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The Purpose of Chapters 5 and 6

The two general purposes of these chapters are:

1. To present a summary of the results with an analysis, according to the procedures outlined in the data collection plan. This demonstrates the ability to apply data analysis and statistical methods.
2. To present the conclusions and recommendations derived from the data analysis. This demonstrates the ability to interpret and draw conclusions from research data and to develop recommendations based on sound research findings.

The work completed up to this point culminates in Chapters 5 and 6. These two chapters focus on the results of the research and its practical value.

Guideline

Chapter 5 – Summary of Results

This chapter will summarize the results obtained from implementing the evaluation plan described in Chapter 4. Tell the reader what was discovered as a result of the research.

The chapter should begin with a brief introduction stating the contents of the chapter. Following this introduction, the chapter should be organized by objective. The results of the data collection should be presented as they relate to each objective, so that the reader will know which objectives were met and which were not met.

For each objective, begin by restating the objective and briefly indicating the instrument or nature of the measurements used to obtain data relevant to the objective. Follow with a summary of the actual data collected. Only pertinent data to an objective should be presented. For example, if you used a questionnaire with questions relevant to two or more objectives, do not present the data on all the questions; present only the data on the questions relevant to the objective currently being discussed.

Data are normally presented in table or figure format. Each table or figure should be followed by a brief discussion of its contents. Be specific about the unusual or key findings. In discussing the data, report the level of significance of each statistical test and indicate whether it exceeded the criterion level one established to determine significance. Also, indicate how the obtained results compared to those expected. The raw data collected should be presented in the Appendix of the paper. Only summarized data should be presented in this chapter. One exception is raw data that is not lengthy; such data may be included in the text. Introduce the statistical material with statements such as, “The data summarizing the effect of training on sales are presented in Table 9 on page xx; the raw data can be found in Appendix B on pages xx.”

When using tables or figures to display data in the text of this chapter, position them as closely as possible to the written discussion of their contents. This helps the reader make quick comparisons between the visual and textual presentations of the results. The best placement is on the same page. If that is impossible, make sure the table or figure appears on the page following the reference to it.

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Chapter 6 – Conclusions & Recommendations

This chapter will draw conclusions based on the analysis of the results presented in the previous chapter. In short, tell the reader what the results mean and what actions should be taken as a result of the findings.

Introduce the chapter with a restatement of the purpose of the Business Application Project and its objectives. Follow this introduction with a brief statement indicating that this chapter presents an interpretation and discussion of the project findings (results) and a discussion of the recommendations stemming from these findings. Following this brief introduction there are three sections to the chapter, which are indicated by free-standing side headings:

• Conclusions
• Policy Recommendations
• Recommendations for Further Research

Conclusions

In this section, discuss the meaning of the results beyond what they mean statistically; that is, interpret the findings and indicate what can be concluded from them. This section should be a detailed discussion of the conclusions relevant to the actual subjects involved in the study and to other populations to which it can be generalized.

In the discussion, (1) indicate whether the results confirm, totally or in part, the original expectations or predictions; (2) indicate whether or not each objective was achieved and why; and (3) indicate whether the results were due to the expected variables or to uncontrollable variables. At this point, discuss what implications the limitations previously mentioned have had on the conclusions. Discuss the relationship of the results to the original problem description. Questions to ask: “Was the intervention a viable solution to the problem?” or “Did it make a difference in solving the problem or improving the situation?”. If appropriate, discuss the long-term, as well as short-term implications. Finally, indicate other populations to which one can generalize the study results and the extent to which the generalizations can be made.

The presentation of conclusions should be organized by objectives. Preface the conclusions with a brief summary of the objectives and the findings (results) relevant to them; then, discuss the conclusions that can be drawn from these results. In some cases, the findings regarding several objectives may be interrelated. In that situation, you should explain the interrelationship. When writing the conclusions section, present only those conclusions that can be supported by solid data: do not claim more for the results than they really show. Special care must be taken when speculating why the results were not as expected. Be ready to support any speculation with data, information, or observations gathered during the project or from the published literature. Be sure to discuss why the objective was or was not achieved and what modifications may have improved the interventions effectiveness.

Policy Recommendations

In this section, discuss what actions the organization or community should take based on the results of the Business Application Project. A good set of recommendations makes it more likely that the report will have an impact on policy. The recommendations may affect the future of the program and other programs or policies long after the project is complete.

At a minimum, state whether the intervention should be continued, dropped, modified, or tested with other populations. Perhaps there are new or expanded policies you would suggest as a result of the findings. Perhaps new programs or interventions or change is needed in existing programs. In making recommendations, explain how the results support them.

Recommendations for Further Research

In this section, indicate the kinds of additional research needed in the topic area. These recommendations may take various forms. If there were any limitations in the research procedures, indicate what changes should be made in future studies. If one addressed only some aspects of the problem as described in Chapter 1 of the report, indicate how the remaining aspects should be researched. If the project raised new questions, indicate how they could be studied. If the intervention failed to achieve some of its objectives, indicate what other interventions may prove fruitful. Indicate any additional outcome variables the intervention is likely to impactvariables that should be measured. For example, if it measured the impact of training on increased knowledge, one may wish to recommend that a follow-up study measuring the impact of on-the-job behaviors be implemented.

At the end of this chapter, include a summary for the entire Business Application Project. These two or three paragraphs will be the capstone of the entire project.