For many, Chapter Five is the easiest chapter to write once Chapter Four has been completed. This is because you are no longer collecting or analyzing data. Instead, you are explaining what your findings mean, drawing conclusions from your study, and making practical recommendations.

In most universities, Chapter Five consists of Discussion of Findings, Conclusion, and Recommendations. Each section has a specific purpose, and understanding what to write under each heading will help you produce a high-quality research project.

1. Discussion of Findings

The discussion of findings is the heart of Chapter Five. This is where you explain the meaning of the results you presented in Chapter Four. Do not copy your tables, percentages, or statistical results again. Instead, interpret the findings in simple language so that your reader understands what they mean.

A good discussion should follow your research objectives or research questions. Discuss one finding at a time and compare it with previous studies reviewed in Chapter Two. This comparison helps to show whether your study supports or contradicts existing knowledge.

When Your Findings Agree with Previous Studies

If your findings are similar to those of another researcher, simply state that your study is consistent with or supports the previous study. Then briefly explain why the two studies arrived at similar conclusions.

Let us consider this example 1:

Suppose your research finding shows that social media marketing significantly increases customer patronage among small businesses.

You may write:

The findings of this study revealed that social media marketing has a significant positive influence on customer patronage. This finding is consistent with the study conducted by Johnson (2022), who reported that businesses with active social media platforms attracted more customers than those with little online presence. The similarity in both studies may be attributed to the increasing use of smartphones and internet services, which have made social media an effective marketing tool.

Notice that you have:

• Stated your finding.
• Mentioned the previous researcher.
• Explained that both studies agree.
• Provided a possible reason for the similarity.

When Your Findings Disagree with Previous Studies

Sometimes, your findings may contradict earlier research. This is perfectly acceptable because research is conducted under different conditions, locations, populations, and time periods. When this happens, politely state that your finding differs from the previous study and explain possible reasons for the difference.

Example 2

Suppose your study found that employee motivation has no significant effect on workers’ productivity, but an earlier study reported the opposite.

You may write:

The findings of this study revealed that employee motivation does not significantly influence workers’ productivity. However, this finding contradicts the study conducted by Ibrahim (2021), who concluded that motivated employees perform better than unmotivated workers. The difference in findings may be due to differences in the study location, organizational structure, sample size, or the methods used in collecting and analyzing the data.

This approach shows that you understand the research process and can critically compare your findings with existing literature.

Another Simple Illustration

Imagine your study investigated the effect of online learning on students’ academic performance.

If your findings show that online learning improves academic performance, and a previous researcher reached the same conclusion, you may write:

The result of this study agrees with the findings of Okon (2023), who reported that online learning provides students with flexible access to educational resources, thereby improving their academic performance.

However, if your findings show that online learning does not improve performance, you may write:

Contrary to the findings of Okon (2023), this study found that online learning did not significantly improve students’ academic performance. This difference may be attributed to poor internet connectivity, inadequate electricity supply, and limited access to digital devices among the respondents.

Remember, you are not arguing with previous researchers. You are simply comparing your findings with theirs and giving reasonable explanations.

2. Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of what your study has established. It should be based entirely on the findings discussed in Chapter Four and interpreted in the discussion section. Do not introduce new facts, statistics, or references.

A good conclusion answers the main research problem and reminds readers of the overall outcome of the study.

For example, if your research examined the effect of staff training on organizational performance, your conclusion may read:

Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that regular staff training improves employees’ knowledge, skills, and productivity, thereby enhancing the overall performance of organizations.

The conclusion should be brief, clear, and directly linked to your research objectives.

3. Recommendations

Recommendations are practical suggestions based on your findings. They explain what individuals, organizations, institutions, or government agencies should do as a result of your research.

Every recommendation must come directly from a finding. Never recommend something that was not investigated in your study.

For example, if your study found that inadequate training reduces workers’ productivity, your recommendations may include:

• Organizations should organize regular staff training programmes.
• Employers should allocate funds for capacity development.
• Employees should participate actively in training programmes to improve their skills.

Likewise, if your study found that poor internet access affects online learning, your recommendations may include:

• Educational institutions should provide reliable internet facilities.
• Government should invest in digital infrastructure for schools.
• Students should be encouraged to make effective use of available online learning resources.

Your recommendations should always be realistic, practical, and achievable.

In all, Chapter Five is the chapter that brings your research to a successful conclusion. The discussion of findings explains what your results mean and compares them with previous studies. The conclusion summarizes the overall outcome of the research, while the recommendations provide practical solutions based on the findings.

Always ensure that your discussion follows your research objectives, your conclusion reflects your major findings, and your recommendations arise directly from those findings. By doing this, you will produce a well-organized Chapter Five that demonstrates critical thinking, academic understanding, and a clear contribution to your field of study.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the major sections of Chapter Five?

In most Nigerian universities, Chapter Five consists of:

• Discussion of Findings
• Conclusion
• Recommendations

However, some departments may also require limitations of the study, contribution to knowledge, or suggestions for further studies. Always follow your department’s project writing guide.

2. Can I introduce new ideas in Chapter Five?

No. Chapter Five should only discuss findings that were already presented in Chapter Four. Avoid introducing new results, tables, or arguments.

3. How many pages should Chapter Five be?

There is no fixed number of pages. It depends on your department and the scope of your research. For most undergraduate projects, Chapter Five is usually between 5 and 12 pages.

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