How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper

What is an Abstract?

An abstract is a brief overview of your research paper that usually consists of one paragraph of about 150-300 words. It comes right after the title page on a separate page. As a short summary of your paper, it concisely reports the main research problem, methods, results, and conclusions of your research.

Although all abstracts summarize the paper's contents, there are different types of abstracts depending on which aspect they focus on. For instance, informative abstracts focus on presenting the data and information, while analytical abstracts give weight to the discussion section.

What Does an Abstract Include? 

The abstract consists of two parts: 

• A short summary of the paper

This is the main part of the abstract that offers readers a window into your research work. It covers the following aspects of your paper briefly:

• The central topic, hypothesis, research questions, or research problem
• The methodology and methods used
• The key results
• The conclusions of your research

• A list of keywords 

Keywords in an abstract are the terms that represent the major topics or variables of your paper. They are related to the main topic of your research and reflect the terms that readers would use to search for your paper. 

The Purpose of an Abstract

The abstract serves several important functions. Most importantly, it can help readers quickly understand what your paper is about and decide whether to read the full paper or not. In other words, it helps readers decide whether your paper is relevant or interesting for them.

It provides a clear overview of your paper, highlighting the main contributions and implications for readers who may not have time to read the full paper. Moreover, the abstract and the list of keywords helps research databases and search engines index and categorize your paper properly, allowing for better reach.

Qualities of a Good Research Paper Abstract

An effective research paper abstract should be recognized by the following qualities: 

• An abstract should be a self-contained text, not an excerpt from your paper.
• It should be fully understandable on its own, without referring to the paper or other sources.
• It should reflect the structure and content of the paper, including the main points and arguments.
• Use the same language and terminology as your paper, but avoid jargon and abbreviations.
• Include keywords or phrases that can help readers find your paper in databases or search engines

How to Write an Abstract - 5 Easy Steps

An easy way to write the abstract is to follow the IMRaD format. It stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. 

Here’s how to write the abstract step by step according to this format:

Step 1 - Brief Introduction

Introduce the research topic, problem, or question that your paper addresses, and state the main purpose or objective of your research. This should take no more than three to four sentences. 

Plus, you need to customize this part according to the type of research paper. For instance, some researches are based on a specific hypothesis, while others are centered around research questions. Mention the central objective of your research paper in a few lines, whether it is to prove a hypothesis or answer a specific question.

Step 2 - Describe the Methods 

Describe the main methods or approaches that you used to conduct your research, such as the type of research and it's design, data collection, data analysis, or experiments.

You need to present the methodology or approach clearly and concisely. It should give a complete idea of how the research is conducted without getting into too much detail.

Step 3 - Mention the Results 

Report the main findings or outcomes of your research, such as the key results, patterns, trends, or relationships that you discovered or confirmed. Use the past tense to describe what you have done or found in your research.

You should highlight the most important or significant results that answer your research question or support your hypothesis. Be precise and specific with the data, so the readers can get an accurate idea of the results before diving into the detailed research.

Step 4 - Provide a Conclusion

Interpret the implications and significance of your results, and explain how they answer your research question or problem. Use the present tense to describe the general implications of your research.

In this step, You need to provide a clear and logical connection between your results and your conclusion, and show how your research contributes to the existing knowledge or solves the existing problem in your field.

Step 5 - Revise and Format Your Abstract 

It’s very hard to craft a perfect abstract on the first try. After you have written your abstract, you should revise it for clarity, accuracy, and completeness.

Make sure that your abstract reflects the main purpose, methods, results, and conclusion of your research paper and that it does not include any irrelevant or unnecessary information. You should also check the word limit and formatting guidelines of your target journal or institution and adjust your abstract accordingly. 

Abstract Writing Tips

Here are some tips to help you write a good abstract for your research paper:

• Write your abstract last. You should start working on the abstract after completing the research paper first. This way, you will have everything you need to summarize for your abstract. 
• Identify the main elements of your paper, such as the research paper introduction, methods, results, and discussion, and write two to three sentences for each element. Use the IMRaD structure as a guide, but adapt it to suit your discipline or journal.
• Connect the sentences using transition words or phrases, such as "firstly", "thus", "however", or "in addition", to show the logical flow and relationship of your paper.
• Check the word limit and formatting guidelines of your target journal or institution, and adjust your abstract accordingly. Make sure that your abstract meets the criteria and expectations of your audience.
• Abstract should be written in an active voice. Use a clear and concise language that is easy to understand and follow. Avoid complex sentences or vague expressions.
• Use the same terminology and definitions as your paper, but avoid jargon, acronyms, or abbreviations that may not be familiar to your readers. If you have to use them, explain them the first time you use them.
• Utilize keywords or phrases that are relevant and specific to your research topic, and that can help readers find your paper in databases or search engines. You can also check the keywords or phrases that are used by other papers in your field or journal.
• Proofread your abstract for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style errors. You can also ask someone else to read your abstract and give you feedback.

Use the following checklist to review your abstract:

Abstract Examples

To give you a better idea of how to write an abstract, here are some examples of abstracts from different disciplines and sources. 

Example: Humanities thesis abstract

Example: Science Journal Article Abstract

Research Paper Abstract Example APA: Social Science Conference Paper Abstract

To conclude the blog,

Now you’ve got everything you need to know to write an abstract - from its definition and functions to steps, tips, and examples. The only thing left is for you to try it out and practice. 

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