The ultimate goal of any research process is not just to gather knowledge, but to use that knowledge to make a positive impact. This is where recommendations come in. A well-written recommendations section in your research study translates your findings into actionable steps and guides future research on the topic.
This blog is your ultimate guide to understanding how to write recommendations in a research study. But before that, let’s see what is recommendation in research.
In a research study, the recommendation section refers to a suggested course of action based on the findings of your research . It acts as a bridge between the knowledge you gained and its practical implications.
Recommendations take your research results and propose concrete steps on how to use them to address a problem or improve a situation. Moreover, you can suggest new avenues and guide future research in building upon your work. This will improve the credibility of your research. For studies that include real-world implications, recommendations are a great way to provide evidence-based suggestions for policymakers or practitioners to consider.
Research recommendations and implications often confuse researchers. They cannot easily differentiate between the two. Here is how they are different.
| Research Recommendation | Research Implication |
|---|---|
| Focuses on actionable steps | Focuses on actionable steps |
| Translate findings into practical applications | Highlights the significance of the research |
| Specific actions | Broad predictions |
| Based on the research findings and existing literature | Based on the research findings and connections to other research areas |
Recommendations are mostly part of your conclusion and discussion sections. If you are writing a practical dissertation , you can include a separate section for your recommendations.
There are different forms of recommendations in research. Some of them include the following.
| Methodology Recommendations | Suggests improvements to the research methods used in your field. |
| Topic Recommendations | Highlights new areas of research within your broader topic. |
| Article Recommendations | Offers information on key articles or publications that provide insights on your research topic. |
| Collaboration Recommendations | Suggest ways for researchers with different expertise to collaborate on future projects. |
There are different ways in which different scholars write the recommendations section. A general observation is a research question → conclusion → recommendation.
The following example will help you understand this better.
Research Question
How can the education of mothers impact the social skills of kindergarten children?
The role of mothers is a significant contributor towards the social skills of children. From an early age, kids tend to observe how their mother interacts with others and follow in her footsteps initially. Therefore, mothers should be educated and interact with good demeanour if they want their children to have excellent social skills.
Recommendation
The study revealed that a mother’s education plays an important role in building the social skills of children on kindergarten level. Future research could explore how the same continues in junior school level children.
Now that you are familiar with the definition and types, here is a step-by-step guide on how to write a recommendation in research.
Before doing anything else, you have to remind yourself of the objectives that you set out to achieve in your research. It allows you to match your recommendations directly to your research questions and see if you made any contribution to your goals.
You have to examine your data and identify your key results. This analysis forms the foundation for your recommendations. Look for patterns and unexpected findings that might suggest new areas for other researchers to explore.
Ask these questions from yourself: were the research methods effective? Is there any other way that would have been better to perform this research, or were there any limitations associated with the research methods?
You might have a lot of recommendations in mind, but all are not equal. You have to consider the impact and feasibility of each suggestion. Prioritise these recommendations, while remaining realistic about implementation.
Do not be vague when crafting statements. Instead, you have to use clear and concise language that outlines specific actions. For example, if you want to say “improve education practices,” you could write “implement a teacher training program” for better clarity.
You cannot just make suggestions out of thin air, and have to ground them in the evidence you have gathered through your research. Moreover, cite relevant data or findings from your study or previous literature to support your recommendations.
There are always some limitations related to the research at hand. As a researcher, it is your duty to highlight and address any challenges faced or what might occur in the future.
Use these tips to write the perfect recommendation in your research.
Context of the study:
This research studies how effective e-learning platforms are for adult language learners compared to traditional classroom instruction. The findings suggest that e-learning platforms can be just as effective as traditional classrooms in improving language proficiency.
Research Recommendation Sample
Language educators can incorporate e-learning tools into existing curriculums to provide learners with more flexibility. Additionally, they can develop training programs for educators on how to integrate e-learning platforms into their teaching practices.
E-learning platform developers should focus on e-learning platforms that are interactive and cater to different learning styles. They can also invest in features that promote learner autonomy and self-directed learning.
Future researchers can further explore the long-term effects of e-learning on language acquisition to provide insights into whether e-learning can support sustained language development.