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Writing a Good Investigation Report

In any company, managers will likely be required to conduct an investigation into issues that appear in the workplace. These issues may be employee complaints relating to discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, or legal matters such as policy violations and health threats.

Key to any  investigation  that a company conducts is the investigation report.  This document serves a number of different purposes , which include:

• Accurately documenting the steps of the investigation
• Proving that the investigation was conducted in a timely, complete and fair manner
• Providing the decision maker with the facts required to decide the matter
• Presenting data that can be used to implement control and preventative measures

It is therefore essential that your company produces investigation reports that are as clear, comprehensive and accurate as possible. This blog will provide you with some tips to help you achieve this.

What Structure Should I Have?

Every investigation report should have a structure to make it easier to read and get the point across. Before putting anything down in writing, you should have a good idea of what structure you want to present your information in your investigation report. We suggest a simple structure with a clear beginning, middle and end.

Executive Summary

At the very start of your investigation report, your executive summary should give a succinct overview of the entire investigation. In this section, you should briefly go over the allegations, how you went about the investigation, and what conclusion you ultimately reached.

There are a few crucial questions  that should be answered in the executive summary:

• What happened?
• Who was involved?
• Where did the incident occur?
• How was the investigation conducted?
• Does the evidence support the complaint or allegation?
• What course of action is recommended?

Additionally, the standard of proof should be established in the executive summary, i.e. ‘ on the balance of probabilities .’ This concept should be clearly defined and explained so that it can be understood by a broad audience.

Given that many readers will never read beyond this section, you should only include the most important information here.

The next section of the investigation report will go into much more detail about everything. Here, you should explain the  factual background of the case, scope of the investigation, evidence considered, and analyse the evidence .

Factual Background

The details to be included in the factual background are:

• Departments or units involved
• Relevant policies, procedures, codes of conduct, etc
• Relevant activities of the department
• Employees involved and employee relationships
• Background facts to the allegation or incident
• Factual issues to be resolved

Scope of Investigation

The issues to consider during the scope of investigation include:

• What was the matter at issue?
• What interviews were conducted?
• What other evidence was considered?
• What investigative procedure matters should be noted?

Reports should be written for each interview conducted. Some key information to include in this report include: who conducted the interview, who was interviewed, and the location and date of the interview. Although this information may be repeated, it is still important to include it again in this section.

Your report should include all the evidence that was obtained, even if it doesn’t support your final conclusion. Doing so will ensure that your investigation is credible since it considers all evidence available to come to your conclusion.

Evidence  should also be categorized by type, whether physical, digital, or some other form. Examples of evidence include video footage, email records, documents or papers, and physical objects. 

When conducting an analysis of the evidence, there are a few things that you should do:

• Acknowledge the positions of each party
• Describe the evidence in support of each party
• Weigh the facts
• Identify the relevant facts
• Dismiss the irrelevant facts

After the body of your investigation report, your final step is to summarise your findings into a conclusion. Here, you should restate the standard of proof, set out the findings of fact required to reach the conclusion, and state the conclusion with reference to the standard of proof.

The three types of conclusions that your investigation report can come to are:

Sustained: The investigation revealed that the evidence satisfied the burden of proof in support of the allegation. For example, “Preponderance of the evidence suggests that the respondent violated Public Contract Code Section 4. Allegation is sustained.”

Not Sustained: The investigation revealed that the evidence did not satisfy the required burden of proof. For example, “There is no evidence that the accused stole computer equipment, therefore allegation is not sustained.”

Inconclusive: There was insufficient evidence to satisfy the burden of proof. For example “It was determined that there is no sufficient evidence to prove that the accused falsified his timesheet. The investigator was unable to determine whether the allegation has merit.”

Whatever type of conclusion you formulate, you need to make sure that it is based on relevant evidence and you have considered all evidence that does not support your conclusion.

General Tips

Adopt the correct writing tone.

Throughout the report, your writing should be impartial and professional. You should avoid using unnecessary adjectives and extraneous information. Finally, your writing should be in an active voice to maintain clarity. For example, use “I interviewed John Doe,” rather than “John Doe was interviewed.”

Know Your Audience

Use clear and concise language to ensure that whoever is reading the investigation report understands it. If you know that the person reading it may be unfamiliar with the technical terms of the industry, a glossary at the beginning of the report may be helpful.

Producing the Investigation Report

While putting the report together, there are a number of points that you should consider:

• What documents should be attached to the final report? This may include interview reports, witness statements and letters of allegation
• Who will the report draft be reviewed by?
• What policies are in place for the electronic copy of the report?
• Who should have access to the final report?
• How can you conclude the investigation summary report?

How Can Polonious Help?

Polonious’ case management software is the perfect tool for generating investigation reports. Information such as scene or surveillance photos, case notes and actions can be automatically added to the report, cutting administration time and improving overall productivity.

With one click an entire report can be generated from your updated case information.

A number of other benefits of using Polonious to generate your investigative reports include:

• Avoiding repetition: Once data is entered into the system, it can be used over and over again. This can save hundreds of hours of time, letting your staff focus on the more complex and important aspects of the case.
• Consistency: Everyone in the organisation will be using the formats they should be using and the formats appropriate for a particular case or client.
• Quality improvements: Case reports will reduce error rates in documents due to copy and formatting.

Want to learn more about what to include in an investigation report? Check out  this blog .

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Investigation Report Example: How to Write an Investigative Report

Here’s how to write an investigation report that is clear, complete, and compliant.

Do you dread the end of an investigation because you hate writing investigative reports? You’re not alone.

However, because it’s an important showcase of the investigation, you can’t skimp on this critical investigation step. Your investigation report reflects on you and your investigation, so make sure it’s as clear, comprehensive, accurate, and polished.

How do you write an investigation report? What are the parts of an investigation report? What's an investigation report example? In this guide, you’ll learn how to make your reports effective and efficient.

How mature are your workplace investigations?

An investigations maturity model can reveal your investigations program's strong points and areas for improvement. Learn how to evaluate your program in our upcoming fireside chat with investigations expert Meric Bloch.

Table of Contents

What is the importance of an investigative report.

• How to Write an Investigative Report: "Musts"

Executive Summary

Preliminary case information, incident summary, allegation subject, investigation details & notes, investigation interviews, conclusion & recommendations, final edits, how case iq can help.

An investigation report can:

• Spark some sort of action based on the findings it presents
• Record of the steps of the investigation
• Provide information for legal actions
• Provide valuable data to inform control and preventive measures

In short, your report documents what happened during the investigation and suggests what to do next.

In addition, the process of writing an investigation report can help you approach the investigation in a new way. You might think of more questions to ask the parties involved or understand an aspect of the incident that was unclear.

How to Write an Investigative Report: “Musts”

Before you begin, it’s important to understand the three critical tasks of a workplace investigative report.

• It must be organized in a such way that anybody internally or externally can understand it without having to reference other materials. That means it should have little to no jargon or specialized language and be a stand-alone summary of your investigation from start to finish.
• It must document the investigative findings objectively and accurately and provide decision makers with enough information to determine whether they should take further action.  With just one read-through, stakeholders should be able to understand what happened and how to handle it.
• It must indicate whether the allegations were substantiated, unsubstantiated, or whether there’s something missing that is needed to reach a conclusion. Use the evidence you’ve gathered to back up your analysis.

You might be wondering, “What are the contents of an investigation report?” Now that you know what your report should accomplish, we’ll move on to the sections it should include.

Want to streamline the report-writing process?

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The executive summary should be a concise overview of the investigation from beginning to end. It should not contain any information that is not already in the investigation report.

This may be the most important component of the investigation report because many readers won’t need to go beyond this section. High-level stakeholders get an overall picture of the allegations, investigation, and outcome without having to pore over the details.

To make this section easy to read, write in an active voice. For example: “I interviewed Carrie Smith,” not “Carrie Smith was interviewed.”

Example:   On February 23 rd , 2023, the Human Resources Manager received a written complaint of sexual harassment submitted by Carrie Smith, the stockroom manager. Smith claimed that on February 22 nd , 2023, her supervisor, Mark Robinson, pushed her against the wall in the boardroom and groped her breasts. Smith also alleged that Robinson on another occasion told her she was “too pretty” to be working in the stockroom and that he could arrange for a promotion for her. 

On February 24th, the Human Resources Manager assigned the case to me.

On February 25th, I interviewed Carrie Smith and two witnesses to the alleged February 22 nd  incident, John Jones and Pamela Miller. Jones and Miller did not corroborate the groping allegation but said they saw Smith running out of the boardroom in tears. Miller also reported hearing Robinson tell another employee, Sara Brown, that she had “a great rack”. 

On February 26 th , I interviewed Mark Robinson. He denied the groping incident and said he was “just joking around” with her in the boardroom but did not actually touch her and that Smith was too sensitive. He admitted to telling Smith she was too pretty to work in the stockroom, but contends that it was meant as a compliment.

Based on the interviews with the complainant and the alleged offender, I find that the complainant’s allegation of sexual harassment is substantiated.

It is my recommendation that the company provide the respondent with a written account of the findings of the investigation and a reminder of the company’s expectations for employee behavior. I also recommend that the respondent receive sexual harassment training and be advised that repeated harassing behavior may result in further discipline up to and including termination.

This section outlines the preliminary case information in a concise format, with only the most important details. It can go either before or after the executive summary.

• Your name and investigator identification number, if you have one
• Case number
• Date the case was assigned to you
• The date the report was reviewed
• How the report was received (e.g. hotline, email to HR manager, verbal report to supervisor)
• Name of the reporter/complainant

If the reporter is an employee, record their:

• Email address
• Work telephone number
• Employment level/position
• Employee identification number
• Department identification number

If the source  is not an employee, only record their:

• Personal telephone number

In either case, note the date that the report was submitted, as well as the date(s) of the alleged incident(s).

The purpose of this section is to answer the who, what, where, and when about the incident.

• What type of case is it? For example, is the case alleging harassment, discrimination, fraud, or other workplace misconduct?
• Specify the case type further.  For example, is it  sexual  harassment,  gender  discrimination,  accounts payable  fraud, etc.
• Who is the alleged victim?  For example, is it the reporter, another employee, a customer, or the whole company?
• If the alleged victim is an employee, identify the person’s supervisor.
• Were any other people involved besides the subject and the alleged victim?
• Where did the incident(s) take place?
• When did the incident(s) occur?
• Capture details of the allegation.  Example : Stacey Smith alleges that John Jones, an accounts payables clerk, has been funneling payments to a dummy supplier that he has set up in the company’s procurement system. Stacey says that she noticed a discrepancy when one of the suppliers she deals with questioned a payment and she had to ask an accounts payable clerk, Tom Tierney, to pull the file for her. When Tom accidentally brought Stacey the wrong file, she saw that monthly payments were being made to a supplier she had never heard of, and that the address of the supplier was John Jones’s address. Stacey knows John’s address because her sister is John’s next-door neighbor.

Describe the allegation or complaint in simple, clear language. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that the average reader outside the company may not understand.

In this section, note details about the alleged bad actor. Some of this information might be included in the initial report/complaint, but others you might have to dig for, especially if the subject isn’t an employee of the organization.

For every subject, include their:

• Email (work contact if they’re an employee, personal if not)
• Telephone number (see above)

If the subject of the allegation is an employee, also include their:

• Employment status (e.g. full-time, part-time, intern, contractor, etc.)
• Business location

Begin outlining the investigation details by defining the scope. It’s important to keep the scope of the investigation focused narrowly on the allegation and avoid drawing separate but related investigations into the report.

Example:   The investigation will focus on the anonymous tip received through the whistleblower hotline. The objective of the investigation is to determine whether the allegation reported via the hotline is true or false.

Next, record a description of each action taken during the investigation. This becomes a diary of your investigation, showing everything that was done during the investigation, who did it, and when.

For each action, outline:

• Type of action (e.g. initial review, meeting, contacting parties, conducting an interview, following up)
• Person responsible for the action
• Date when the action was completed
• Brief description of the action (i.e. who you met with, where, and for how long)

Be thorough and detailed, because this section of your report can be an invaluable resource if you are ever challenged on any details of your investigation.

Write a summary of each interview. These should be brief outlines listed separately for each interview.

Include the following information:

• Who conducted the interview
• Who was interviewed
• Where the interview took place
• Date of the interview

Include a list of people who refused to be interviewed or could not be interviewed and why.

Write a Report for Each Interview

This is an expanded version of the summaries documented above. Even though some of the information is repeated, be sure to include it so that you can use the summaries and reports separately as standalone documentation of the interviews conducted.

For each interview, document:

• Location of the interview
• Summary of the substance of the interview, based on your interview notes or recording.

Example:   I asked Jane Jameson to describe the events of July 13 th , 2016. She said: “After work, Peter approached me as I was leaving the building and asked me if I would like to work on his team. When I said that I was happy working with my current team, he told me that my team had too many women on it and that ‘all those hormones are causing problems’ so I should think about moving to a ‘sane’ team.”

I asked her how she reacted to that. She said: I told him that I found that offensive and he said that I needed to stop being so sensitive. I just walked away.”

I asked Jane to describe the events of the next day. She said: “The next day he came to my desk and asked me if I had given any thought to moving to his team. I repeated that I was happy where I was. At that point he started massaging my shoulders and said that moving to his team would have its ‘perks’. I asked him to stop twice and he wouldn’t. Sally walked over and told him to get lost and ‘leave Jane alone’ and he left.”

I thanked Jane for her cooperation and concluded the interview.

Assess Credibility

Aside from collecting the evidence, it is also an investigator’s job to analyze the evidence and reach a conclusion. Include a credibility assessment for each interview subject in the interview report. Describe your reasons for determining that the interviewee is or isn’t a credible source of information.

This involves assessing the credibility of the witness. The EEOC has published guidelines that recommend examining the following factors:

• Plausibility – Is the testimony believable and does it make sense?
• Demeanor – Did the person seem to be telling the truth?
• Motive to falsify – Does the person have a reason to lie?
• Corroboration – Is there testimony or evidence that corroborates the witness’s account?
• Past record – Does the subject have a history of similar behavior?

Example:   I consider Jane to be a credible interviewee based on the corroboration of her story with Sally and also because she has nothing to gain by reporting these incidents. She has no prior relationship with Peter and seemed genuinely upset by his behavior.

A well-written report is the only way to prove that an investigation was carried out thoroughly.

Download this free cheat sheet to learn best practices of writing investigation reports.

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In this section, describe all the evidence obtained. This could include:

• Video or audio footage
• Email or messaging (e.g. Slack, Teams, etc.) records
• Employee security access records
• Computer or other device login records
• Documents or papers
• Physical objects (e.g. photos, posters, broken objects, etc.)

Number each piece of evidence for easy reference in your chain of evidence document.

As you gather and analyze evidence, it’s critically important to include and fully consider everything  you find. Ignoring evidence that doesn’t support your conclusion will undermine your investigation and your credibility as an investigator. If you aren’t weighing some pieces as heavily as others, make sure you have a good explanation as to why.

In the final section of your report, detail your findings and conclusion. In other words, answer the questions that your investigation set out to answer.

This is where your analysis comes into play. However, be sure to only address the issue(s) being examined only, and don’t include any information that is not supported by fact. Otherwise, you could be accused of bias or speculation if the subject challenges your findings.

Investigation Findings Example:   My findings indicate that, based on the evidence, Bill’s allegation that Jim blocked him from the promotion is true. Jim’s behavior towards Bill is consistent with the definition of racial discrimination. The company’s code of conduct forbids discrimination; therefore, Jim’s behavior constitutes employee misconduct.

It’s important for your conclusion to be defensible, based on the evidence you have presented in your investigation report. Reference reliable evidence that is relevant to the case. Finally, explain that you’ve considered all the evidence, not just pieces that support your conclusion.

In some cases, you might have been asked to provide recommendations, too. Depending on your conclusion, you may recommend that the company:

• Does nothing
• Provides counselling or training
• Disciplines the employee(s)
• Transfers the employee(s)
• Terminates or demotes the employee(s)

Example: It is my recommendation that the company provide the respondent (Jim) with a written account of the findings of the investigation and a reminder of the company’s expectations for employee behavior. I also recommend that the respondent (Jim) receive anti-discrimination training and be advised that repeated discriminatory behavior may result in further discipline up to and including termination.

Grammatical errors or missed words can take even the best investigation report from professional to sloppy. That’s why checking your work before submitting the report is perhaps the most important step of them all.

Keep in mind that your investigative report may be seen by your supervisors, directors, and even C-level executives in your company, as well as attorneys and judges if the case goes to court.

If spelling, grammar, and punctuation aren’t your strong suit, enlist the services of a writer-friend or colleague to proofread your report. Or, if you’re a lone wolf kind of worker, upgrade your skills with a writing course or a read-through of books like  The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. At the very least, remember to run a spell check before you pass on any document to others.

Finally, do a quick scan to make sure you’ve included all the necessary sections and that case details are consistent.

Want more report-writing tips?

Watch our free webinar to get advice on what to include (and not include), proper language and tone, formatting tips, and more on how to effectively make an investigation report.

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If you’re still managing cases with spreadsheets or outdated systems, you’re putting your organization at risk.

With all your investigation information stored in one place, you can create comprehensive, compliant investigation reports with a single click. Case IQ’s powerful case management software pulls all the information from the case file automatically, so you can close cases faster.

Learn more about how Case IQ can reduce resolution time and improve your organization’s investigations here.

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The arlt difference, writing a conclusion.

Conclusions have two mains aims. The first is to provide a condensed version of the essay�۪s core argument or thesis and if possible provide absences in your argument that could be explored in future work. A conclusion should take up no more than 10% of the essay. Put simply, the conclusion should leave the reader with a clear impression of the subject under discussion or argument, what it is about, what you believe and why you believe this. At an ���introductory level standard a conclusion�۝ is usually expected to demonstrate an ability to summarize the content of the essay clearly. The second aim is to give a final comment or judgement on this. The final comment may also include making suggestions for improvement and speculating on future directions. In dissertations and research papers, conclusions are more complex and will also include sections on the significance of the findings and results, and recommendations for future work. Excerpts of Phraseology presented by Dr.John Morley. 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Management to enhance bumble-bee populations might involve ��_ This study suggests that X should be avoided by people who are prone to ��_ A key policy priority should therefore be to plan for the long-term care of ��_ This information can be used to develop targetted interventions aimed at ��_ Taken together, these findings do not support strong recommendations to ��_ Ensuring appropriate systems, services and support for X should be a priority for ��_ The findings of this study have a number of important implications for future practice. Restatement of aims This paper has argued that ��_ This study set out to determine ��_ This essay has discussed the reasons for ��_ In this investigation, the aim was to assess ��_ The main goal of the current study was to determine ��_ The purpose of the current study was to determine ��_ This project was undertaken to design ��_ and evaluate ��_ The present study was designed to determine the effect of ��_ Returning to the hypothesis/question posed at the beginning of this study, it is now possible to state that ��_ Summarising research findings This study has identified ��_ This study has shown that ��_ The research has also shown that ��_ The second major finding was that ��_ These experiments confirmed that ��_ X made no significant difference to ��_ This study has found that generally ��_ The investigation of X has shown that ��_ The results of this investigation show that ��_ X, Y and Z emerged as reliable predictors of ��_ Multiple regression analysis revealed that the ��_ The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that ��_ The relevance of X is clearly supported by the current findings. One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that ��_ Suggesting implications for the field of knowledge In general, therefore, it seems that ��_ The results of this study indicate that ��_ These findings suggest that in general ��_ The findings of this study suggest that ��_ Taken together, these results suggest that ��_ An implication of this is the possibility that ��_ The evidence from this study suggests that ��_ Overall, this study strengthens the idea that ��_ The current data highlight the importance of ��_ The findings of this research provide insights for ��_ The results of this research support the idea that ��_ These data suggest that X can be achieved through ��_ The theoretical implications of these findings are unclear. The principal theoretical implication of this study is that ��_ This study has raised important questions about the nature of ��_ The following conclusions can be drawn from the present study ��_ Taken together, these findings suggest a role for X in promoting Y. The findings of this investigation complement those of earlier studies. These findings have significant implications for the understanding of how ��_ Although this study focuses on X, the findings may well have a bearing on ��_ Significance of the findings or contribution of the study This research extends our knowledge of ��_ This research will serve as a base for future studies and ��_ This research provides a framework for the exploration of ��_ This research has several practical applications. Firstly, it points to ��_ These findings enhance our understanding of ��_ The findings of this thesis could be used to help ��_ The current findings add to a growing body of literature on ��_ Taken together, these findings suggest a role for X in promoting Y. The findings of this investigation complement those of earlier studies. A key strength of the present study was the ��_ The present study makes several noteworthy contributions to ��_ The present study should prove to be particularly valuable to ��_ The present study provides additional evidence with respect to ��_ The present study confirms previous findings and contributes additional evidence that suggests ��_ The key strengths of this study are its long duration and ��_ The empirical findings in this study provide a new understanding of ��_ The study has gone some way towards enhancing our understanding of ��_ The study has confirmed the findings of Smith et al. (2001) which found that ��_ The findings from this study make several contributions to the current literature. First,��_ This is the first study to investigate the effect of ��_ This is the first time that X has been used to explore ��_ This study has demonstrated, for the first time, that ��_ This is the first study reporting an advantage in those who ��_ This is the largest study so far documenting a delayed onset of ��_ The contribution of this study has been to confirm ��_ This work contributes to existing knowledge X by providing ��_ The analysis of X undertaken here, has extended our knowledge of ��_ The methods used for this X may be applied to other Xs elsewhere in the world. The X that we have identified therefore assists in our understanding of the role of ��_ Significance of the findings with a qualification Notwithstanding these limitations, the study suggests that ��_ Whilst this study did not confirm X, it did partially substantiate ��_ Despite its exploratory nature, this study offers some insight into ��_ Although the current study is based on a small sample of participants, the findings suggest ��_ Limitations of the current study A limitation of this study is that ��_ Being limited to X, this study lacks ��_ The small sample size did not allow ��_ The major limitation of this study is the ��_ This study was limited by the absence of ��_ X makes these findings less generalisable to ��_ Thirdly, the study did not evaluate the use of ��_ It is unfortunate that the study did not include ��_ The scope of this study was limited in terms of ��_ The study is limited by the lack of information on ��_ The most important limitation lies in the fact that ��_ The main weakness of this study was the paucity of ��_ Since the study was limited to X, it was not possible to .. An additional uncontrolled factor is the possibility that ��_ It was not possible to assess X; therefore, it is unknown if ��_ An issue that was not addressed in this study was whether��_ The generalisability of these results is subject to certain limitations. For instance, ��_ One source of weakness in this study which could have affected the measurements of X was ��_ Recommendations for further research work More research using controlled trials is needed to ��_ What is now needed is a cross-national study involving ��_ More broadly, research is also needed to determine ��_ More research is required to determine the efficacy of ��_ More research is needed to better understand when implementation ends and ��_ This research has thrown up many questions in need of further investigation. It would be interesting to assess the effects of ��_ It would be interesting to compare experiences of individuals within the same ��_ . It is recommended that further research be undertaken in the following areas: It is suggested that the association of these factors is investigated in future studies. A further study could assess the long-term effects of ��_ Further work needs to be done to establish whether ��_ Further studies need to be carried out in order to validate ��_ Further experimental investigations are needed to estimate ��_ Further studies regarding the role of X would be worthwhile/interesting. Further investigation and experimentation into X is strongly recommended. Further research might explore ��_ could usefully explore how ��_ should focus on determining ��_ is required to determine whether ��_ in this field would be of great help in ��_ should be carried out to establish the ��_ should be undertaken to explore how ��_ on these questions would be a useful way of ��_ needs to examine more closely the links between X and Y. could also be conducted to determine the effectiveness of ��_ Future trials should assess the impact of ��_ A future study investigating X would be very interesting. In terms of directions for future research, further work could ��_ Future research should therefore concentrate on the investigation of ��_ Another possible area of future research would be to investigate why ��_ A number of possible future studies using the same experimental set up are apparent. The study should be repeated using ��_ A natural progression of this work is to analyse ��_ Considerably more work will need to be done to determine ��_. These findings provide the following insights for future research: ��_ The precise mechanism of X in insects remains to be elucidated. This would be a fruitful area for further work. Large randomised controlled trials could provide more definitive evidence. A greater focus on X could produce interesting findings that account more for ��_ The issue of X is an intriguing one which could be usefully explored in further research. If the debate is to be moved forward, a better understanding of X needs to be developed. I suggest that before X is introduced, a study similar to this one should be carried out on ��_ More information on X would help us to establish a greater degree of accuracy on this matter. Implications or recommendations for practice or policy Other types of X could include: a), b). ��_ There is, therefore, a definite need for ��_ Greater efforts are needed to ensure ��_ Provision of X will enhance Y and reduce Z. Another important practical implication is that ��_ Moreover, more X should be made available to ��_ The challenge now is to fabricate Xs that contain ��_ Unless governments adopt X, Y will not be attained. These findings suggest several courses of action for ��_ A reasonable approach to tackle this issue could be to ��_ Continued efforts are needed to make X more accessible to ��_ The findings of this study have a number of practical implications. There are a number of important changes which need to be made. Management to enhance bumble-bee populations might involve ��_ This study suggests that X should be avoided by people who are prone to ��_ A key policy priority should therefore be to plan for the long-term care of ��_ This information can be used to develop targetted interventions aimed at ��_ Taken together, these findings do not support strong recommendations to ��_ Ensuring appropriate systems, services and support for X should be a priority for ��_ The findings of this study have a number of important implications for future practice.

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Investigations, Analyses and Conclusions: Finalizing Well-Written, Inspection-Ready Documents

Well-drafted, easy-to-understand quality records are crucial to helping pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers navigate FDA inspection obstacles. The FDA relies heavily on information presented in inspection-implicated documents to determine whether a manufacturing operation is compliant with FDA’s requirements and expectations, as expressed (in theory) in a company’s own SOPs. But investigators won’t put in herculean efforts to try and figure out the purpose, meaning, actions or conclusions of reviewed documents, and therefore, it’s critically important that companies ensure that all inspection-implicated documents tell a good story about compliant operations.

While compliance writing — a specialized blend of technical, business and regulatory writing — is seldom emphasized in employee training or quality-related SOPs, good writing can mean the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful FDA inspection.

Certain documents create more risk than others, as well, in terms of potential adverse-inspection impact. Technical records such as validation protocols and results, documents detailing testing required under regulations, and reports of complaint-handling and CAPA ( see example below ) are among the documents most-often reviewed during inspections. They are also the documents most likely to result in a 483 observation or warning letter citation.

CAPA: The Most Important Story-Telling You Can Do

CAPA documents are among the most frequently reviewed and closely scrutinized during an FDA inspection. Deficient CAPAs are also among the most common observations in FDA 483s and citations in warning letters. Poorly written CAPA documents can derail an otherwise positive FDA inspection and lead to many additional questions and openings for Investigator concern in an inspection setting. However, problems with CAPA documentation can largely be avoided by a clear focus on the goals of each CAPA-related report. Like most other quality documentation, CAPA reports can best be considered as a story. A story where events occur; compliance process drives investigation; analysis results in learnings and actions; and conclusions communicate outcomes. Story structures are essential in quality and compliance communications because humans are hard-wired for processing information through stories. A compelling CAPA story will feature:

• Character and scene development (background and details of the incident requiring the initiation of the company’s CAPA);
• A conflict and associated rise in action (the company’s investigation into the root cause of and contributing factors to the incident);
• A crisis or other climax (the root cause analysis): and
• Resulting action and final resolution (the corrective and preventive action plan).

Investigations and Analysis to Support Conclusions

One of the most challenging problems associated with producing inspection-ready documents is how companies execute steps 4-6 ( see sidebar above ) of the Writing for Compliance® structured writing process. These steps help to ensure that all quality and compliance stories — especially CAPAs — follow a logical progression supported by pertinent facts and data. The FDA is not a fan of surprise endings or plot twists; this is one case where a predictable story line is much-preferred.

The fifth step of the structured writing process involves investigation and/or analysis of activities described in the document. It is important to understand the difference between an investigation — research to discover additional facts or gain additional information — and an analysis — evaluation of established data or information to discover interrelationships and meaning of its component parts. An investigation is used to determine what should have happened, what actually happened, the how and why of the event and how serious the event was in terms of regulatory compliance and patient risk. An analysis is used to establish whether actions taken were appropriate and proper; this is where risk-based principles and standards are incorporated.

In some cases, both activities may be required; in others, a company may need to decide whether an investigation or an analysis is warranted.

The sixth step of the Writing for Compliance® structured writing process is to develop conclusions about the cause and contributing factors in the context of the entire set of activities and events described in the document, along with proposing remedial or other improvement activities, if necessary. The conclusion represents the end of the compliance story and should clearly show that the stated document’s purpose has been achieved. In the conclusion, companies can re-emphasize important points and give the FDA investigator or other readers a summarized “takeaway” message, including actions taken or about to be taken to resolve any issues.

An independent review should be used to close out the writing process. Experienced, independent reviewers can perform both a peer and a supervisory review before a document is approved and finalized according to established procedures. This review should aim to replicate how an FDA investigator might read the document several months in the future, and should determine the following:

• That the writing mirrors the actions taken;
• That the actions mirror the applicable SOP(s);
• That the activities are both scientifically valid and procedurally compliant; and
• That there are no unanswered questions—or “plot holes” in the story—or conclusions lacking a basis.

While writing for compliance can be challenging, following the seven steps of the Writing for Compliance® structured writing process ( see sidebar above ), including thorough investigation and analysis of problems and resolutions and careful explanations of conclusions reached, can help regulated manufacturers surmount writing-related obstacles and glide easily through FDA inspections.

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How to Write a Conclusion for Research Papers (with Examples)

The conclusion of a research paper is a crucial section that plays a significant role in the overall impact and effectiveness of your research paper. However, this is also the section that typically receives less attention compared to the introduction and the body of the paper. The conclusion serves to provide a concise summary of the key findings, their significance, their implications, and a sense of closure to the study. Discussing how can the findings be applied in real-world scenarios or inform policy, practice, or decision-making is especially valuable to practitioners and policymakers. The research paper conclusion also provides researchers with clear insights and valuable information for their own work, which they can then build on and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

The research paper conclusion should explain the significance of your findings within the broader context of your field. It restates how your results contribute to the existing body of knowledge and whether they confirm or challenge existing theories or hypotheses. Also, by identifying unanswered questions or areas requiring further investigation, your awareness of the broader research landscape can be demonstrated.

Remember to tailor the research paper conclusion to the specific needs and interests of your intended audience, which may include researchers, practitioners, policymakers, or a combination of these.

Table of Contents

What is a conclusion in a research paper, summarizing conclusion, editorial conclusion, externalizing conclusion, importance of a good research paper conclusion, how to write a conclusion for your research paper, research paper conclusion examples, frequently asked questions.

A conclusion in a research paper is the final section where you summarize and wrap up your research, presenting the key findings and insights derived from your study. The research paper conclusion is not the place to introduce new information or data that was not discussed in the main body of the paper. When working on how to conclude a research paper, remember to stick to summarizing and interpreting existing content. The research paper conclusion serves the following purposes: 1

• Warn readers of the possible consequences of not attending to the problem.
• Recommend specific course(s) of action.
• Restate key ideas to drive home the ultimate point of your research paper.
• Provide a “take-home” message that you want the readers to remember about your study.

Types of conclusions for research papers

In research papers, the conclusion provides closure to the reader. The type of research paper conclusion you choose depends on the nature of your study, your goals, and your target audience. I provide you with three common types of conclusions:

A summarizing conclusion is the most common type of conclusion in research papers. It involves summarizing the main points, reiterating the research question, and restating the significance of the findings. This common type of research paper conclusion is used across different disciplines.

An editorial conclusion is less common but can be used in research papers that are focused on proposing or advocating for a particular viewpoint or policy. It involves presenting a strong editorial or opinion based on the research findings and offering recommendations or calls to action.

An externalizing conclusion is a type of conclusion that extends the research beyond the scope of the paper by suggesting potential future research directions or discussing the broader implications of the findings. This type of conclusion is often used in more theoretical or exploratory research papers.

The conclusion in a research paper serves several important purposes:

• Offers Implications and Recommendations : Your research paper conclusion is an excellent place to discuss the broader implications of your research and suggest potential areas for further study. It’s also an opportunity to offer practical recommendations based on your findings.
• Provides Closure : A good research paper conclusion provides a sense of closure to your paper. It should leave the reader with a feeling that they have reached the end of a well-structured and thought-provoking research project.
• Leaves a Lasting Impression : Writing a well-crafted research paper conclusion leaves a lasting impression on your readers. It’s your final opportunity to leave them with a new idea, a call to action, or a memorable quote.

Writing a strong conclusion for your research paper is essential to leave a lasting impression on your readers. Here’s a step-by-step process to help you create and know what to put in the conclusion of a research paper: 2

• Research Statement : Begin your research paper conclusion by restating your research statement. This reminds the reader of the main point you’ve been trying to prove throughout your paper. Keep it concise and clear.
• Key Points : Summarize the main arguments and key points you’ve made in your paper. Avoid introducing new information in the research paper conclusion. Instead, provide a concise overview of what you’ve discussed in the body of your paper.
• Address the Research Questions : If your research paper is based on specific research questions or hypotheses, briefly address whether you’ve answered them or achieved your research goals. Discuss the significance of your findings in this context.
• Significance : Highlight the importance of your research and its relevance in the broader context. Explain why your findings matter and how they contribute to the existing knowledge in your field.
• Implications : Explore the practical or theoretical implications of your research. How might your findings impact future research, policy, or real-world applications? Consider the “so what?” question.
• Future Research : Offer suggestions for future research in your area. What questions or aspects remain unanswered or warrant further investigation? This shows that your work opens the door for future exploration.
• Closing Thought : Conclude your research paper conclusion with a thought-provoking or memorable statement. This can leave a lasting impression on your readers and wrap up your paper effectively. Avoid introducing new information or arguments here.
• Proofread and Revise : Carefully proofread your conclusion for grammar, spelling, and clarity. Ensure that your ideas flow smoothly and that your conclusion is coherent and well-structured.

Remember that a well-crafted research paper conclusion is a reflection of the strength of your research and your ability to communicate its significance effectively. It should leave a lasting impression on your readers and tie together all the threads of your paper. Now you know how to start the conclusion of a research paper and what elements to include to make it impactful, let’s look at a research paper conclusion sample.

The research paper conclusion is a crucial part of your paper as it provides the final opportunity to leave a strong impression on your readers. In the research paper conclusion, summarize the main points of your research paper by restating your research statement, highlighting the most important findings, addressing the research questions or objectives, explaining the broader context of the study, discussing the significance of your findings, providing recommendations if applicable, and emphasizing the takeaway message. The main purpose of the conclusion is to remind the reader of the main point or argument of your paper and to provide a clear and concise summary of the key findings and their implications. All these elements should feature on your list of what to put in the conclusion of a research paper to create a strong final statement for your work.

A strong conclusion is a critical component of a research paper, as it provides an opportunity to wrap up your arguments, reiterate your main points, and leave a lasting impression on your readers. Here are the key elements of a strong research paper conclusion: 1. Conciseness : A research paper conclusion should be concise and to the point. It should not introduce new information or ideas that were not discussed in the body of the paper. 2. Summarization : The research paper conclusion should be comprehensive enough to give the reader a clear understanding of the research’s main contributions. 3 . Relevance : Ensure that the information included in the research paper conclusion is directly relevant to the research paper’s main topic and objectives; avoid unnecessary details. 4 . Connection to the Introduction : A well-structured research paper conclusion often revisits the key points made in the introduction and shows how the research has addressed the initial questions or objectives. 5. Emphasis : Highlight the significance and implications of your research. Why is your study important? What are the broader implications or applications of your findings? 6 . Call to Action : Include a call to action or a recommendation for future research or action based on your findings.

The length of a research paper conclusion can vary depending on several factors, including the overall length of the paper, the complexity of the research, and the specific journal requirements. While there is no strict rule for the length of a conclusion, but it’s generally advisable to keep it relatively short. A typical research paper conclusion might be around 5-10% of the paper’s total length. For example, if your paper is 10 pages long, the conclusion might be roughly half a page to one page in length.

In general, you do not need to include citations in the research paper conclusion. Citations are typically reserved for the body of the paper to support your arguments and provide evidence for your claims. However, there may be some exceptions to this rule: 1. If you are drawing a direct quote or paraphrasing a specific source in your research paper conclusion, you should include a citation to give proper credit to the original author. 2. If your conclusion refers to or discusses specific research, data, or sources that are crucial to the overall argument, citations can be included to reinforce your conclusion’s validity.

The conclusion of a research paper serves several important purposes: 1. Summarize the Key Points 2. Reinforce the Main Argument 3. Provide Closure 4. Offer Insights or Implications 5. Engage the Reader. 6. Reflect on Limitations

Remember that the primary purpose of the research paper conclusion is to leave a lasting impression on the reader, reinforcing the key points and providing closure to your research. It’s often the last part of the paper that the reader will see, so it should be strong and well-crafted.

• Makar, G., Foltz, C., Lendner, M., & Vaccaro, A. R. (2018). How to write effective discussion and conclusion sections. Clinical spine surgery, 31(8), 345-346.
• Bunton, D. (2005). The structure of PhD conclusion chapters.  Journal of English for academic purposes ,  4 (3), 207-224.

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Try it for free or upgrade to  Paperpal Prime , which unlocks unlimited access to Paperpal Copilot and premium features like academic translation, paraphrasing, contextual synonyms, consistency checks, submission readiness and more. It’s like always having a professional academic editor by your side! Go beyond limitations and experience the future of academic writing.  Get Paperpal Prime now at just US$19 a month!  

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