples)
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: Title page. Acknowledgments page. Abstract (or executive summary) Table of contents, list of figures and tables.
Future Research
Definition: Future research refers to investigations and studies that are yet to be conducted, and are aimed at expanding our understanding of a particular subject or area of interest. Future research is typically based on the current state of knowledge and seeks to address unanswered questions, gaps in knowledge, and new areas of inquiry.
Compiling Your Work into a Dissertation
Future work: Every Conclusions chapter contains an overview of future work. There will always be smaller open questions that remain, and the "future work" section is the right place to discuss these open questions. ... Future theoretical work: Every doctoral dissertation contains a certain advance at a theoretical level. You may have had ...
What Is a Dissertation?
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
(PDF) Conclusions and Future Research Directions
The dissertation closes with an outlook on suggested future work based on the work in this dissertation. Additionally, I briefly outline suggested future work that substantially extends the work I ...
Types of future research suggestion
This is because your future research suggestions generally arise out of the research limitations you have identified in your own dissertation. In this article, we discuss six types of future research suggestion. These include: (1) building on a particular finding in your research; (2) addressing a flaw in your research; examining (or testing) a ...
PDF Chapter 7 Conclusions and Future Work
in this dissertation can be seen as a special case of a general framework for determining good low-dimensional subspace approximations of the reﬂection operator, and whether our ... Future work will encompass effects like spatially varying illumination, interreﬂection, and cast shadows. In the long term, we would like to see all the effects ...
How to Write a Dissertation Conclusion
Step 3: Make future recommendations. You may already have made a few recommendations for future research in your discussion section, but the conclusion is a good place to elaborate and look ahead, considering the implications of your findings in both theoretical and practical terms. Example: Recommendation sentence.
Surviving Grad School
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Preparing Your Work
In some cases, the public nature of the dissertation or thesis has the potential to conflict with the policies of current and future publishers. It is important to keep these in mind when preparing the ETD for submission. The Coordinator of Student Services can offer suggestions on how to work with publishers in instances such as the following:
Dissertation & Thesis Outline
Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on November 21, 2023. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process.It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to ...
PDF Conclusions and future work
Conclusions and future work 'Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.' Charles F. Kettering 8.1 Conclusions In this thesis, we addressed the problem of recognition of structures in images using graph representations and inexact graph matching. One of the main contributions of our work is to
Thesis' "Future Work" section
So, in the Future Work section of my thesis, I wrote about the project that we're working on in course X. Except I didn't mention that I'm working on the project. Rather, I mentioned that this project is an example of something that can be worked on (since it has similarities with the concepts implemented in the thesis).
(PDF) Hybrid Workplace: The Future of Work
ABSTRACT. The hybrid workplace is a concept on the lips of every industry trend in the world today. W ith digitali-. zation becoming more normalized across every sphere in the global village ...
Envisioning the Future of Work and The Workforce With Explainable
A Dissertation in Workforce Education and Development by Yu-Ling Chang ©2023 Yu-Ling Chang Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements ... This perspective merely addresses what future work will not be like and leaves the question of what it will look like unresolved. To bridge this gap, the present study aims to envision the future of
The Future of Work
Managing the future of work. Co-chaired by William R. Kerr and Joseph B. Fuller, this project explores solutions and adaptations to rapid technological change, shifting global product and labor markets, evolving regulatory regimes, outsourcing, and the fast emergence of the gig economy. Learn more from the Business School.
How to Write Recommendations in Research
Overall, strive to highlight ways other researchers can reproduce or replicate your results to draw further conclusions, and suggest different directions that future research can take, if applicable. Relatedly, when making these recommendations, avoid: Undermining your own work, but rather offer suggestions on how future studies can build upon it.
Future of Work
The Future of Work program examines the causes and consequences of the deteriorating quality of low-wage jobs in the United States. Projects sponsored by the program have examined a wide range of causal factors, from foreign outsourcing and immigration to the decline of unions and technological change, that may have depressed wages of low-education workers.
Using Infrastructure Gaps as Social Sensors for Informing Equity Aims
My dissertation work aims to assess the feasibility of using established gaps in equity due to infrastructure provision as a mechanism for, rather than a byproduct of, infrastructure investment policy to address issues of social equity created and perpetuated by infrastructure systems.To explore this, I start by assessing the potential of using large-scale infrastructure networks as social ...
How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal
When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic. The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development ...
Dissertation Defense: Zhen Wang
Mathematics PhD defense titled "Optimal Investment Strategies for Maximizing Wealth while Avoiding Ruin". Abstract: The goal of this dissertation is to provide a mathematically rigorous treatment of the problem of minimizing probability of ruin where simultaneously maximizing terminal wealth. This analysis will be carried out in the classic context of a wealth process which consists of a risky ...