research recommendation for future researchers

• Privacy Policy

Home » Research Recommendations – Examples and Writing Guide

Research Recommendations – Examples and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Research recommendations are a critical component of academic and professional studies. They provide actionable insights and propose future directions based on the findings of a research project. Writing effective recommendations requires careful analysis, clarity, and relevance to the research objectives and outcomes. This guide explains the importance of research recommendations, offers practical examples, and provides a structured approach to writing them effectively.

Research Recommendations

Research recommendations are proposals or suggestions that stem from the findings of a study. They outline steps for addressing identified gaps, improving processes, or exploring new areas of inquiry. These recommendations are often directed toward specific stakeholders, such as researchers, policymakers, or practitioners, to encourage actionable outcomes.

Importance of Research Recommendations

Including recommendations in a research report or thesis is essential for:

• Bridging the gap between research findings and practical applications.
• Guiding future studies to build on the current research.
• Providing stakeholders with insights for decision-making and policy formulation.
• Highlighting the broader relevance and impact of the study.

Clear and well-formulated recommendations ensure that the research contributes meaningfully to the field and addresses real-world challenges.

Types of Research Recommendations

1. practical recommendations.

These suggestions focus on real-world applications of the research findings.

• Example: “Healthcare providers should implement training programs to improve staff awareness of mental health issues among adolescents.”
• Purpose: Practical recommendations offer actionable steps for professionals or organizations to address issues identified in the research.

2. Policy Recommendations

These recommendations are aimed at policymakers and emphasize the need for regulatory or legislative action.

• Example: “Governments should enforce stricter regulations on carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
• Purpose: Policy recommendations advocate for systemic changes to address societal or environmental challenges.

3. Research-Based Recommendations

These propose areas for further investigation to address gaps or limitations in the current study.

• Example: “Future research should explore the long-term effects of virtual learning on student engagement and academic performance.”
• Purpose: Research-based recommendations encourage the continuation of scientific inquiry.

4. Methodological Recommendations

These focus on improving research methods or processes for future studies.

• Example: “Researchers should consider using longitudinal designs to better understand the relationship between workplace stress and productivity.”
• Purpose: Methodological recommendations aim to refine approaches for more robust and reliable outcomes.

Examples of Research Recommendations

Example 1: education research.

Findings: Online learning platforms were effective in delivering education but lacked engagement for younger students. Recommendation: “Developers of online learning platforms should integrate gamification techniques, such as interactive quizzes and reward systems, to enhance engagement among primary school students.”

Example 2: Environmental Research

Findings: Urban green spaces improve air quality but are limited in high-density areas. Recommendation: “Urban planners should prioritize the incorporation of vertical gardens and rooftop greenery in city development plans to maximize environmental benefits in high-density urban areas.”

Example 3: Healthcare Research

Findings: Patients with chronic conditions benefit from personalized care plans, but many healthcare providers lack access to necessary tools. Recommendation: “Healthcare institutions should invest in electronic health record (EHR) systems with capabilities for personalized care planning to improve patient outcomes.”

Example 4: Business Research

Findings: Remote work increased productivity but negatively impacted team cohesion. Recommendation: “Organizations should adopt hybrid work models that combine remote work with regular in-person team-building activities to balance productivity and collaboration.”

Steps to Write Research Recommendations

1. review research findings.

Analyze the key findings and conclusions of your study to identify actionable insights. Ensure that your recommendations align with the research objectives and address the primary issues raised.

2. Identify the Audience

Determine who will benefit from or act upon your recommendations. Tailor your suggestions to the needs and interests of your audience, such as policymakers, practitioners, or fellow researchers.

3. Prioritize Relevance and Feasibility

Focus on recommendations that are directly relevant to your study and feasible for the intended audience to implement. Avoid overly broad or unrealistic suggestions.

4. Use Clear and Specific Language

Write recommendations in a concise and actionable manner. Specify what should be done, by whom, and how it can be achieved.

• Weak Recommendation: “Something should be done to address air pollution.”
• Strong Recommendation: “Local governments should implement low-emission zones in urban areas to reduce air pollution caused by vehicle traffic.”

5. Justify Your Recommendations

Provide a rationale for each recommendation by linking it to your research findings. Explain why the recommendation is important and how it can address the problem or gap identified in your study.

6. Categorize Recommendations

If you have multiple recommendations, organize them into categories, such as practical, policy, and research-based, to improve clarity and readability.

7. Conclude with a Call to Action

Encourage the audience to act on your recommendations by emphasizing their significance and potential impact.

Writing Guide for Research Recommendations

• Example: “Our study found that students in underfunded schools are less likely to have access to quality STEM education resources, leading to disparities in academic achievement.”
• Example: “Governments should allocate additional funding to schools in low-income areas to improve access to STEM education resources.”
• Example: “This intervention can address educational disparities and increase opportunities for students to pursue STEM careers.”
• Example: “This funding could be used to train teachers, purchase laboratory equipment, and develop extracurricular STEM programs.”
• Example: “By investing in STEM education, policymakers can foster innovation and economic growth while reducing educational inequities.”

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Vague Recommendations: Avoid general statements that lack actionable details.
• Unrealistic Suggestions: Ensure your recommendations are practical and achievable within the constraints of your audience.
• Ignoring Stakeholder Needs: Tailor your recommendations to the specific goals and capacities of the target audience.
• Failing to Justify Recommendations: Always connect your suggestions to the research findings to enhance credibility.

Research recommendations bridge the gap between findings and real-world impact, offering actionable solutions for addressing challenges or advancing knowledge. By crafting clear, relevant, and well-justified recommendations, researchers can ensure their work contributes meaningfully to their field and benefits stakeholders. Whether addressing practical, policy, or research-based needs, effective recommendations demonstrate the value of the research and its potential to drive positive change.

• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . Sage Publications.
• Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods . Oxford University Press.
• Silverman, D. (2020). Interpreting Qualitative Data . Sage Publications.
• Robson, C., & McCartan, K. (2016). Real World Research . Wiley.
• 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

You may also like

Theoretical Framework – Types, Examples and...

Survey Instruments – List and Their Uses

Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

APA Table of Contents – Format and Example

Future Research – Thesis Guide

Implications in Research – Types, Examples and...

Research Recommendations – Guiding policy-makers for evidence-based decision making

Research recommendations play a crucial role in guiding scholars and researchers toward fruitful avenues of exploration. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and an ever-expanding knowledge base, refining the process of generating research recommendations becomes imperative.

But, what is a research recommendation?

Research recommendations are suggestions or advice provided to researchers to guide their study on a specific topic . They are typically given by experts in the field. Research recommendations are more action-oriented and provide specific guidance for decision-makers, unlike implications that are broader and focus on the broader significance and consequences of the research findings. However, both are crucial components of a research study.

Difference Between Research Recommendations and Implication

Although research recommendations and implications are distinct components of a research study, they are closely related. The differences between them are as follows:

Types of Research Recommendations

Recommendations in research can take various forms, which are as follows:

These recommendations aim to assist researchers in navigating the vast landscape of academic knowledge.

Let us dive deeper to know about its key components and the steps to write an impactful research recommendation.

Key Components of Research Recommendations

The key components of research recommendations include defining the research question or objective, specifying research methods, outlining data collection and analysis processes, presenting results and conclusions, addressing limitations, and suggesting areas for future research. Here are some characteristics of research recommendations:

Research recommendations offer various advantages and play a crucial role in ensuring that research findings contribute to positive outcomes in various fields. However, they also have few limitations which highlights the significance of a well-crafted research recommendation in offering the promised advantages.

The importance of research recommendations ranges in various fields, influencing policy-making, program development, product development, marketing strategies, medical practice, and scientific research. Their purpose is to transfer knowledge from researchers to practitioners, policymakers, or stakeholders, facilitating informed decision-making and improving outcomes in different domains.

How to Write Research Recommendations?

Research recommendations can be generated through various means, including algorithmic approaches, expert opinions, or collaborative filtering techniques. Here is a step-wise guide to build your understanding on the development of research recommendations.

1. Understand the Research Question:

Understand the research question and objectives before writing recommendations. Also, ensure that your recommendations are relevant and directly address the goals of the study.

2. Review Existing Literature:

Familiarize yourself with relevant existing literature to help you identify gaps , and offer informed recommendations that contribute to the existing body of research.

3. Consider Research Methods:

Evaluate the appropriateness of different research methods in addressing the research question. Also, consider the nature of the data, the study design, and the specific objectives.

4. Identify Data Collection Techniques:

Gather dataset from diverse authentic sources. Include information such as keywords, abstracts, authors, publication dates, and citation metrics to provide a rich foundation for analysis.

5. Propose Data Analysis Methods:

Suggest appropriate data analysis methods based on the type of data collected. Consider whether statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, or a mixed-methods approach is most suitable.

6. Consider Limitations and Ethical Considerations:

Acknowledge any limitations and potential ethical considerations of the study. Furthermore, address these limitations or mitigate ethical concerns to ensure responsible research.

7. Justify Recommendations:

Explain how your recommendation contributes to addressing the research question or objective. Provide a strong rationale to help researchers understand the importance of following your suggestions.

8. Summarize Recommendations:

Provide a concise summary at the end of the report to emphasize how following these recommendations will contribute to the overall success of the research project.

By following these steps, you can create research recommendations that are actionable and contribute meaningfully to the success of the research project.

Download now to unlock some tips to improve your journey of writing research recommendations.

Example of a Research Recommendation

Here is an example of a research recommendation based on a hypothetical research to improve your understanding.

Research Recommendation: Enhancing Student Learning through Integrated Learning Platforms

Background:

The research study investigated the impact of an integrated learning platform on student learning outcomes in high school mathematics classes. The findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in student performance and engagement when compared to traditional teaching methods.

Recommendation:

In light of the research findings, it is recommended that educational institutions consider adopting and integrating the identified learning platform into their mathematics curriculum. The following specific recommendations are provided:

• Implementation of the Integrated Learning Platform:

Schools are encouraged to adopt the integrated learning platform in mathematics classrooms, ensuring proper training for teachers on its effective utilization.

• Professional Development for Educators:

Develop and implement professional programs to train educators in the effective use of the integrated learning platform to address any challenges teachers may face during the transition.

• Monitoring and Evaluation:

Establish a monitoring and evaluation system to track the impact of the integrated learning platform on student performance over time.

• Resource Allocation:

Allocate sufficient resources, both financial and technical, to support the widespread implementation of the integrated learning platform.

By implementing these recommendations, educational institutions can harness the potential of the integrated learning platform and enhance student learning experiences and academic achievements in mathematics.

This example covers the components of a research recommendation, providing specific actions based on the research findings, identifying the target audience, and outlining practical steps for implementation.

Using AI in Research Recommendation Writing

Enhancing research recommendations is an ongoing endeavor that requires the integration of cutting-edge technologies, collaborative efforts, and ethical considerations. By embracing data-driven approaches and leveraging advanced technologies, the research community can create more effective and personalized recommendation systems. However, it is accompanied by several limitations. Therefore, it is essential to approach the use of AI in research with a critical mindset, and complement its capabilities with human expertise and judgment.

Here are some limitations of integrating AI in writing research recommendation and some ways on how to counter them.

1. Data Bias

AI systems rely heavily on data for training. If the training data is biased or incomplete, the AI model may produce biased results or recommendations.

How to tackle: Audit regularly the model’s performance to identify any discrepancies and adjust the training data and algorithms accordingly.

2. Lack of Understanding of Context:

AI models may struggle to understand the nuanced context of a particular research problem. They may misinterpret information, leading to inaccurate recommendations.

How to tackle: Use AI to characterize research articles and topics. Employ them to extract features like keywords, authorship patterns and content-based details.

3. Ethical Considerations:

AI models might stereotype certain concepts or generate recommendations that could have negative consequences for certain individuals or groups.

How to tackle: Incorporate user feedback mechanisms to reduce redundancies. Establish an ethics review process for AI models in research recommendation writing.

4. Lack of Creativity and Intuition:

AI may struggle with tasks that require a deep understanding of the underlying principles or the ability to think outside the box.

How to tackle: Hybrid approaches can be employed by integrating AI in data analysis and identifying patterns for accelerating the data interpretation process.

5. Interpretability:

Many AI models, especially complex deep learning models, lack transparency on how the model arrived at a particular recommendation.

How to tackle: Implement models like decision trees or linear models. Provide clear explanation of the model architecture, training process, and decision-making criteria.

6. Dynamic Nature of Research:

Research fields are dynamic, and new information is constantly emerging. AI models may struggle to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape and may not be able to adapt to new developments.

How to tackle: Establish a feedback loop for continuous improvement. Regularly update the recommendation system based on user feedback and emerging research trends.

The integration of AI in research recommendation writing holds great promise for advancing knowledge and streamlining the research process. However, navigating these concerns is pivotal in ensuring the responsible deployment of these technologies. Researchers need to understand the use of responsible use of AI in research and must be aware of the ethical considerations.

Exploring research recommendations plays a critical role in shaping the trajectory of scientific inquiry. It serves as a compass, guiding researchers toward more robust methodologies, collaborative endeavors, and innovative approaches. Embracing these suggestions not only enhances the quality of individual studies but also contributes to the collective advancement of human understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of recommendations in research is to provide practical and actionable suggestions based on the study's findings, guiding future actions, policies, or interventions in a specific field or context. Recommendations bridges the gap between research outcomes and their real-world application.

To make a research recommendation, analyze your findings, identify key insights, and propose specific, evidence-based actions. Include the relevance of the recommendations to the study's objectives and provide practical steps for implementation.

Begin a recommendation by succinctly summarizing the key findings of the research. Clearly state the purpose of the recommendation and its intended impact. Use a direct and actionable language to convey the suggested course of action.

Rate this article Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Enago Academy's Most Popular Articles

• Promoting Research

Graphical Abstracts Vs. Infographics: Best practices for using visual illustrations for increased research impact

Dr. Sarah Chen stared at her computer screen, her eyes staring at her recently published…

• Publishing Research

10 Tips to Prevent Research Papers From Being Retracted

Research paper retractions represent a critical event in the scientific community. When a published article…

• Industry News

Google Releases 2024 Scholar Metrics, Evaluates Impact of Scholarly Articles

Google has released its 2024 Scholar Metrics, assessing scholarly articles from 2019 to 2023. This…

• Career Corner
• Reporting Research

How to Create a Poster That Stands Out: Tips for a smooth poster presentation

It was the conference season. Judy was excited to present her first poster! She had…

• Diversity and Inclusion

6 Reasons Why There is a Decline in Higher Education Enrollment: Action plan to overcome this crisis

Over the past decade, colleges and universities across the globe have witnessed a concerning trend…

Academic Essay Writing Made Simple: 4 types and tips

How to Effectively Cite a PDF (APA, MLA, AMA, and Chicago Style)

How to Optimize Your Research Process: A step-by-step guide

Sign-up to read more

Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including:

• 2000+ blog articles
• 50+ Webinars
• 10+ Expert podcasts
• 50+ Infographics
• 10+ Checklists
• Research Guides

We hate spam too. We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you.

• AI in Academia
• Infographics
• Expert Video Library
• Other Resources
• Enago Learn
• Upcoming & On-Demand Webinars
• Open Access Week 2024
• Peer Review Week 2024
• Publication Integrity Week 2024
• Conference Videos
• Enago Report
• Journal Finder
• Enago Plagiarism & AI Grammar Check
• Editing Services
• Publication Support Services
• Research Impact
• Translation Services
• Publication solutions
• AI-Based Solutions
• Thought Leadership
• Call for Articles
• Call for Speakers
• Author Training
• Edit Profile

I am looking for Editing/ Proofreading services for my manuscript Tentative date of next journal submission:

Which among these would you prefer the most for improving research integrity?

Suggestions for Future Research

Your dissertation needs to include suggestions for future research. Depending on requirements of your university, suggestions for future research can be either integrated into Research Limitations section or it can be a separate section.

You will need to propose 4-5 suggestions for future studies and these can include the following:

1. Building upon findings of your research . These may relate to findings of your study that you did not anticipate. Moreover, you may suggest future research to address unanswered aspects of your research problem.

2. Addressing limitations of your research . Your research will not be free from limitations and these may relate to formulation of research aim and objectives, application of data collection method, sample size, scope of discussions and analysis etc. You can propose future research suggestions that address the limitations of your study.

3. Constructing the same research in a new context, location and/or culture . It is most likely that you have addressed your research problem within the settings of specific context, location and/or culture. Accordingly, you can propose future studies that can address the same research problem in a different settings, context, location and/or culture.

4. Re-assessing and expanding theory, framework or model you have addressed in your research . Future studies can address the effects of specific event, emergence of a new theory or evidence and/or other recent phenomenon on your research problem.

My e-book,  The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation in Business Studies: a step by step assistance  offers practical assistance to complete a dissertation with minimum or no stress. The e-book covers all stages of writing a dissertation starting from the selection to the research area to submitting the completed version of the work within the deadline. John Dudovskiy