Writing the conclusion
The conclusion of your thesis, whether embedded in or separated from your discussion chapter, should create a strong closure to your thesis as it leads out to future research and pathways.
Key conclusion moves
- Summarise the research by restating the research problem and aim, providing a succinct answer to these, and recapping the key findings and evidence
- Unpack the implications of your contribution for theory, practice, research and/or policy in the field
- Acknowledge the limitations and scope of your research
- Address the next frontier: ‘what’s next?’ - make specific recommendations for future work in the field: what could be done to apply or further your research?
Depending on your discipline, you could include a section reflecting on your professional learning as a researcher through the study, especially if you started the thesis with a personal anecdote. Keep your conclusion concise – it could be just several pages long.
Compare the differences between discussions and conclusions in the table below:
| The discussion | The conclusion |
|---|---|
| Presents an evidence-based argument of a new insight or solution to the research problem. | States why this new insight or solution matters, who should care about it, and what should be done next. |
| Focuses on what your original contribution is. | Emphasises its social significance and as such delivers the influence, or 'punch' of the research. |
Gather ideas for the conclusion
As you write or edit your thesis, gather in one place ideas that don’t quite fit the tight purpose of an earlier chapter, or ideas that you would love to develop in another project. These can provide fresh material for the conclusion. For example, they can become statements about the social implications of your research or your recommendations for future investigations.
Align the conclusion with earlier parts of thesis
The introduction and conclusion, as well as the mini-introductions and mini-conclusions of the core chapters, form the bulk of a thesis narrative as they give readers a holistic perspective of the research.
To align the conclusion:
- Make sure it addresses the same problem you set out in the introduction
- If an anecdote or another kind of hook has been used to start the introduction, think about ending the thesis with a return to the hook
- Assess whether you need to adjust the introduction or earlier parts of the thesis to fit your conclusions, or whether the conclusions themselves need to be adjusted.
Explore example introductions and conclusions
In this activity, you’ll read short introduction and conclusion excerpts from two example theses. As you read, think about the ways the author has linked or connected their conclusions to their introductions. Then, turn each card to read a brief commentary.
Use the side menu to go the next section: Using disciplinary conventions, where we discuss how to use the conventions of your discipline.