A research paper’s focus is summed up succinctly and effectively in an abstract. It is the original written material, not a condensed version of the larger work, and typically includes keywords that are present in the entire article.
Abstracts are helpful since they allow readers to decide quickly whether an article is what they are looking for or piques their interest. Abstracts can also be used in online databases for indexing.
When to Write an Abstract
When completing a thesis or dissertation, submitting a research paper for scholarly publication, writing a book or research proposal, or applying for research grants, you will nearly always need to include an abstract.
As an overview of the work you have already completed, your abstract is best written last, just before the proofreading phase. Your abstract should:
• Fully readable on its own
• Reflects the organisation of your work.
• Is a self-contained piece rather than a passage from your paper
First Step: Introduction
Define the goal of your study upfront. What theoretical or practical issue does the research address, or what research topic did you set out to address?
Do not go into great detail on the background of your dissertation topic; instead, provide a brief overview of its social or academic significance. Provide a brief definition for any technical words used in your abstract that the typical academic reader would not be familiar with or have several meanings.
After determining the issue, clearly define the purpose of your investigation. To precisely explain what you set out to achieve, use verbs like “investigate,” “test,” “analyze,” or “evaluate.”
There is no need to write about the future in this section of the abstract; it can be written in the present or past simple tense.
Second Step: Methods
Next, we describe the research techniques you employed to find the answer to your query. This section should consist of a brief, one- or two-sentence summary of what you accomplished.
As it refers to accomplished actions, it is typically written in the past simple tense.
The purpose here is not to provide the reader with an assessment of the methodology’s strengths and limitations but rather to provide them with a brief overview of the general approach and methods utilised. Therefore, do not analyse validity or difficulties.
Third Step: Results
Subsequently, we provide a summary of the primary study findings. The present or past simple tense may be used in this portion of the Abstract.
You might not be able to include every result here, depending on how lengthy and intricate your investigation is. To make your conclusions easier for the reader to understand, we try to highlight the most significant findings.
Fourth Step: Discussion
Finally, you ought to go over the primary findings of your investigation: how do you resolve the issue or pose the question? By the end, the reader ought to have a firm grasp of the main idea that your study has supported or refuted. Generally, present simple tense writing is used for conclusions.
You should briefly discuss any significant study limitations in the abstract, such as those pertaining to the sample size or methodology. This enables the reader to evaluate your research’s generalizability and credibility with accuracy.
Should your goal have been to address a real-world issue, you may have included suggestions on how to go about doing so in your discussion. You can briefly offer recommendations for more research if applicable.
Important Tips for Writing an Abstract
To assist you in writing your abstract, consider the following:
- Do not exceed the word count. The typical length of an abstract is 100–250 words.
- Accurately format your abstract according to the guidelines provided.
- State the paper’s findings rather than the questions or topics it will investigate.
- Write one to two sentences summarising each chapter or section along with a list of keywords. To put together your abstract, we use this as a framework.
- Provide abstract access to keywords from the entire document.
- Seek inspiration from other abstracts to establish a structure and style foundation.
- Make reference to particular findings specifics.
Things to Avoid While Writing an Abstracts
Avoid doing the following when writing your abstract:
- Using a lot of other people’s work
- Defining terms
- Adding material that isn’t in the main work
- Using filler words and technical terms that aren’t necessary
FAQs
What is the purpose of an abstract in a research paper?
An abstract serves as a short summary of your research paper, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essence of your work to decide whether to read the full paper. It also prepares readers for the detailed information, analyses, and arguments in your paper and helps them remember key points later.
What structure should be followed when writing an abstract?
While the structure can vary slightly by discipline, a common approach is the IMRaD format, which stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. This format helps in organizing the abstract to describe the purpose of the work, the methods used, the main findings, and the conclusions drawn.
What information should be included in an abstract?
Most abstracts contain brief information about the context or background of your research, the central questions or problem statement, what’s already known about the topic, the main reasons for your research, your methods, main findings or arguments, and the significance or implications of your findings.
When should I write the abstract for my research paper?
It’s advisable to write your abstract after completing your full paper, so you have a clear understanding of what to summarize and highlight in the abstract.