Distinguishing Implications & Recommendations in Research

The key difference between implications and recommendations in research is that implications discuss how the findings of the study may be important while recommendations endorse specific actions that need to be taken with regard to policy, practice, theory, or subsequent research. Implications and recommendations are two important subsections in research papers. These two sections are typically at the end of the research study, written after the study has been completed. Recommendation section typically follows the implications section.

Key Takeaways

• Implications in research discuss the importance of the study and its findings for policy, practice, theory, and future research.
• Recommendations in research endorse specific actions that need to be taken to address issues identified in the study, as well as future research.
• Both implications and recommendations are written in the conclusion section of a research paper, with recommendations typically following the implications section.

What are Implications in Research?

Implications section is an important subsection at the end of the thesis or dissertations. Implications section is typically a part of the conclusion in research. It examines the importance of the study and how the findings of that particular study may be important for policy, practice, theory and ensuing research studies.
This section basically looks at the conclusions you draw from the results and explain the importance of these findings for practice, theory or policy. However, you have to validate the implications with solid evidence. You also have to explain the study’s parameters and take into account the limitations of the study in order to avoid over-generalization of results. Basically, in this section, you will discuss the importance of your research study and the difference it makes.

What are Recommendations in Research?

Recommendations section in a research paper is basically critical suggestions regarding the best course of action in a certain situation. In other words, this section provides a beneficial guide that will resolve certain issues and result in a beneficial outcome. Recommendations urge specific actions to be taken with regard to policy, practice, theory, or subsequent research.

Recommendations heavily dependent on the situation; thus, they vary greatly. The researcher can make specific suggestions with regard to further research on the topic. Furthermore, he or she may also recommend studies regarding identified gaps in the literature that need to be addressed, and to which his or her study may or may not have contributed.

What are the Similarities Between Implications and Recommendations in Research?

Implications and recommendations are two sections at the end of the research paper.
These two sections are often written with the conclusion.

What is the Difference Between Implications and Recommendations in Research?

Implications is the section where the researcher discusses how the findings of the study may be important for policy, practice, theory and ensuing research studies. On the contrary, recommendations is the section where the researcher endorse specific actions that need to be taken with regard to policy, practice, theory, or subsequent research. Researchers sometimes include implications within the conclusion itself or write implications as a separate subsection, after the conclusion. Recommendations usually follow the implications section.
Recommendations section suggest specific actions to resolve problems identified in the research, as well as future research studies. In contrast, implications section basically explain the usefulness of the study and its findings.

Summary – Implications vs Recommendations in Research

Implications and recommendations in research are two important aspects of a thesis or a dissertation. The basic difference between implications and recommendations in research is their function; implications discusses the importance of the findings of the study while recommendations endorse specific actions that need to be taken.