As with your previous assignments, the introduction and conclusion should act as a way of providing your reader with a clear introduction to the dissertation itself as well as considering why the research has been conducted. The conclusion should act as a reflection of your introduction by providing an overview of the answer to the questions detailed in the introduction.
The introduction chapter may include background information, the context of the study itself, why it was undertaken, and any specific approaches including a brief overview of why they were selected.
You should also clearly state your aims and objectives in your introduction. These should be an expression of the purpose of the research and framed in such a way that allows your reader to understand exactly what your research will address.
Using the three types of research purposes, as detailed by Robson and McCartan (2018), the examples below demonstrate how the phrasing of an aim can be used to demonstrate the main purpose of the study.
1. Explanatory research: 'Do children read better as a result of the programme?'
2. Exploratory research: 'Children's experiences of the literacy programme.'
3. Descriptive: 'To what extent are parents involved in the literacy programme?'.
Overview
| The context/background/bigger picture: Introduce your reader to your topic/issue/problem |
| Your research area and why it matters |
| Specific research areas |
| The gap in previous research or rationale for your research |
| Aim or research questions |
(Williams, 2018)
It is important to give a summary of your project to demonstrate how each section is linked and ultimately work to fulfill your aims and objectives.
Ensure that you do not include any new information in your conclusion as you will not have adequate space to analyse this. Recommendations based on your research may also be required in this section.
Overview
| Restate your argument | Your takeaway points/how your angle filled the gap you pointed to in your introduction. |
| Sum up what you have covered | Base this on the concluding words of each chapter and link together. |
| Show how your conclusion relates to the bigger picture | The debate or issue you started with in your conclusion. |
The following video will provide further information about your dissertation conclusion.
Robson, C. and McCartan, K. (2016) Real World Research. 4th Edition. Chichester: Wiley.
Scribbr (2020) How to Develop a STRONG research question. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71-GucBaM8U (Accessed: 3 August 2024).
Scribbr (2020) How to Write a Conclusion for a Dissertation. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz-J1iPzqTU (Accessed: 3 August 2024).
Williams, K. (2018) Planning Your Dissertation. 3rd Edition. London: Red Globe Press.