Conclusions

Abstract

This concluding chapter summarizes the main arguments presented in this book. It brings together the key findings from each of the main analytical themes and then discusses the implications of them for research on loneliness in higher education. The reader is reminded of the methodological assumptions which underpin the study, and how these depart from mainstream psychological and sociological research on the topic of loneliness. The final part serves as a call for future research, using Discursive Psychology, to investigate the conversational dynamics of loneliness talk, and how this can be occasioned into impactful change for university students experiencing loneliness (and indeed, other individuals who are experiencing this). It is suggested that DP offers a useful and necessary paradigm shift away from the over-reliance on static quantitative methods currently being used to inform the study of this incredibly important issue. Finally, it is highlighted how DP can provide answers to some of the problems encountered when undertaking such loneliness research, such as how to understand why individuals give different responses to the same question.