How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper or Dissertation

Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Holtermann · Updated 16 October 2026 · 4 min read

A conclusion answers your research question directly, summarizes key findings, explains their significance, names limitations, and points to future research.

Key takeaways

The conclusion answers the research question or restates the thesis in light of the evidence, explicitly and in the first paragraph.
Typical length: 5–10 % of the word count; a dissertation conclusion is often 800–2,000 words.
Do not introduce new evidence or sources in the conclusion; new ideas belong only in “implications” and “future research”.
Limitations show critical thinking: name two or three concrete ones and explain how they affect your findings.
In empirical dissertations, the discussion interprets results in detail; the conclusion synthesizes and closes. Some departments merge both into one chapter.

What a conclusion is for

The conclusion closes the loop you opened in your introduction. Readers who skip to the end, and many examiners do, should find a clear answer to your question and understand why it matters. A strong conclusion leaves the reader with the sense that the paper delivered what it promised.

It is not a mere summary. Summarize briefly, then go one step further: what do your findings mean, for whom, and what remains open?

The five elements of a strong conclusion

Use these elements in roughly this order. In a short essay, each can be one or two sentences; in a dissertation, each can be a short subsection.

1. Answer: restate the research question or thesis and give a direct answer.
2. Summary of key findings: the two to four most important results, without repeating every detail.
3. Significance: what your findings contribute to theory, practice, or policy.
4. Limitations: what constrains the validity or generalizability of your findings.
5. Outlook: recommendations and concrete suggestions for future research.

Discussion vs. conclusion

In empirical dissertations, students often confuse the discussion and the conclusion. The discussion is analytical and detailed; the conclusion is short and synthesizing. Check whether your department wants one combined chapter or two separate ones.

	Discussion	Conclusion
Purpose	Interpret results, compare with literature	Answer question, state contribution, close
Length	15–20 % of the dissertation	5–10 %
Sources	Many: you compare with prior studies	Few or none
Detail	Result by result	Big picture
Limitations	Discussed in depth	Summarized briefly

Example: conclusion of a term paper

This condensed example shows how the elements fit together in a few sentences. Notice that the answer comes first, and that the limitation and outlook are specific rather than generic.

Useful phrases for each element

Academic phrases help you signal the function of each sentence. Vary them and adapt them to your discipline; overusing the same formula makes your writing feel mechanical.

Element	Phrases
Answer	“This study set out to…”, “The findings indicate that…”, “In answer to the research question…”
Significance	“These results extend previous work by…”, “For practitioners, this suggests…”
Limitations	“The findings should be interpreted with caution because…”, “A limitation of this study is…”
Outlook	“Future research could examine…”, “A longitudinal design would allow…”

Common mistakes

These problems cost marks in conclusions more than anywhere else, because examiners read the conclusion with the introduction side by side.

No direct answer to the research question.
Copying sentences from the introduction or abstract word for word.
New data, new sources, or new arguments that were not discussed before.
Overclaiming: “This proves that…” when a small sample only suggests.
Generic limitations (“more research is needed”) without saying which research and why.
Ending with an apology for what the paper did not do.

The conclusion chapter in a dissertation

In a dissertation, the conclusion is usually its own chapter of 800–2,000 words, often with short subheadings. Examiners read it alongside your introduction to check that the research questions you posed were answered one by one. A clear way to do this is to take each sub-question in turn and give a two- or three-sentence answer, followed by an overall answer to the main question.

Then state your contribution explicitly: what does the field know now that it did not know before? Be modest but concrete. Finish with recommendations for practice (if your field is applied) and two or three specific directions for future research that follow directly from your limitations.

6.1 Summary of the study (aim, method, sample in three or four sentences)
6.2 Answers to the research questions
6.3 Contribution to theory and practice
6.4 Limitations (brief, with reference to the discussion)
6.5 Recommendations and future research

Frequently asked questions

How long should a conclusion be?

About 5–10 % of the total word count. For a 3,000-word paper that is 150–300 words; for a 12,000-word dissertation about 800–1,200 words.

Can I add new information in a conclusion?

No new evidence or sources. You can add new thoughts only in the form of implications, recommendations, and suggestions for future research.

Do you cite sources in a conclusion?

Rarely. If you need many citations, the material probably belongs in the discussion. An occasional reference to a key study is fine.

Should limitations go in the conclusion or the discussion?

In empirical dissertations, discuss them in detail in the discussion and summarize them briefly in the conclusion. In short papers, the conclusion is the usual place.

How do I start a conclusion?

Restate your research question or thesis and answer it directly, for example: “This study set out to examine… The findings show that…”

Sources and further reading

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2016). The Craft of Research (4th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills (3rd ed.). University of Michigan Press.

Your university’s examination regulations and style guide always take precedence.