A brief note on claims, implications of research findings and recommendations in dissertation report

A brief note on claims, implications of research findings and recommendations in dissertation report (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "Regarding the topic of writing the MBA and Housing Studies dissertation report chapter on "conclusions and recommendations", I need your advice and clarifications on the following two questions:

1. Which of the following four research philosophies is good in leading the dissertation investigation effort to produce some concrete recommendations with relatively higher actionable value.

2. The following discussion items very often appear in the chapter of "conclusions and recommendations", i.e., (i) the implications of the research findings and (ii) recommendations. What should be the discussion content of these two discussion items? To what extent are they different?"

The reply: "

1. Regarding the best research philosophy for leading an MBA or Housing Studies dissertation for producing concrete, actionable recommendations, pragmatism and critical realism are commonly good choices. Pragmatism focuses on practical outcomes and solutions that affect real-world applications, making it suitable for producing recommendations with actionable value. Critical realism emphasizes understanding underlying mechanisms and contexts, which also helps generate meaningful, context-sensitive recommendations with practical implications.

2. On the discussion items in the "conclusions and recommendations" chapter:

• Implications discuss the broader significance and impact of the research findings, answering the question "What do these findings mean?" They explain how the findings affect theory, practice, or future research directions, highlighting the value or contribution of the study.

• Recommendations propose specific, practical, and actionable steps that stakeholders should take based on the findings. They answer "What should be done next?" and offer solutions, policy advice, or future research directions grounded directly in the data.

While both stem from the research findings and are related, implications are about the meaning and importance of the results, whereas recommendations are about concrete actions to address issues identified.​

Summary table on Differences Between Implications and Recommendations

Aspect	Implications	Recommendations
Purpose	Explain broader impact or significance	Propose specific actions or solutions
Question answered	What do findings mean?	What should be done next?
Focus	Importance to theory, practice, future research	Practical, actionable steps for stakeholders
Position in report	After findings discussion	After implications, before concluding remarks
Content example	Findings suggest emotional support is critical	Recommend periodic assessments to support intervention

 

This distinction helps structure the chapter clearly and adds value by showing both the research's significance and practical utility."

My question 2: "Where should the following discussion topics appear in the dissertation report, i.e. chapter 4: presentations of research findings, chapter 5: discussion of research findings, and chapter 6: conclusions and recommendations. The discussion topics to review are: (1) the implications of the research findings, (2) recommendations, (3) Major claims arising from the arguments of the study."

The reply: "In a typical dissertation structure, the three discussion topics you asked about should appear in the following chapters:

1. Implications of the research findings: These generally belong in the discussion chapter (Chapter 5). Here, you interpret what your findings mean for theory, practice, or future research. It is where you explain the broader significance and impact of your results, linking back to literature and research questions.

2. Recommendations: These typically appear in the conclusions and recommendations chapter (Chapter 6). Recommendations are specific, actionable steps or proposals for stakeholders based on your findings. This section answers "What should be done next?" in practical or policy terms.

3. Major claims arising from the arguments of the study: These are often integrated into the discussion chapter (Chapter 5) as well. This chapter is where you develop your argument, highlight key claims supported by your data, and synthesize the meaning of your findings.

To summarize by chapters:

Discussion Topic	Suggested Chapter	Role/Content
Implications of the research findings	Chapter 5: Discussion	Explain broader meaning and significance of results
Recommendations	Chapter 6: Conclusions & Recommendations	Propose specific actions based on findings
Major claims arising from study arguments	Chapter 5: Discussion	Develop key claims supported by evidence, synthesize findings

 

This flow aligns with best practices that separate analytical interpretation from practical application, maintaining logical clarity and enhancing the dissertation's impact."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.