Lesson 1: Formulating a Conclusion for Qualitative Research

In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Identify the components of a conclusion section.
● Discuss the guidelines in formulating a conclusion for a qualitative study.
● Apply the guidelines by writing sample conclusions.
DepEd Competency
Draw conclusions from patterns and themes. (CS_RS11-IVg-j-1)

Writing a Conclusion for Qualitative Research

After data collection and analysis, the next step in the research process is to draw conclusions from the
findings. Writing the conclusion section indicates that the study is nearly coming to a close. Since it is
part of the closing sections of the research paper, the conclusion is based on the contents of earlier
sections. In writing the conclusion, the following prior sections of the research paper must be
considered:
● Research problem and research questions
● Objectives of the study
● Researcher’s own analysis of data
● Findings from the review of related literature
● Significance of the study
Tip
Since the conclusion serves to highlight the most important points of the study, avoid providing new
examples, new concepts, or new literature sources in this section.

Briefly put, the conclusion must consider the research problem, research questions, and the analysis of
data because the results of the data analysis serve as the answers to the research questions. The
conclusion must highlight how these findings address the research problem. Moreover, findings from
the review of related literature must also be considered when concluding whether or not the study’s
current findings agree or differ from the findings of earlier studies. Lastly, the significance of the study
must also be considered in the conclusion as a transition to the recommendations for further study.

Having these considerations as component parts of the conclusion provides a logical and
systematic closure to the study. Most importantly, relating the findings of your own study to that
of previous studies enables the results to be part of a larger pool of data that can enrich your
chosen field (Creswell 2013; Kumar 2011).

How does the conclusion section differ from the summary section?
The summary section of the research paper highlights the most important points of the study.
Essentially, the conclusion section is similar to a summary in that it also highlights important
points. The difference between the two lies in the conclusion section’s explanation of how the
findings address the research questions, relate to the objectives of the study, and correspond to
the findings of previous studies.

Guidelines in Formulating a Conclusion for Qualitative Research

Here are some of the guidelines and strategies that can be used to create an impactful and
effective conclusion for your qualitative study.

Collate interpreted data from the data analysis

In writing the conclusion, the researcher must already have the interpreted data from the data
analysis. In qualitative research, these can be the identified patterns and themes in the
responses from interviews or focus group discussions. It is important to prepare the results of the
data analysis because an important part of the conclusion is explaining how the research
questions have been answered by these findings.

Synthesize key findings and outcomes of the data analysis

 Providing a synthesis of the findings can illustrate how these said findings answer the study’s
research questions. Recalling the discussion on the difference between a summary and a synthesis
in writing a literature review, a synthesis is a coherent narrative made up of multiple
summaries.

In writing a synthesis of findings, the summaries to be used would come from the summary of
findings. To create a synthesis, the researcher must analyze how the summary of key findings
relate to the findings of the literature review (Creswell 2013).

Why is it important to relate the findings of the current study with that of the literature review?
Reviewing the literature review is important in validating the findings of the current study. In
the process, the following possibilities may arise: (1) the findings of the current study agree and
support the ones from the literature, and (2) previous studies might have dissimilar findings and
conclusions in comparison with those of the current study. While this discussion should be
introduced and explained in the analysis of data, it is important to reiterate the most striking
similarities and dissimilarities in the conclusion.

For example, your topic is about the perception of STEM-oriented students on the inclusion of
agricultural courses in the curriculum. The analysis on whether the current study’s findings are in
agreement or in contrast with the outputs of previous studies must be discussed in the data
analysis and interpretation section of the research paper. The highlights of this analysis must be
reiterated in the conclusion.

Relate the findings as answers to the research questions

In the conclusion section, there must be a clear discussion of how the findings answer the
research questions. While there are different ways to provide answers to the research questions,
the most common method is related to the guideline on summarizing and synthesizing the results
of the study. The researcher can separate the synthesis of findings according to which research
question they correspond to. It is important that all of the research questions are discussed in
the conclusion section. There can be instances where a research question was answered either
indirectly or incompletely by the findings of the study (i.e., the findings cannot be considered as
direct responses to the question). In these instances, it remains important for the researcher to
discuss the rationale behind the said conclusion.

Why is it important to synthesize findings from the data analysis?

Revisit the main objectives of the study

Aside from relating the findings of the study to the research questions, it is also important that
the conclusion section includes a discussion on how the main objectives of the study have
been attained. This discussion would inform the readers that conducting a study on the topic is
feasible given that objectives have been achieved. Similarly, the non-attainment of the study’s
objectives would elicit a discussion on the limitations of the study. Either way, this discussion is
a part of the study’s contribution to the existing pool of literature on the topic. Moreover, a
discussion on the attainment of the main objectives of the study also contributes to an
understanding on how the findings can be applied in real life (Kumar 2011).
Indicate the extent to which the objectives of the study have been achieved
In relation to the previous guideline, a discussion on the attainment of the objectives of the
study includes the possibility of the non-attainment of objectives. In cases where not all of the
objectives of the study have been completed, the researcher must discuss its extent by making a
reference to the limitations faced by the study, may it be in the literature review, the choice of
methods, the data collection techniques, or the data analysis itself. This discussion is important
because it will serve as inputs to the study’s recommendations.

For example, a research study on qualitative preferences on clothing brands has the objective of
exploring the range and variety of preferences between males and females. However, the study
yielded results that were more inclined towards female preferences. This shows that one of the
objectives of the study was only partially attained. In this case, the researcher must discuss the
conditions that possibly gave rise to these findings. For example, a possible limitation related to
data collection would be that there were more females who gave their consent as interviewees
than males.

The results of your study might vary from the findings of other scholars in the field, but this
does not mean that you did not achieve the main objective of your study or that you have produced low-
quality research. Remember that the main goal of creating research is to promote truth by using
the scientific method of inquiry. The findings contrary to that of previous studies can serve as
ways to resolve gaps in the existing literature of the field (Vanderstoep, and Johnston 2009).

Remember
A discussion on the limitations and significance of the study provides a transition from the
conclusion to the recommendation sections of the research paper.

Highlight the implications and significance of the findings

One way to culminate the conclusion section is to highlight the implications and significance of
the findings of the study. While the implications of the findings may not be visible at the time
of your writing, it remains important to discuss how these findings can potentially affect
specific or general groups of stakeholders in the future. Including these highlights in the
conclusion would provide more insight into the impact of the study’s findings whether at present
or in the future. Moreover, this bridges the conclusion and recommendation sections of the
paper. A discussion on the significance and impact of your study is key to creating good
recommendations for your study (Kumar 2011).

Activity
Formulate a conclusion based on the findings of an intragroup interview.
1. With your research group, be ready with the transcription of your interview.
2. Indicate your research questions you have prepared before the conduct of your interview.
3. From your transcription, write down the main themes of the transcription of each interview question
in the table below.
4. Analyze the interview data by identifying patterns and themes in the responses per interview question.
You may relate the analysis of interview data with the objectives of the interview.
5. Formulate a conclusion of the responses per interview question.