How to write a conclusion

Goals:
Student is able to write and format a conclusion

What is a conclusion?
In the conclusion of a literature review you open with answers to the subquestions that you
discussed in the body of the paper, as well as an answer to the overarching research question
(after you found an answer to all the subquestions, you should be able to give an answer to
your research question, else your subquestions were wrong).
Alternatively, if you write an empirical paper, you open

with a clear statement of the support or nonsupport for your original hypotheses (.)
If hypotheses were not supported, offer post hoc explanations. Similarities between
your results and the work of others should be used to contextualize, confirm, and
clarify your conclusions. (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010, p. 35)

Your interpretation should take into account () limitations or weaknesses of the study
(APA, 2010, p. 35).

Furthermore, you should acknowledge the limitations of your research, and address
alternative explanations of the results. Discuss the generalizability, or external validity, of the
findings (APA, 2010, p. 36).

End the () [conclusion] with a reasoned and justifiable commentary on the

importance of your findings. (.) In this section, you might briefly return to a
discussion of why the problem is important (as stated in the introduction); what larger
issues, those that transcend the particulars of the subfield, might hinge on the findings.
(APA, 2010, p. 36)
The APA continues:
You may also want to consider the following issues:
What is the theoretical () or practical significance of the outcomes, and what is the
basis for these interpretations? If the findings are valid and replicable, what real-life
() phenomena might be explained or modeled by the results? Are applications
warranted on the basis of this research?
What problems remain unsolved or arise anew because of these findings?
The responses to these questions are the core of the contribution of your study
and justify why readers () should attend to the findings. Your readers should receive
clear, unambiguous, and direct answers. (p. 36).

Assessment criteria conclusion:

Content
- Clear statement of the support or nonsupport for your original hypotheses (taking into
account limitations or weaknesses of the study)
[- Normally also to acknowledge the limitations of your research, and address alternative
explanations of the results; and discuss the generalizability, or external validity, of the
findings; but in this case this might be too difficult, so will not be considered]
- Reasoned and justifiable commentary on the importance of your findings
- Briefly return to discussion of why the problem is important; what larger issues, those that
transcend the particulars of the subfield, might hinge on the findings
- Coherent
Language
- Sentences are well-connected
- Divided in paragraphs
- Readable
- Spelling mistakes
- Grammar mistakes
- Style mistakes
Layout
- Running head (<50 characters), in capitals
- Page numbers
- Label Conclusion in bold and centered (no italics or underline)
- Times Roman 12pt
- Double spacing
- Margins of 2.5 cm (or 1 inch) on all sides
- Every first line of a paragraph indented
- Lines not justified