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Future Research – Thesis Guide

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Future research, also known as recommendations for further study, is an essential section in a thesis that outlines areas where additional investigation is needed. This section acknowledges the limitations of the current research and proposes directions for future inquiry, helping to advance knowledge in the field. By providing well-thought-out suggestions, this component enhances the relevance and value of your study, contributing to the academic and practical understanding of the topic.

This guide explains the importance of the future research section, its key components, how to write it effectively, and examples of well-crafted recommendations.

Future Research

The future research section is where a researcher identifies unresolved issues, gaps, or new questions that arose during their study. It highlights areas that could not be addressed within the scope or limitations of the current research and suggests topics, methods, or perspectives for future scholars to explore.

For example, if your research studied the effects of online learning on high school students, you might suggest future research examining its long-term effects or its impact on different age groups.

Importance of Future Research

Advancing Knowledge: Encourages the academic community to build upon your work, contributing to a deeper understanding of the topic.
Addressing Limitations: Acknowledges areas where the current study fell short, providing a starting point for further investigation.
Fostering Innovation: Suggests novel approaches, methods, or angles that could lead to breakthroughs in the field.
Improving Practical Applications: Helps practitioners, policymakers, or organizations by highlighting areas that require more evidence or exploration.

Key Components of a Future Research Section

1. acknowledgment of limitations.

Clearly state the limitations of your study that hindered a comprehensive exploration of the topic.

Example: “This study focused solely on urban schools, which limits its generalizability to rural settings. Further research should examine the impact of online learning in diverse geographic contexts.”

2. Unresolved Questions

Identify questions that your research could not address but are crucial for understanding the topic more fully.

Example: “While this study found a correlation between social media use and self-esteem, the causality remains unclear. Future research should explore this relationship using experimental designs.”

3. Suggestions for Different Methods

Recommend alternative methodologies that could yield different or more comprehensive insights.

Example: “This study employed qualitative interviews. Quantitative surveys with a larger sample size could provide more generalizable findings.”

4. New Variables or Perspectives

Propose additional variables, factors, or perspectives that future researchers could investigate.

Example: “Future research could examine how cultural differences influence the effectiveness of remote work policies.”

5. Longitudinal Studies

Suggest exploring the long-term impacts or trends related to your topic.

Example: “A longitudinal study tracking students’ academic performance over five years would provide valuable insights into the lasting effects of online learning.”

How to Write the Future Research Section

Step 1: reflect on study limitations.

Review your research process and results to identify areas that were constrained by time, resources, or methodology. Use these limitations as a basis for recommendations.

Step 2: Identify Gaps and Unanswered Questions

Pinpoint aspects of the topic that remain unexplored or unresolved, either from your findings or existing literature.

Step 3: Propose Specific Research Directions

Provide clear and actionable suggestions, ensuring they are relevant to your field and build upon your work.

Step 4: Justify Recommendations

Explain why the suggested research is necessary and how it could contribute to the field.

Step 5: Use Professional Language

Maintain an academic tone, avoiding vague or overly broad suggestions. Be concise yet specific.

Examples of Future Research Recommendations

1. education.

Study Topic: The Impact of Online Learning on Student Engagement Future Research Suggestions: “Future research should examine the long-term effects of online learning on academic achievement across various age groups. Additionally, studies could investigate the role of parental involvement in mitigating the challenges of remote education.”

2. Healthcare

Study Topic: The Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Rural Areas Future Research Suggestions: “This study focused on patient satisfaction with telemedicine services. Future research should explore its impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare cost reduction. Furthermore, investigating the barriers to telemedicine adoption in underserved communities would provide valuable insights.”

3. Environmental Studies

Study Topic: Renewable Energy Adoption in Urban Areas Future Research Suggestions: “Further research could analyze the economic feasibility of renewable energy adoption in rural settings. Comparative studies across regions with varying levels of policy support would also help identify key drivers of success.”

4. Business

Study Topic: The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience Future Research Suggestions: “Future studies could focus on the ethical implications of AI in customer interactions and its impact on customer trust. Longitudinal research examining how AI adoption evolves in small versus large businesses would also be valuable.”

Tips for Writing an Effective Future Research Section

Be Specific: Avoid vague or general statements. Provide clear and actionable suggestions.
Align with Study Findings: Ensure your recommendations build logically on your results and limitations.
Consider Feasibility: Propose research directions that are practical and achievable within the field.
Emphasize Significance: Highlight the potential impact and importance of the proposed research.
Avoid Redundancy: Do not repeat ideas already covered in other sections of your thesis.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Overly Broad Recommendations: Suggestions that are too general lack value and direction.
Neglecting Feasibility: Avoid proposing research that is impractical or unrealistic within the field.
Ignoring Context: Ensure your suggestions are relevant to the scope of your study and field of inquiry.
Unclear Justifications: Failing to explain why future research is necessary weakens the recommendations.

The future research section is a vital component of a thesis, helping to guide the academic community and practitioners toward further exploration and innovation. By identifying gaps, addressing limitations, and proposing actionable directions, this section contributes to the ongoing growth of knowledge in your field. Crafting a well-thought-out future research section not only enhances the value of your thesis but also establishes your work as a stepping stone for others in the academic journey.

Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . Sage Publications.
Flick, U. (2018). An Introduction to Qualitative Research . Sage Publications.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods . Oxford University Press.
Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research . Cengage Learning.
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2016). The Craft of Research . University of Chicago Press.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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“More research is needed” and other clichés

by kinesismagazine
Posted on January 26, 2018 September 19, 2020

Why is more research needed? This simple phrase can greatly affect the portrayal of scientific research, and we need to explore why.

Written by: Mariam Zaki

Art by: Yang Xin

How many times have you heard the phrase ‘more research is needed’? The phrase is so overused that in a simple Google search it was mentioned a staggering 1, 400,000,000 times! Narrowing this down to a stricter Google Scholar search, this number is reduced to just 6,590,000 results. Is this science’s most overused cliché, or do scientists actually mean what they say?

Even in the best of research papers, the concluding paragraph will most likely end with: ‘more research is needed’ or the paraphrase ‘further research is required’. To be honest, we may never reach an endpoint in scientific research, mainly because science is a continuous process (you can argue that this sounds like a cliché too). Scientists are constantly working to find out new information about things such as pioneering medications, our understanding of space, climate change, gravitational waves… the list goes on.

These are all growing fields of science, and there’s still plenty we need to discover. Besides, science doesn’t undergo a paradigm shift every day, so most of the ongoing scientific research has to build upon previous knowledge: the limitations of this can sometimes handicap the advancement of research in the field. In this case, more research is needed.

Clichés causing confusion and distrust

A recent piece of research published in 2014 stated that sweeteners may be a cause of diabetes, but the study was inconclusive and ‘more research was needed’. This potentially conveyed the message that the research was not worth the time, effort or money spent on it, since it didn’t come out with any definitive results or advice for the consumer. To a member of the general public, this doesn’t sound reassuring, nor does it provide a definite answer to the issue at hand. But for the scientist, there is no choice but to say ‘more research is needed’; their position as scientists means they should acknowledge gaps in the science and any uncertainties. It would be irresponsible not to.

Confusion in the media

The media (newspapers, television, radio etc.) is one of the main sources of scientific information for the general public, so it’s important that everything communicated is factually accurate and spreads the right message. A phrase like ‘more research is needed’ can potentially convey a message of uncertainty (even though uncertainty is an unavoidable part of science). As stated in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, the effect of uncertainty is amplified (to the audience) according to individual judgements about a particular science’s value. For example, psychology is perceived as the least reliable while forensics is perceived as the most reliable . Teresa Ashe, lecturer in environmental policy at the Open University, also found that sometimes journalists miscommunicate the statistical evidence of research and its degrees of ‘uncertainty’.

Confusion in politics

This leads us to the problem of uncertainty and how a statement like ‘more research is needed’ could affect evidence-based policymaking. Policymakers don’t have enough time to gather copious amounts of information before coming to a conclusion, as they have to make swift decisions about scientific research and its future impacts. Paul Cairney (professor of politics and public policy at University of Stirling) demonstrates that there are two ways that policymakers do this: 1) by using evidence which meets their targets, and 2) relying on their feelings and gut instincts to make a decision quickly. The ‘complex system’ of policymaking doesn’t allow time for uncertainty and waiting for the publication of more research; this means that some issues may be neglected, due to the scientific evidence not reaching the policymaker at the right time.

Science communication is key…

Simply put, it’s important for scientists to be the ones to directly communicate (either via their own social media or blogs) when, where and why more research is needed, and to reassure the public and policymakers that this is not a ‘redundant claim’ synonymous with uncertainty. It’s not enough to rely on science journalists to communicate science efficiently; scientists have a responsibility to share their research directly with the general public and ensure that science journalists get their message across correctly.

‘More research is needed’ shouldn’t be a worrying sentence: it just means that science is not finite, there’s still a lot more to find out. More research could be the difference between uncertainty and certainty, providing better scientific knowledge for everyone.