COMPETENCIES
2052.3.3 : Results and Conclusions
The graduate writes the results and conclusions chapters to align with the approved research proposal after collecting and analyzing the data for the research project or study.
INTRODUCTION
In this task, you will write the second part of your research capstone paper: Chapters 4 and 5, the results and conclusions. You will submit the previously approved Chapters 1–3 from Task 3 with Chapters 4 and 5 from this task. Doing so will allow evaluators to see how Chapters 4 and 5 align with the topic and research question(s). However, only Chapters 4 and 5 will be evaluated for their content.
Use the attached “WGU Capstone Research Template” as a guide to help you organize your paper.
Note: The proposal will be written in future tense. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 will be written in present tense. Chapters 4 and 5 and the multimedia presentation will be written in past tense.
Note: The capstone performance assessment tasks must be completed in sequential order, and each task must be passed before the next task is submitted. Because the tasks build sequentially, you should not change the focus of your project midway through. Consult with your program mentor and instructor as you plan and execute your project.
REQUIREMENTS
Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. The similarity report that is provided when you submit your task can be used as a guide.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
Tasks may not be submitted as cloud links, such as links to Google Docs, Google Slides, OneDrive, etc., unless specified in the task requirements. All other submissions must be file types that are uploaded and submitted as attachments (e.g., .docx, .pdf, .ppt).
A. Identify whether your capstone is an action research study with an instructional intervention or one of the following types of applied research projects: evaluation of curricular or instructional practices, evaluation of an educational program, creation of a professional development program, or development of an organizational program, process, or tool.
B. Submit your previously approved Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3.
C. Using the information approved from your “WGU Capstone Proposal Form” and the attached “WGU Capstone Research Template,” write “Chapter 4: Results” by doing the following:
1. Summarize your research and how it connects to the research question(s) identified in Chapter 1. Support the summary with data.
2. Analyze the study results or findings. For each data set, include both a narrative description of the analysis and a graphic representation (e.g., table, chart).
3. Explain how the research was implemented, including sufficient detail that another researcher could replicate the research.
4. Discuss the answer(s) to the research question(s) identified in Chapter 1 based on your analysis of the data.
5. Describe the approved product associated with your research (i.e., an instructional intervention, an evaluation tool, a professional development program, or an organizational program, report, manual, or tool approved in Task 1).
D. Using the information approved from your “WGU Capstone Proposal Form” and the attached “WGU Capstone Research Template,” write “Chapter 5: Conclusions” by doing the following:
1. Provide an overview of the conclusion(s) reached in relation to the research problem and results, including a discussion of your research’s impact on the educational environment.
2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology of the research.
3. Discuss influential factors that may have affected the results.
4. Discuss your recommendation for area(s) for further investigation raised by your research that are relevant to your topic.
5. Discuss the barriers or limitations that affected the ability to draw conclusions based on the data.
6. Discuss the implications of the research for future educational practice.
E. Compile appendices for your project that include the following:
1. the entire product described in part C5 in Appendix A (the instructional intervention, evaluation tool, professional development program or organizational program, report, manual, or tool approved in Task 1)
2. all data collection instruments approved in Task 1 (e.g., assessments, surveys, questionnaires) in Appendix B
3. evidence of site permission in Appendix C
Note: Additional documents may be included in an Appendix D as needed for your research.
F. Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
G. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.
