Writing the Conclusion for an APA Style Research Paper
The conclusion is the last, yet not the least important section, of an APA style research paper. This section brings closure to the research paper by summarizing the key findings of the study. The main purpose of the conclusion is to restate the thesis, briefly summarize the supporting points and evidence, connect the results back to the thesis, highlight the significance or implications of the study, describe any limitations of the study, and suggest directions for future research. While writing the conclusion, writers should not introduce any new information or analysis. This article provides an in-depth APA research paper conclusion example to guide you in developing an effective conclusion for your research paper.
Example APA Research Paper Conclusion
This example concludes a fictitious APA style research paper on the relationship between stress and academic performance of college students.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and academic performance among undergraduate college students. It was hypothesized that higher stress levels would be negatively associated with students’ grade point averages (GPAs). One hundred twenty undergraduates from a large public university voluntarily participated in the study. Participants completed a survey measuring their perceived stress levels using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983) and provided their cumulative GPAs.
A Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate negative relationship between stress levels and GPAs, r(118) = -.31, p = .001, supporting the research hypothesis. Students with higher stress scores tended to have lower cumulative GPAs. A multiple linear regression further showed that stress significantly predicted students’ GPAs after controlling for gender, B = -0.18, t(116) = -3.41, p = .001. This indicates that stress accounted for a significant amount of the variance in GPAs above and beyond gender differences.
The results of this study suggest that higher stress is associated with poorer academic performance among college undergraduates. Specifically, students reporting greater stress levels tended to have significantly lower GPAs. This supports the contention that stress can interfere with students’ abilities to learn and achieve academic success. The negative relationship between stress and GPA highlights the importance of implementing effective stress management programs and services on college campuses.
Some limitations should be noted. First, the study relied on a correlational design, which does not allow for conclusions regarding causal relationships between stress and academic achievement. Future research could utilize an experimental or longitudinal design to better establish the directionality of this relationship. Additionally, the study only measured perceived stress and did not evaluate specific sources of stress in students’ lives. It is possible that certain types of stressors may differentially impact GPA. Further research is needed to identify stressors most detrimental to academic performance. Despite these limitations, the present findings contribute to our understanding of the interplay between psychological well-being and scholastic achievement in college students. Overall, the results suggest stress management should be a priority in higher education settings.
This conclusion effectively summarizes the key aspects of the example research study. It restates the purpose and hypothesis, briefly reviews the method and main findings, connects the results back to supporting the hypothesis, acknowledges limitations, and suggests directions for future research. Some key aspects this concluding paragraph demonstration includes:
Restating the purpose and hypothesis in the first sentence.
Summarizing the method used in one sentence (sample size, measures, design).
Briefly restating the main statistical findings in one to two sentences to support the hypothesis.
Connecting the results back to the purpose/hypothesis through an interpretive sentence to explain the meaning/importance.
Acknowledging limitations of the study’s design/methodology in a few sentences.
Suggesting implications or future directions for research in the last sentence to extend the conclusions.
Using concise language and not introducing any new content, analyses, or results.
Being under 200 words to keep it a succinct yet thorough conclusion.
This example models how to effectively wrap up a study and bring closure by synthesizing the most essential information for the reader in the conclusion. It guides the reader through the research process from questions to answers in a logical manner without presenting new content.
Crafting an Effective Conclusion
When developing the conclusion for your own APA research paper, you can follow similar steps as this example:
Start with restating your thesis statement and purpose. Conclude by connecting your findings back to this original statement.
Briefly summarize your key methods in one or two sentences to refresh the reader’s memory of your approach.
Succinctly restate your main statistical results and experimental outcomes from your Results section to support your thesis.
Interpret your findings by explaining their meaning and significance in relation to your thesis and purpose.
Acknowledge limitations of your study’s methodology, design, or unanswered questions.
Suggest practical implications or theoretical directions for future research building from your conclusions.
Synthesize the main points without presenting new analyses or content.
Keep your conclusion tightly focused, brief (under 200 words), and written in a logical manner concluding your study.
Use concise language and a formal, objective tone when discussing results and conclusions.
Following these steps will help write an effective conclusion that effectively wraps up your study, brings narrative closure, and leaves the reader with a clear understanding of what was found. Be sure to seamlessly connect your concluding statements back to the introduction to complete the research paper’s flow from questions to answers. The conclusion is the final impression formed, so it should be well developed yet succinctly summarized. With practice, you can master the art of writing strong APA style conclusions for your research reports.
The conclusion ties together all components of the research paper and brings closure, yet is not merely a summary. By restating results, interpretations, limitations, and suggestions in a logical manner, writers can show readers they have uncovered meaningful answers addressing their research question. This example provides a model for synthesizing essential elements into a well-structured conclusion section meeting APA style guidelines. With careful attention to integrating key components, researchers can effectively conclude their experimental report or literature review.
Andrew Stroud