How to Write a Research Paper Conclusion

One can think of a research paper conclusion as the final impression your paper leaves. It is the section that provides a detailed summary of your research and findings and synthesizes the main points to help the readers understand the point of your work. It can also make or break your research, as delivering a basic summary of research results is not enough to show the significance of your contribution. The point of a research paper conclusion is to demonstrate the value of your study by presenting legitimate evidence and addressing the potential limitations of your research.

It is not uncommon for students to rush through their summary or repeat the introduction, missing the opportunity to leave their audience with a sense of completion and discuss the implications of their findings. This is because crafting a memorable conclusion requires diligent planning and adhering to the logical structure, and that’s not always an option if you are someone who is trying to combine a part-time job and writing a conclusion for a research paper. If this sounds like something you are going through, you can always pay for research paper and get help from qualified professionals.

What Is a Research Paper Conclusion?

A conclusion in research is a final research paragraph aimed at connecting together your entire paper and leaving your readers with a sense of completion. A conclusion can also discuss future research implications and outline the gaps in knowledge that should be addressed in future work. Alternatively, a conclusion for a research paper can be interpreted as your opportunity to remind the instructor evaluating your paper about the purpose of your research and its significance.

Your conclusion to a research paper can also:

• Restate your thesis statement in light of new arguments
• Provide arguments that summarize your main research points
• Give your work a broader practical application and context
• Indicate the areas of future research for fellow scholars

In other words, a conclusion paragraph for a research paper is a restatement of your research problem crafted without the use of excessive repetition and intended to reiterate the importance of your general findings. A great conclusion will also reflect the tone of your paper. For example, a persuasive research paper conclusion will emphasize the call to action, while an analytical conclusion will always prioritize the future implications of your findings.

Research Paper Conclusion Types

Not every conclusion format looks the same and follows the same structure. Depending on your paper’s audience, you can select a paper conclusion format that matches your assignment type:

Summary Conclusion

This is the most common conclusion format you can come across in the science and tech fields. It reiterates the thesis statement and summarizes your findings in a clear and concise way. A summary conclusion format does not allow the use of new thoughts and ideas and can only rely on previous statements to create a sense of closure.

Reflective Conclusion

A reflective conclusion is a research paper conclusion reserved for social sciences and humanities. Unlike the summary conclusion, it does not merely echo your thesis statement and recap your ideas in a comprehensive manner - a reflective conclusion must also include future research implications, showing how your findings can facilitate future academic research and make the audience understand your research’s ties to bigger scholastic questions or themes.

Persuasive Conclusion

A persuasive conclusion is a type that can be found in argumentative and analytical papers. Its goal is to inspire the readers to take action and carry out their own academic research or investigation for the purpose of future contributions. The goal of the persuasive conclusion format is to craft a believable call to action that will be based on your findings and arguments.

Future Research Conclusion

Sometimes, a conclusion for a research paper raises more questions than answers and makes the readers curious about the future implications of your academic findings. Research paper formats that fall into this category acknowledge the possible limits of your paper and suggest new avenues for scholastic exploration that can help readers contextualize information.

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper

Writing a conclusion for a research paper means synthesizing ideas in a way that gives the readers a clear understanding of what your paper is about. Below, you will find a guide to crafting an effective research paper conclusion:

How to Start a Research Paper Conclusion

Start with a transition phrase that helps the readers understand they are dealing with the summary of your findings. Phrases like “In conclusion” and “To summarize” will set your conclusion apart. You can always use alternative assertive statements to summarize. Your main goal is to paraphrase a thesis statement in a way that does not feel repetitive. You don’t need a word-for-word repetition - your summary should signal closure without copying the conclusion ideas from your introductory paragraph.

Example: In conclusion, this research confirms the importance of parental supervision when dealing with primary school homework assignments in education.

How to Develop a Middle for a Research Paper Conclusion

The middle of a research paper conclusion should summarize your key findings, looping them back to your original statement and the core purpose of your research. It is also essential to emphasize why these findings matter and why they should be treated as relevant both by your peers and your instructor. For example, you can highlight your contribution to society or to your field by listing what your research achieved. The middle should also provide acknowledgment for a research paper limitations while simultaneously demonstrating how your research can be used in the ongoing academic discussions and debates.

Example: These findings suggest that early comprehension programs increase the literacy rates among primary school students, which underlines the need for active government support in this area.

How to Create a Strong Research Paper Conclusion Ending

A strong research paper conclusion ending leaves the readers with a final thought, reflection, or thought they can consider, providing a sense of logical completion or call to action, depending on the research paper conclusion format you have selected. The ending should never introduce new concepts, limitations, or ideas to your research paper, as it can easily overwhelm the readers and leave them unsure of your research potential.

Example: Future investigations could explore how these comprehensive programs affect the children’s well-being, with the suggested findings delivering a compelling case for international scholars to invest in.

Good Research Paper Conclusion Examples

A good research paper conclusion example should reinforce the significance of your work and demonstrate why your findings have significant value and can contribute to ongoing academic debates. A conclusion example doesn’t have to be long or repetitive. However, it has to be meaningful enough to leave an impression. Below, you will find two research paper conclusion examples that showcase different conclusion formats.

• A research paper conclusion example in a reflective style: In conclusion, these findings clearly demonstrate the significance of early literacy programs on children’s educational development and showcase the positive effect of a comprehensive and detail-oriented approach to learning among young children. The research outcome underscores the effectiveness of targeted education and emphasizes the importance of investing in these educational programs as a key motivator for a student’s future academic success. Educators are advised to find the practical applications of these programs for long-term educational solutions and closing achievement gaps between younger students. The study also provides a strong foundation for future literacy policy development and a focused approach to primary school education.
• A research paper conclusion example in a summary style: To summarize, this study highlights the need for effective environmental policies and ongoing responsibility that lies with future generations. By acknowledging the interconnected nature of our everyday choices and collective human behaviors that affect the planet’s ecological well-being, we are reminded that each of us plays a significant role in shaping an environmentally-friendly future and finding new, sustainable ways to keep our planet’s resources intact. These findings also encourage citizens to participate in mitigating environmental harm on a local, smaller-scale basis, raising awareness among privileged communities and exploring nuanced strategies for a prolonged change in how we care for our planet. Future research can apply new meanings to these insights and deliver more innovative methods to help preserve the environment.

What You Need to Avoid in Your Research Paper Conclusion

An underdeveloped research paper conclusion can undermine an otherwise impeccably structured paper and weaken your academic integrity. Here are the top things you need to avoid when writing a research paper conclusion:

Introducing New Evidence

All new ideas and arguments belong in the paper’s middle section, not the conclusion. If you need to introduce a concept that carries a strong significance for your findings, do so while crafting the body of the research paper. Even if the message you are trying to emphasize is innovative and exceptional, it must not be introduced in your research paper summary. By failing to adhere to this rule, you risk overwhelming your readers with too much information.

Relying on Too Much Repetition

Your research paper conclusion should not be treated as a mere recap of the introductory chapter. You are not just listing points or reiterating the thesis statement by using slightly different expressions. The goal of any decent research paper conclusion is to focus on the importance of your findings, showing what they mean, and how they are connected.

Ending Your Conclusion Abruptly

A good research paper conclusion provides answers and gives your readers closure that they deserve. A conclusion that ends mid-thought or appears rushed might rob your audience of the much-needed completion. It can also disrupt your entire research purpose and structure and confuse your readers.

Switching to an Emotional Tone

Even in reflective or persuasive research paper conclusions, you should always maintain a formal tone and remain free from bias or subjective statements that can shatter your authority as a serious academic professional. Avoid being overly emotional or dramatic when reflecting on your paper’s future implications unless specifically instructed to do so by your instructor. Do not use an excessively informal language if it does not suit your purpose.

Conclusion

A research paper conclusion is often viewed as having secondary importance, especially compared to the paper’s introduction or the body of your research. Researchers often fail to understand the significance of a carefully crafted conclusion, merely dismissing it as a simple reiteration of their previous thoughts and ideas. A good research paper conclusion, however, is more than a recap of a thesis statement.

It is your chance to round up the discussion, strengthen the impact of your research findings, and contribute to future academic discussions and conversations. It can also impact your paper’s overall meaning and draw attention to the relevance of your research. By avoiding the common pitfalls that are associated with writing a research paper conclusion, such as relying on too much repetition or introducing new evidence that may potentially confuse the readers, you can ensure that your research findings are presented in a favorable light and indicate potential avenues for future investigation in your field.