CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is entitled introduction to emphasize its relative functions and the chapter will
contain the following subunits

1.1 Introduction

➢ You outline the broad field of study. This section aims to orient the reader of what you are
going to do and to get his or her attention.

➢ Setting the scene.

➢ You can reference at least 4-5 authors and this is to demonstrate that care has been taken to
broaden the gap of knowledge. This should be brief and indicate that its covered in detail in
chapter 2

1.2 Background to the study/ problem

➢ this contains a brief overview of the proposed research

➢ explain the factors leading to the study

➢ what is needed is the background of the problem and not background of the organization.

➢ The background places the research study into some intelligible context or perspective,
touching broadly on some of the issues related to it.

➢ Generally you will rely on some information which led you to get to the source of this
particular research problem in the first place.

➢ You might want to touch on the commercial, social, geographical, educational and or the
various dimensions in which it manifests itself

➢ The researcher should identify the gap that must be filled by the present study and where the
background depends on the literature, this must be cited.

➢ Use the cone funnel approach where you start explaining the phenomenon as it is presented
internationally, then regionally, nationally and the case specific (if it’s a company then the
company). You are mainly focusing on the problem or opportunity under study.

1.3 Statement of the problem

➢ This is the broad problem to be analyzed and should not be answered with a yes or no

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➢ It should be such that thinking is needed on the part of the researcher.

➢ A problem statement is a discussion of exactly what is to be studied or formulated into a

research problem or is a clear statement of the problem to be solved.

➢ Research is usually motivated by the need to handle a problem

➢ The problem statement should thus follow from the background, specifying what is to be
studied and the problem

➢ It is important to demonstrate that the problem is critical and warrants a study.

➢ One can also discuss the potential consequences if the problem is not addressed.

➢ It is important to note that this is a build up from the Background to the study and you now
saying therefore the problem is…. Its so easy you cover your Background of the study
properly and adequately.

➢ Some of the characteristics of a good research problem statement are that it should be:

1) Researchable i.e. it should be possible to investigate it empirically. It should be answered

through the collection and analysis of data

2) Precise i.e. it should be written in clear unambiguous language

3) Resolved through research – the researcher should make sure that the problem chosen offers
definite sources of information which when collected, can answer the key questions sufficiently.

4) Carefully fit into the broader content of current theory and relevant research

5) Clearly and logically related to its research questions, objectives and prepositions

1.3.1Research Questions

➢ -Research questions are developed from the research problem

➢ -These can be written as mere statements

➢ -Good research questions ought to be amenable to some or less definite answers.

➢ -However while the question must lead itself to some answer , it must not be totally
answered by a simple “yes “or simple “no”

➢ It must require you to collect and process research evidence as part of the answer

➢ -Research questions must specify variables

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 ➢ -When research questions are addressed individually they yield responses which can be
reconstituted to make up a complete answer to the main research problem

➢ -The research questions must be precise

➢ -The research questions must be 3-5 and not more than five

1.3.2 Research Objectives (Start with the research objectives before the research questions)

➢ Objectives are formal expression of the researchers intentions

➢ The objectives have to be clear and smart

➢ Objectives start with “to”

➢ You may want to explore, to explain or in some cases you may want to replicate what is
already known(describe), hence you must make it clear. These terms are explained as:

(a) To explore

- Is to just to find out more about an area which few or no people have ventured into .

-Exploratory studies are done in areas which are little understood and where the relationships
among variables are unknown or only a little is known

(b) To describe

- That is to reveal patterns and trends of situations or events objects phenomena or behavior

-By describing them the hope is that they well be understood better and so answer the questions
“why, how?

(c) To explain

-is to reveal the linkages among the elements constituting a situation, events and phenomena

-It also attempts to answer the question “why”

1.3.3 Research prepositions/ statement of hypothesis

➢ Hypotheses are tentative answers or “intelligent guesses” or “probable answers’ to the

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 research problem.

➢ The research prepositions start with that

➢ Hypothesis can be written in null or alternate form i.e. Ho and H1

➢ Research prepositions should be simple and concise

➢ They should guide the whole dissertation and is often used as a reference point in the

subsequent chapters such that the researcher stays within the context of the research

1.4 Justification of the research

➢ The research should be justified and should not address a trivial research area.

➢ It is not enough to show that there are gaps in the research area, they must be important gaps

which when addressed would lead to contributions to the body of knowledge.

Justification fronts

Justification can be based on the following four fronts.

i. The fact that other researcher have neglected an issue on the research problem. You must

indicate that which previous researches missed on the research problem.

ii. The importance of the subject matter under study. How is it going to benefit the society, the

organization, the student e.t.c

iii. Relative neglect of the research’s methodologies by other researchers i.e. either quantitative

methods have been used most thereby neglecting quantitative methods.

iv. Potential applications of the research findings. You should indicate that these are discussed

in detail in chapter 5.

NB: Justification can be on all fronts and you must put sections to the fronts used.

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1.5 Methodology

➢ State the aim of the study.

➢ Which methodology is going to be followed, ie is it an exploratory study, explanatory study
or descriptive study.

➢ In which paradigm of research is your study couched in?

1.5.1 Research paradigms/ Preliminary literature review

The researcher is aware that there are many research paradigms. Guba and Lincoln(1994) have
summarized the various types of paradigms into positivism, constructivism, critical theory and
realism and these are summarized as follows:

(a) Positivist ontology assumes an objective world, conceived in terms of specified correlations
and associations among variables. An understandable reality, which is real, certain, precise and
measurable is assumed to exist. This naïve realism is believed to be amenable to capture through
deductive logic whereby general statements about the world are made on the basis of empirical
and specific observations. The obsession with scientific testing of propositions or hypothesis in
this paradigm means that positivist are more concerned with theory testing rather than theory or
content discovery and development.

(b)Constructivism is a theory of knowledge, the generic definitions of which are centered on the
active participation of the subject in construing reality, rather than on reflecting or representing it.
Constructivist ontology thus assumes a social construction of reality that is reinforced by humans
through action and interaction. The epistemology of this paradigm is that findings are subjective
based on the ideologies and values at a particular place and time. Given the concern with
understanding members meanings, constructivist researchers have often preferred meaning as
opposed to measurement oriented methods. The primary analytic method used in this paradigm is
grounded theory and data gathered is thus sample specific and non statistical and is of limited
generalization.

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(C) Critical theory focuses on the changing nature of capitalism and the forms of dominations,
injustice and subjugation capitalism produced. This paradigms ontology is one of historical
realism: and focuses on the analysis and transformation of a reality that is shaped by social,
economic, ethnic, political, cultural and gender values crystallized over time. A basic assumption
of the critical tradition is that the material world is both real and is produced by and through
capitalists modes of production whose inequalities and contradictions operate as both social values
and structures. The epistemology of this paradigm involves a mutual interactive relationship
between the researcher and the object of research. This leads to “mediated findings” that are
influenced by the investigator through his or her values. The methodology to investigate reality
focuses on dialogue between the researcher and the subject with the aim of transforming taken for
granted values and misconceptions into emancipator consciousness.

(d) Realism focuses on qualitative methods modeled on positivistic methods and experimental
designs. It allows the use of both quantitative and qualitative method to form methodological
triangulation. Realism ontology assumes a real world that exists out there independent of the
human mind, ready made and solid. The realism paradigm depends on the triangulation of several
perceptions of reality to capture a better picture of the phenomenon. Realism is similar to critical
theory and constructivism in that it is also concerned with multiple realities but it suggests that
perception is only “ a window into reality from which a picture of reality can be triangulated with
other perceptions.” The epistemology of the realism paradigm is that knowledge can only be
probably true and the researcher is part of the research process, but remains as objective as possible
through the triangulation process.

1.5.2 Research methodology

That is being couched in the realism paradigm, the study will employ both qualitative and
quantitative methods. According to Sekaran (2003), qualitative data refers to information gathered
in narrative form, through interviews and observation. Qualitative research focus on the collection
and analysis of full and rich information about a phenomenon. On the other hand quantitative
research focuses on the collection, analysis and presentation of numerical information. Yin(2003),
states that case study research may include both qualitative and quantitative evidence in the
research. Qualitative and quantitative methods can be used in a complementary fashion. Thus
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while the quantitative design strives to control for bias so that facts can be understood in an
objective way, the qualitative approach is striving to understand the perspective of
the……………….., looking to first hand experience to provide meaningful data. By combining
the two methods, advantages of each methodology complement the other resulting in a stronger
research design that ensures valid and reliable findings. The inadequacies of individual methods
are minimized and threats of internal validity are addressed. However, it is essential to say that
while quantitative elements are used in the study in the form of facts and figures to back up certain
assertions and findings, the study will be predominantly qualitative in nature.

1.5.3 Data collection and analysis

➢ Explain how you are going to collect data and how you are going to analyze the
data.
➢ Are you going to use primary sources of data or secondary sources or both?
➢ Which system/ package of data analysis are you going to use.

1.6 Assumptions

➢ These are statements of what the researcher believes to be fact but these cannot be verified.

➢ Assumptions are not the object of the research but do strengthen the basis of your research

➢ These assumptions, like the significance of the study have practical and theoretical

implications

➢ Without assumptions, your research cannot be carried out.

➢ For you to be able to carry out the study you should hold certain facts about the study as

given.

➢ These are the assumptions that your study makes which would influence your research

findings.

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 1.7 Delimitations of the study

➢ Delimitations refer to the boundaries of the study.

➢ These enable you to point out clearly what is included in the study and not

➢ A description of both conceptual and practical (physical) boundaries is needed.

➢ Delimitations answers the following questions:-

i. What are the concerns of this study?

ii. What are not its concerns?

iii. How far does it go into the treatment of the given issues and where does it stop?

iv. How wide is the field from which it sources its data.

• In short, delimitations point out what is included in the study such as the population or

sample size and the variables etc.

1.8 Limitations of the study

➢ Limitation are those conditions beyond the control of the researcher that may place

restrictions on the conclusions of the study and their applications to other situations.

➢ It is not enough just to state these limitations (weaknesses or constraints) without suggesting

the compensatory factors that ensure that the research remains valid and reliable.

➢ Limitations are weaknesses that are inherent in the research, which the researcher is given

credit for pointing out and serve to alert the reader /user of the research about what to take

note of when interpreting and generalizing the findings and conclusions of the study.

➢ These limitations should be comprehensive hence you need to sufficiently clarify them to the

reader.

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1.9 Definition of terms

➢ You should identify all terms that need to be defined in order to avoid any misinterpretations.

➢ These definitions help you to establish the frame of reference with which you as the

researcher approach the problem.

➢ The variables to be considered should be defined in operational terms, that is, they should

either be observable or measurable so that they can be manipulated scientifically.

➢ These terms should be employed consistently throughout the research project.

➢ Dictionary meanings do not serve adequately in defining terms of a research project.

1.10 Project report outline

This is an outline of what is covered in each chapter of the thesis or dissertation. Write this is in a

single paragraph.

1.11 Timeframe (Gantt Chart)

A proposed timeline to carryout the research.

ACTIVITY Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March

Problem
Identification

Reviewing
Literature

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ACTIVITY Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March

Devising
Objectives,
Questions,
Prepositions

Designing
Research

Writing
Research
Proposal

Submission
of Research
Proposal

Further
Literature
Review

Designing
and Pilot
Testing
Questionnaire

Documents
Review

Conducting
Interviews
and Focus

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 ACTIVITY Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March

Group
Discussions

Data Analysis

Submission
of Draft
Research

Revision of
Draft
Research

Final
Submission

1.12 Resources/budget

➢ A budget outlining the resources needed to carryout the research.

1.12 Summary

➢ You should highlight the constituent parts of chapter one and the emerging issues.

➢ A statement linking this chapter with chapter two is needed. Therefore introduce the next

chapter here.

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 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

Knowledge is cumulative; every piece of research will contribute another piece to it. That is why
it is important to commence all research with a review of the related literature or research, and to
determine whether any data sources exist already that can be brought to bear on the problem at
hand. This is also referred to as secondary research.

Just as each study relies on earlier work; it will provide a basis for future work by other researchers.
The literature review should provide the reader with an explanation of the rationale of the problem
being studied as well as what research has already been done and how the findings relate to the
work at hand.

The quality of the literature being reviewed must be carefully assessed. Not all published
information is a result of good research design or can be substantiated. Indeed, a critical assessment
as to the appropriateness of the methodology employed can be part of the literature review. This
is covered by Chapter II.

Books, journals, articles, websites etc should be read with a view of identifying existing
information gaps and the entry strategy into the literature debate

Key points to note:

1. There should be debate in chapter two depending on the research.

2. Literature should speak and not the researcher.
3. Citations should be recent and not too old unless in cases where no other researches or
publications were done recently.
4. It should be relevant to the research study
5. Students are not allowed to do cyber plagiarism.
6. The major purpose of literature review is compose and contrast
7. Dominant terms used in literature review are as follows:
i) Describes
ii) Agrees
iii) Contends
iv) States
v) Notes

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 8. Literature should be characterized by critical reflection
9. Literature review should answer research questions and at least 50 serious, relevant
sources should be reviewed.

Structure of Chapter II

Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Theoretical literature review

2.2.1 Main arguments- Subject area 1

2.2.2 Main argument- subject area 2 etc

Or just use the research objectives to review your literature and scrutinize which information
should be covered or not.

2.3 Empirical literature (Other related studies and researches, this should be current not more
than 5 years old)

2.4 Conceptual framework (more or less like your definition of terms. Where you want to make
sure that you are not quoted out of context) So you use this part to explain your key terms in the
research that need explanation.

2.5 Summary

Summarise the chapter here and introduce the next chapter at the end of the summary

Referencing

• Harvard system

• Style of citation briefly identifies the source for readers and enable them to locate the
source of information in the alphabetical reference list at the end of an article or research

• Eg Gutu (2010:15) for one author and there is a direct quotation of the author. Where the
direct words of the author are used, researcher must include the year and page number.

• Gutu and Nyakuwanika (2010) for two

Where there are many authors eg. Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jacob and Moses and also Matthew,
Mark, Luke, Amos, Adam and Eve.
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 You quote as follows:

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jacob et al (2009).

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, Amos et al (2010).

• For authors with a similar surname, include the abbreviations e.g. G Gutu (1974) and M
Gutu (1980)

• For two or more works within the same parenthesis e.g. Zivanai (2000, 2008, 2012) in the
same order in which they will appear in the reference list.

• Other examples: Mutembwa (2010) cited by Tagwireyi (2011) stated .......

• Zhou (2012, Feb, 2012, Aug) or Zhou (2012a, 2012b) where the author being quoted has
more than one publication in a year.

• Webology: Author (year), title, website, date and time you searched in (full references) in
the main text just write the author and year.

Order of citing

• Chronological sequence in citing, using the research objectives if possible for clarity

• The researcher should try to provide the answers to the research questions using literature

Review of related literature

➢ This involves the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and unpublished
work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to the researcher.

Role of Related literature

(i) Ensure that no important variable is ignored – all important variables are treated adequately

(ii) Enables the researcher to define frontiers of the research field – indicate how far the researcher can
go with the research.

(iii) Helps to limit problem or research questions

➢ Assists in the focusing of the research problem and research questions

➢ A research problem may be too vague or too broad to be put into concrete operation, literature
review thus assists.
➢ Literature review enables review of the initial question so that it can be investigated.

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(iv) Clarifying concepts- it assists in making concepts clearer to the researcher and setting of operational
definitions and meanings.

(v) Insight into reason for contradictory results- contradictory findings or inconsistencies may be caused
by research design used for resolving the problem or type of instruments employed or the methodologies
and analysis made. A comparison of the procedures of these studies may explain the inconsistent
findings.

(vi) Learning which methodologies have proved useful – assists researcher in seeing better ways in which
studies could have been done.

(vii) Avoiding unintentional repetition of previous studies:

➢ A researcher should not carry out an investigation where a similar study was done before.
➢ If there is a deliberate want to replicate a previous study the reason for it must be given
➢ For example a study for large companies could be replicated with focus on small firms.

(viii) Places researcher in a better position to interpret significance of results-becoming familiar with
theory in the field and with previous research prepares researcher for fitting the findings of the research
into the body of knowledge in the field.

(ix) Basis for developing comprehensive theoretical framework

Organizing Related Literature

Literature review is organized into three distinct steps

(i) Identifying the various sources of published and unpublished materials that are available on
the topic(s) of interest and gaining access to these.
(ii) Gathering the relevant information
(iii) Writing up the literature review

Sources of Information

➢ A researcher can use bibliographical indexes in compiled periodicals that list book journals etc.
➢ Use of computer online systems – this collects published information on various topics
➢ Text databases are also used on computer online systems such as:
(a) Bibliographical database – this displays the bibliographic citations i.e name of the author,
source of publication, year, volume, and page numbers.
(b) Abstract database which provides, in addition, an abstract or summary of the article
(c) Full text database – this provides a full text of the article with entire articles retrievable
online.
➢ Use of search engines – find more information and the use of these.
➢ Books in the area of interest are also of great use.

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Gathering the relevant information

➢ After identifying the relevant sources a printout can be obtained that provides a comprehensive
bibliography on the subject.
➢ Whereas a printout may contain many titles, a glance at the titles may indicate which of these
may be relevant.
➢ After identifying the relevant titles, detailed information relating to the subject of the problem
area can be extracted.
➢ Consider the design of the study such as sample size, data collection methods and the ultimate
findings
➢ Note the apparent relationships between major variables in the texts being perused.
➢ It is also advised that the researcher use a research diary that records information and the full
description of the source because of the obvious danger of forgetting.

Writing up literature review

➢ The documentation of information is given in a chapter or section of the research called

Literature Review or Literature Survey.
➢ The chapter is a clear, logical presentation of research work by the researcher.
➢ All significant findings from earlier research are taken down.
➢ The researcher is to present the literature in a way to show that the researcher is
knowledgeable about the problem area.
➢ Literature review should bring together all relevant information in a cogent and logical
manner instead of presenting all studies in chronological order with bits and pieces of
uncoordinated information.
➢ When citing references the Harvard System of referencing is recommended e.g. Wood (2002)
found out that……………………..
➢ In the Harvard System only the author’s surname, the year of the particular publication and
the page number where applicable are given.
➢ In the References section that is where the full descriptions are given
➢ E.g Wood, F. (2002) Business Accounting II Prentice Hall International, Hong Kong
➢ The information above is given in the order in the example. The title of the publication is
underlined; the city where the publication was printed can be succeeded by the country where
the city is not well known.

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NB. Company memorandum, standing instructions, policies or company guidelines and standing
order including their manuals should not be treated as part of literature but findings which should
be dealt with in Chapter four, just like findings from questionnaires, interviews, etc.

The other suggested alternative treatment of such internal information might be to discuss it in
chapter two under empirical literature/evidence from the researcher.

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 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH GUIDELINE

- This defines how the research was carried out

- It assumes activities and procedures undertaken during the course of the research
- Review of related literature should have assisted in reaching suitable methodology for the
study.
- This is in future tense at the proposal stage,
- As the researcher reports, he transcribed this into past tense
Consistent of Research Methodology

- Research design
- Research instrument
- Data connection procedures
- Data presentation and analysis plans
Research Design

- This is the assumption of the format and theoretical structure under which the study will
be carried out.
- This includes the discussion steps to be taken in order to safeguard the validity and
authenticity of the findings
The main concerns being:

- To identify the design e.g assumption, experimental design, correlation research design,
historical research design or case study research.
- To describe theoretical framework of a design so as to bring out its strengths and
weaknesses.
- To justify the choice of the design visa-vis the context in which the study work be done.

Research Instruments

- These are tools used for connecting data needed to find solutions to the problem under
investigation
- These tools include tests, questionnaires, interview schedules, observation guides.
- Research instruments should be clearly described so as to bring out their strengths and
weaknesses as a way of justifying their selection and suitability to the researcher
- It should be clear what measures the researcher is going to do to control the weaknesses
to ensure the validity and reasonability of these instruments and data concerned.

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NB. It is important to note that, the researcher must justify each instrument used by citing other
similar researches/study where such instruments were used successfully. The researcher must
avoid giving the “book” advantages or disadvantages of an instrument but the advantages or
disadvantages of an instrument must be as they relate to the current researcher or the researcher
The following are common instruments with their strength and weaknesses.
(a) Questionnaire
- It is an instrument consisting of a series of question that are filled in by the respondents
- It is a preformulated written set of questions to which a record their answers.
- There are two major forms of administering these questionnaires: personally administered
questionnaires or mail questionnaires

Personally administered questionnaires

-These are suitable where survey is confined to a local area
-The researcher’s willing and able to assemble groups of respondents to respond to the
questionnaires.

Mail questionnaires
-These are posted to the respondents who may in turn have to mail back to the researcher.
- This method is suitable where the respondents are spaced
Strengths of questionnaires

- Allow for wider coverage at low cost

- It enables collection of data from people who may be difficult to contact.
- It allows greater uniformity in the way in which the questions that are asked and thus
making it reliable.
- It gives respondents time to consider question carefully
- Most respondents are more comfortable facing a questionnaire than the researcher.
- There is the pledge of anonymity and confidentiality and
- There respondents tend to be truthful
Weaknesses /Limitations

-The question of non response especially on mailed questionnaires.

-Sometimes questions may not be sufficiently simple and straightforward to understand.
- Not possible for researcher to probe further
-Researcher cannot be sure that right person completes the questionnaire.

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 (b) Interviews
- This implies talking directly to the respondents and recording responses.
- Interviews may be over the phone where this is found to be inconvenient.
Strengths

- Large amount of data can be collected relatively quickly and cheaply.

- It is versatile – can be adapted to the needs of the respondent
- Interview has opportunity to clarify questions
- Researcher benefits from respondent’s body language
- Higher response rate compared to questionnaire
Weaknesses

- Appointments difficult to set

- Researcher needs to be good at interviewing
- Researcher/interviewer may lead respondent to some particular response
- Researcher’s physical expressions may give different emphasis to a question than
originally intended.
- Most responses may not be honest and truthfully, respondents may give information to
“please” interviewer
- Interviews are time consuming
- May not be suitable for collecting data from many respondents
- There is the problem of uniformity of data gathered.
Observation

- This is whereby researcher observes a process as a way of gaining data

- There is participative and non-participative observation.
- The researcher obtains data by looking at processes as others perform the tasks or as he
physically checks or does the processes himself.
Strengths

- Direct observation and therefore authentic

- Low personal bias from respondents
- Researcher, being outsider, may see phenomena with those involved may take for
granted.

Weaknesses

- Personal bias of researcher

- Researcher may not be there at the time of some spontaneous occurrence which may be
of interest
- Observations are limited to the present and cannot be suitable to study historical matter.
- Applicable only to small number of respondents.

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 CHAPTER IV

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Purpose:

 Summarizes and analyzes the study's data

 Brings your readers as close as reasonable to the original data and experiences of your
study

 Gives the reader some chance to form his or her own inferences from your data

 Match analysis against conclusions in chapter 5

 It should begin with a brief review of the purpose of the study and the research method
employed.

 Chapter 4 should closely follow the guiding questions or hypotheses articulated earlier in
the dissertation

 These questions and hypotheses could be used as headings for sections.

 Effectiveness of Internal Controls

 1.Control Environment effective?

 Literature?

 Questionnaire

 What did you observe

 Present in table, chart etc

 What does it show?

Use of software

 SPSS

 Microsoft Access

 Microsoft Excel
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  Results should be presented first in their simplest form

 Use simple narrative descriptions, simple counts of frequency, and descriptive statistics.

 Later use more complex forms of data presentation,

 Like use of multifactor interactions and generalized patterns or inferential statistics.

 Temptation to do detailed interpretation of findings is real.

 Findings are reserved for chapter 5

 It is useful to highlight the most important findings both in the text and in accompanying
tables and to draw some simple conclusions in anticipation of more developed
discussions in chapter 5.

 Tables should be clear and well presented

 Charts must be edible with clear labels

 Each table or chart should be followed by a brief narration on the less obvious.

 Avoid duplicating charts and tables showing same information.

 Variety is the spice of life!!

 Give a short paragraph that rounds off the chapter and prepares the reader for the next
chapter.

NB: For tables – the title should be on top of the table.

For charts – the title is usually at the bottom of the chart

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 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction
This chapter covers three sections which are;
➢ summaries the whole project and major findings of the research,
➢ highlights the conclusions arrived at based on the findings
➢ and gives recommendations on the way forward

5.2 Summary of the study

In this section one does the following;
➢ Restate the aims (research)
➢ Summarizing the content and how the aims were achieved (ie literature review and
metholodology in brief)
➢ Summaries the findings (research)
➢ Significance of the findings (research contribution)

Restatement of the aims of the research

We need to know the purpose of the study and how you have achieved them (accomplishment of
research objectives). There are many ways of stating the purpose the following are some of the
ways;
➢ This study set out to determine......
➢ The present study was designed to determine the effect of.......
➢ In this investigation, the aim was to assess......
➢ The purpose of the current study was to determine......
➢ This project was undertaken to design ...... and evaluate.....
➢ Returning to the hypothesis/question posed at the beginning of this study, it is now
possible to state that.....

Summarizing the content

It is important to capture the reader about the content of the research. How the objectives were
achieved by literature review and methodology in brief. Suggested way of saying this are
➢ This paper has given an account of and the reasons for the widespread use of X......
➢ This essay has argued that X is the best instrument to......
➢ This assignment has explained the central importance of X in Y.
➢ This dissertation has investigated......

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5.3 Summary of major findings
This is the section in which you summarize all the major findings of the research. Without
reading chapter 4, I should be able to pick the major findings from this section. Some of the ways
of putting your ideas across are
➢ This study has shown that......
➢ These findings suggest that in general....
➢ One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that.....
➢ It was also shown that......
➢ This study has found that generally.......
➢ The relevance of X is clearly supported by the current findings.
➢ This study/research has shown that......
➢ The second major finding was that........
➢ The results of this investigation show that.......
➢ X, Y and Z emerged as reliable predictors of......
➢
Significances of findings (research contribution)

We need to know whether the research was of some significance. This must set out clearly in this
section. If your research had some implications for existing theories you must mention the main
works that represent the theories that you are commenting on. You must, in the context of those
works, point out the conclusions from your work that impact them, what the implications are and
why the reader should agree with you about them.
Some of the suggested ways of putting across your ideas are as follows;
➢ The X that we have identified therefore assists in
➢ These findings suggest that in general......
➢ One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that.....
➢ It was also shown that......
➢ This study has found that generally.......
➢ The following conclusions can be drawn from the present study......
➢ The relevance of X is clearly supported by the current findings.
➢ This study/research has shown that......
➢ The second major finding was that........
➢ The results of this investigation show that.......
➢ The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that......
➢ X, Y and Z emerged as reliable predictors of......
➢ Multiple regression analysis revealed that the......
5.4 Conclusions
Conclusions are shorter sections of academic texts which usually serve two functions. The first is
to summarize and bring together the main areas covered in the writing, which might be called
"looking back"; and the second is to give a final comment or judgments on this. The final comment
may also include making suggestions for improvement and speculating on future directions.

In dissertations and research papers, conclusions tend to be more complex and will also include
sections on significance of the findings and recommendations for future work. Conclusions may

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be optional in research articles where consolidation of the study and general implications are
covered in the discussion section. However, they are usually expected in dissertations and essays.

Conclusion give answers to all sub problems, confirmation or rejection of hypothesis.They are the
things that you can deduce from your work as a whole. They answer your thesis statement .In
simpler terms they are what you can now confidently state ,thanks to the work that you did , that
you could not state before.
Conclusions must always link back clearly and explicitly to your thesis statement and your
research findings.

5.5 Recommendations
Recommendations must be theoretical, practical and manageable
Recommendations are in 3 parts;
➢ Recommendations from the research findings,
➢ recommendations for further work (research), and
➢ Recommendations for practice or policy makers

Recommendations from the research findings

The main purpose of the research is to fill up the gaps. As such this section should be able to
provide practicable solutions to the problem/s on the ground.
➢ This research has thrown up a number of recommendations……
➢ It is recommended that……..
➢ This research has brought about the following recommendations...

5.6 Recommendations for further work/research

Recommendations can be made for further researches/work to be done. Here are some of the
expressions
➢ It is recommended that further research be undertaken in the following areas:
➢ Further experimental investigations are needed to estimate......
➢ What is now needed is a cross-national study involving......
➢ More broadly, research is also needed to determine.....
➢ It is suggested that the association of these factors is investigated in future studies.
➢ Further research might explore/investigate......

Recommendations for practice or policy.

An important research /dissertation will come up with some recommendations for practice or
policy. Ways of putting your ideas

➢ These findings suggest several courses of action for......

➢ An implication of these findings is that both X and Y should be taken into account
when......
➢ The findings of this study have a number of important implications for future practice.
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➢ There is, therefore, a definite need for......
➢ There are a number of important changes which need to be made.

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