The recommendations section is one of the most important parts of a research paper or dissertation. After describing your findings and analysis, the recommendations allow you to persuasively convey the implications of your work. Strong, well-articulated recommendations help ensure your research has a real impact.
Let’s find out what recommendations are, why they matter, and how to write them effectively, with examples.
What should recommendations look like?
The recommendations are conclusions from your analysis and findings related to the research questions and objectives. They propose how others can apply the knowledge generated by the research and identify potential areas for future study.
Some typical elements of the recommendations section include:
- Proposed solutions or changes to current practice
- Policy recommendations for governments, organizations, or institutions
- Theoretical or methodological recommendations
- Suggestions for future research focus or objectives
The recommendations should flow logically from your findings, contributing new insights to the existing scholarly knowledge and debate.
This section may be titled “Recommendations,” “Conclusions and Recommendations,” or come under a general “Conclusion” heading.
Building your research recommendations
Your recommendations link directly to the research problem, purpose, and objectives outlined in the introduction. You should begin drafting prospective recommendations while still analyzing and interpreting the results.
To formulate recommendations:
- Review your analysis. What new knowledge did your research uncover? Did the findings support or challenge the theoretical framework? Were the original objectives met?
- Revisit the literature review. How do the findings extend or contradict existing research? Do they expose limitations or contradictions in current theories?
- Consider the practical and research implications. What actions or changes should organizations, practitioners, or policymakers take based on the evidence? What are the most crucial unanswered questions for future research?
- Be judicious in putting forward recommendations. Avoid overreaching beyond what can be reasonably derived from the research and focus on the most significant, well-supported points.
How should your recommendations be written?
The recommendation section should be objectively and assertively written, communicating key points concisely and persuasively.
Some tips for effectively presenting recommendations:
- Group recommendations logically into categories based on relevant stakeholders (e.g., companies, governments, further research)
- Use clear topic sentences summarizing the main idea behind each recommendation
- Substantiate each recommendation, demonstrating how it connects back to the research purpose and findings
- Prioritize recommendations, positioning the most important ones first
- Use solid modal verbs like “must,” “should,” or “need” to indicate the importance
- Be as specific as possible in articulating actions to take or changes to make
- Consider potential implementation challenges or limitations
Recommendation in research example
As an illustration, here is a good example recommendation section from a research study on sustainable building practices:
Recommendation 1: Enhancing Student Engagement
Based on our analysis of student feedback data, we recommend implementing interactive learning activities in the classroom. These activities, such as group discussions and hands-on exercises, have significantly increased student engagement and fostered a deeper understanding of course material. Educators can create a more dynamic and enriching learning environment by incorporating interactive elements into teaching practices.
Recommendation 2: Strengthening Community Outreach Programs
Our research underscores the importance of community outreach programs in addressing public health disparities. We recommend expanding outreach efforts to underserved communities leveraging partnerships with local organizations and healthcare providers. By increasing accessibility to preventive healthcare services and health education initiatives, we can mitigate disparities and promote overall well-being within the community.