Expected Conclusions (2-3 pages)
Outline what you think you would find if you were to complete the proposed investigation. It is important that you go straight to the point and answer your research question. Going back to our example, a good way to begin this section would be as follows: “Upon completion of my research, I expect to find the following similarities and differences in men’s and women’s reasons for marrying (elaborate on those similarities and differences).”
Once you have given a broad answer to your research question, provide a more detailed explanation that includes your expected findings. Going back to our example, elaborate on what you think your respondents would say about their reasons for marrying. Please note that you are not required to conduct any original research for your paper. However, it might be useful to you to either interview or survey a small sample of people. This would give you a good sense of what you would find if you were to conduct a larger-scale investigation.
Once you have discussed your expected findings, draw parallels between those findings and the research findings in your literature review. Do your expected findings confirm something the literature has already discovered to be the case? Do your expected findings contradict certain findings in the literature review? For example, if you find certain similarities and differences why men and women marry, it is possible that you can compare those similarities and differences to how gender roles have evolved over time.
Implications for Research and Practice (2-3 pages)
Discuss the implications of your expected findings for research and practice. First, based on your expected findings, formulate three new research investigations. (For example, if you were to find certain differences why men and women marry, you could propose an investigation into why those differences exist). For each proposed research investigation, explain to the reader what exactly you have in mind and why that is an important investigation.
Discuss the implications of your expected findings for practice. By practice, I mean the participants in your study and other relevant parties. For example, you could discuss how your expected findings are relevant to people who are married, as well as to people who are considering marriage. Be clear about whom your expected findings are relevant to and how those findings are relevant to them.
Bibliography
Using APA (American Psychological Association) style guidelines, include, in alphabetical order, full citations to all sources cited in your paper.
The completed assignment should be at least 15-20 pages, not including the bibliography. Double-space it and use Times Roman (12 font).