An abstract is a short summary of your (published or unpublished) research paper, usually about a paragraph (or up to 250 words). It provides a brief overview of the entire paper by reducing it to only the most important elements. Abstracts are not simply shortened versions of the introduction. An abstract enables readers to identify the basic content of a document quickly and accurately to determine its relevance to their research needs.
Writing an abstract requires you to identify the key points and structure of the paper, and reduce complex information and ideas into a clear and concise single paragraph. It is best written after you have completed your paper, as you will need to summarize main points and conclusions. Here are the key steps to writing an effective abstract:
Identify the key purposes and goals of your research paper. What is its central focus, topic or issue? What question(s) is it seeking to address? What hypotheses or theories is it testing?
Outline the paper’s structure. Summarize the paper’s main sections and their respective objectives briefly. For example: “This paper evaluates three key theories on X through a comparative analysis of past literature and new survey data. Section one reviews theory A and B…section two assesses theory C…”
Note the research design and methodology. Provide a brief synopsis of the approach taken, such as a comparative case study using interviews and content analysis, an experiment testing a new model, etc. State the types of data sources and analytical methods used.
Highlight 2-4 of the most important results and main conclusions clearly and concisely. Focus on findings, outcomes or lessons rather than descriptive details.
End with a statement of the paper’s significance or broader implications/applications of results. What does it add to current knowledge or debate on the topic?
Here is an example abstract of 150 words for a hypothetical paper:
“This study evaluates the impact of open government data initiatives on civic technology innovation and civic participation. Through a comparative case analysis of open data programs in three major cities and an online survey of 100 civic developers, it finds that while open data has enabled new tools for civic issues, several barriers still inhibit wider reuse. Data that is not standardized, documented or timely released provides limited utility. The research also reveals open data has a greater impact on driving new business opportunities than grassroots civic participation. To maximize civic technology benefits and participation, the paper argues open data programs need improved data quality standards and civic engagement strategies.”
Some additional tips for an effective abstract:
Use the paper’s key terms and concepts to describe its focus and content. Define abbreviations/acronyms at first use.
Write in the past tense as you are summarizing completed research.
Omit references to other literature, figures/charts, tables or study limitations. These do not belong in an abstract.
Ensure consistency with tenses (past/present), voice (active/passive), and level of detail across different parts of the abstract.
Proofread carefully for clarity, conciseness and correct grammar/spelling. Ask others to review as well.
A good abstract will stand on its own, making the reader want to read the full paper. It depicts the essence and value of the study concretely.
The purpose of the abstract is to communicate to readers the research problem or issue, methods, results and conclusions in a concise yet informative manner. By distilling the key components of the paper into a well-structured single paragraph, it serves as a framed window into the full work. With practice, writing to-the-point yet compelling abstracts becomes easier. Focus on highlighting distinctive elements of a study over generic descriptions.