CJUS 750 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY WK8 Developing Conclusions Paper_2024.pdf

Developing Conclusions 1

Developing Conclusions Assignment

Reverend Traci Lee Goebel

Helms School of Government, Liberty University

Developing Conclusions 2

Abstract

The conclusion associated with a research study summarizes the results, the interpretation of the

results, and the importance of the results identified in a study. When a conclusion is written

concisely, clearly, and simplistically, readers can understand d the primary focus and goal of the

research, as well as understand how the overall results can be applied and/or integrated into

policy, procedure, and legislation. Additionally, any achievements or milestones achieved

throughout the research study can be highlighted throughout the conclusion portion of the

Keywords: Conclusion(s), Observation, Data Collection, Summary, Qualitative Research

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Developing a Conclusion

When researchers conduct research, they should aim to present their overall findings and

conclusions in a way that is understandable by most individuals who read their research. O’Leary

(2008) describes a conclusion as the section that reveals the researcher’s data, as well as the

section that provides a link between the aim, objective, and research questions associated with

the research study. Additionally, it is the data obtained throughout the research study that helps

the research write and compile their conclusion(s). Further, observation is a methodology that

discuss how the interpretations and results can be applied, researched further, and/or applied to

relevant problems.

Observational Data Collection

This research paper will discuss a prior observation conducted by the author of this paper,

as this opportunity was designed to help the author of this paper learn how to bother observe and

collect qualitative data through observation(s). Researchers utilize the methodology of

observation during qualitative research to help gather data regarding places, behaviors, and

interactions (Genkova, 2020), with the intention of seeking data that is relevant to their research

problem and/or research questions. Additionally, when researchers choose to utilize observation,

the researcher is expected to determine their role(s), the level, and extent of whether they will be

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conducting either an open or covert observation (Genkova, 2020). Observational data that is

obtained through open observation, where the participants know that the individual observing

them is a researcher, the researcher can directly record behaviors, interactions, and events that

occur within the environment they are studying. Further, when researchers utilize covert

observation, the participants in the targeted environment do not know that the individual is

indeed a researcher, nor do they know that the researcher is documenting their observations.

Furthermore, observation and data analysis while adaptable, flexible, and ever changing

their ability to maintain this throughout their entire study. Researchers can utilize descriptive,

selective, or focused observation throughout their research study, as each type of observation can

help with heightening awareness of information (Smit & Onwuegbuzie, 2018) that is obtained

throughout their study. Further, observation enables researchers to listen, feel, and see more

effectively, and to fully take in their surroundings. Nonetheless, observation helps researchers

obtain a great amount of data, while also providing the opportunity for them to effectively

analyze and understand the group, population, or environment they are observing.

Briefly, there are three different roles a researcher can possess when conducting

observation(s). The three types of roles are known as being a full participant, a participant-as-

observer, and observer-as-participant, according to Maxfield and Babbie (2018). As a full

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participant, as this opportunity is believed to help achieve data that is natural and honest, as those

around the researcher will not know that he or she is a researcher and conducting actual research

(Maxfield and Babbie, 2018). This type of observation is like covert observation, which can be

conducted off-site and in-person, but is also known to be successful when observing behaviors

that are stigmatizing and/or when environments may be stigmatizing (Genkova, 2020). When

researchers choose to be a participant-as-observer, the research participants in the group that is

being studied, but it is known that he or she is also conducting research while participating

interactions, and among the individuals who were present in the bookstore at the time of this

observation. The first observation consisted of men and women sitting at the tables in the café,

with their laptops open, a cup of coffee or tea in their hand, and their other hand visibly typing

on their laptops. These individuals were observed to be quiet, focused, and their physical body

language appeared relaxed. The second observation came from the families that were sitting on

the opposite side of the café. These families were busy talking amongst each other, while

younger children would run around and play with each other. The women seemed to speak

loudly, while the men spoke softer, and their facial reactions would match the tone of their

conversations.

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Further, the third observation entails the smells experienced while in the bookstore. This

store smelled of homemade pastries, breads, and sweets, and these smells permeated throughout

the entire bookstore. Additionally, the author noted scents of freshly printed books, paper, and

even of more aged books. The individuals did not know that the author of this paper was

conducting observation, therefore, the author of this paper was able to gain more natural

observations, as the individuals were not distracted by the fact that she was observing and

conducting research, thus gaining more natural and accurate data (Swain and King, 2022). The

help inform which method would be most accurate and beneficial when seeking to obtain data

via observation(s). Additionally, when conducting any type of observation in a social setting,

learning how to effectively listen can be vital. Lavee & Itzchakov (2023) describe that effective

listening can help with establishing and/or developing the following throughout a research study:

1. Establishing rapport.

2. Delving more into subjective experiences.

3. Collecting rich data.

4. Allows complexities and uncertainties to be identified and explored.

Additionally, effective listening demonstrates that you are absorbing the data you hear

correctly, and that you are not allowing any misunderstanding or bias to affect what you are

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hearing and affect how you analyze what you are hearing. Effective listening enables the

researcher to absorb and document more data, thus leading to a rich, detailed, and established

conclusion and summary of their overall findings. Researchers should want their conclusion(s) to

be seen as memorable, captivating, and even resonating, as this will help their perspective of

their research topic stand out, and help key findings be easily accessible to those who read their

research (Cristancho, Watling, & Lingard, 2021). Therefore, a researcher is both discussing and

linking their data and findings, but also telling a captivating story of their overall findings that

include a discussion of these themes and patterns, as these concepts can be utilized or applied,

and/or the meaning of the information can be readily accessible and effectively understood

(O’Sullivan & Jefferson, 2020). Further, when researchers utilize reflexivity, they are equipped

to help make their results and analysis more transparent in their writing, just as they are equipped

to ensure that their viewpoints are understandable (O’Sullivan & Jefferson, 2020). Furthermore,

there is a five-phase analysis model that can be beneficial to both novice and experienced

researchers.

The five-phase qualitative analysis model that is beneficial for both novice and

experienced researchers involve organizing data, sorting data into relevant categories, creating

open and initial coding, identifying patterns, themes, and findings, and lastly, applying theory

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and explaining one’s findings. Phase One utilizes deductive strategies to help a researcher

organize and manage their data (Bingham, 2023). Phase two develops codes that relate to the

researcher’s research questions, purpose, and any propositions within their research. Phase three

provides the opportunity for the researcher to do further coding, by determining which specific

ideas have fully emerged thorough their research. Phase four progresses into the researcher

identifying themes, as well as collapsing themes and/or codes that will no longer be utilized.

Lastly, phase five is where the research combines both inductive and deductive analysis together

researchers collect data for quite some time. When researchers observe individuals or

environments in more naturalistic ways, such as covert or open observation, they can gain

insights, perspectives, and data that would otherwise be inaccessible. Additionally, observations

can assist in helping expose different perspectives and contexts surrounding behaviors,

interactions, and even smells and sights, that would not normally be presented throughout other

qualitative methodologies. Morgan et al. (2017) reminds researchers that self-reported accounts

can help reveal inaccessible insights that would not be accessible from other methodologies.

Further, covert observations can help obtain data that is honest and transparent, as the individuals

and environment around the researcher do not know that he or she is conducting research, let

alone taking fieldnotes regarding their observations.

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The type of observation conducted by the author of this paper appears to fall on the

spectrum of both unstructured and covert. This enabled the author of this paper to blend into the

environment of the bookstore and the café within it and be able to blend in with the participants

that she was observing. Had the author of this paper announced that she was observing the

individuals and environment for a doctoral level assignment, this would’ve caused the

individuals in this environment to deliberately change their behaviors, actions, tone of voice, and

even their decisions while at the store. Therefore, the author of this paper could observe naturally

and/or developing conclusions, there are scriptures that apply towards honesty, transparency, and

towards obtaining knowledge. Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the

unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (New International Version, 1973/2011, Proverbs

11:3). Integrity is important as a human being and as a researcher, as integrity can help

demonstrate that research is honest, transparent, and without bias or prejudice. If a researcher

cannot obtain honest and transparent data, and cannot keep their bias, personal or religious

beliefs out of their research, then it will be tainted, corrupted, and the results and findings will

not be accurate and reflective of the group, culture, or environment observed. 3 John 1:4, “I have

no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (New International Version,

1973/2011, 3 John 1:4). God wants us to walk in the truth, and to speak the truth; thus, in one’s