Smart Techniques to Write a Perfect Abstract for Your Research Paper

Your title is the door of your research article. However, the abstract is the actual entry point where the reader decides whether they want to continue or not. An online reader or even a professor, everyone reviews the abstract first to analyze the purpose and meaning behind the research. If you give your paper a strong start, it will enable you to stand out. Weak abstracts can make your whole research paper get ignored.

Writing an abstract is not very complicated. You just have to know the right strategies to compose a sharp and concise abstract for your study. This blog will walk you through the tips, components, steps, and mistakes to write a compelling research paper abstract.

What is an Abstract

An abstract is a summary of your research paper, typically 150-20 words. Do you know where is the abstract found in an article? It’s at the start or on the main page of the study. This is not an alternative to your draft, but an important aspect that is used to attract readers and convince them to read the full text. You tell what you set out to do, what the problem was, its finding, and why it is important.

Many readers just read the abstract from search engines and databases before going to the full research paper. This is the reason it should be sharp, clear, and impactful. You need to write an abstract when you:

• Submit your research to a journal as the editors will review your abstract first.
• Apply to conferences.
• Write research proposals.
• Complete dissertations and theses for indexing.

Types of an Abstract

There are different types of abstracts. A professional offering research support services will write it according to the audience, purpose, journal, and disciplines. The following are the four most common types:

1. Critical Abstract: This type is just beyond writing a summary and includes the significance, as well as personal thoughts about the validity of the results and reliability. Sometimes you need this approach for your scientific paper abstract.

2. Descriptive Abstract: It generally looks like a table of contents in a paragraph form. It contains the purpose, methods, and scope of the research, describing the results and discussion. They are often used in theoretical and humanities papers.

3. Informative Abstract: This is the most commonly used type of research paper, as it describes each section, including the problem statement, research questions, methods, findings, and results, to provide a complete picture. This enables readers to decide whether the paper is relevant or not.

4. Highlight Abstract: The main aim of the highlight abstract is to grab attention and generate curiosity to read. It provides surprising insights and importance and is commonly used in conferences or marketing materials.

Key Components of an Abstract

An ideal abstract is not just a summary but a clear mini version of your research paper that clearly highlights important elements in a structured way. Here are the five key elements that are crucial for the abstract.

• Background: This is the smallest part of the abstract and contains 2-3 sentences that introduce the paper, its importance, and the research area.

• Purpose: This part tells the reader about the topic and the research questions and gaps you are solving in your study.

• Method: This section describes how the research is conducted, the participants, the data collection method, and the design.

• Results: It presents the summary of main findings and outcomes, which usually come at the end. Readers often look for this part first.

• Conclusion: It describes the meaning and significance of the results. This part is important to tell the contributions of the findings and how they solve the problem.

Tips for Writing a Strong Abstract

Many people think that abstract writing is the most overwhelming part of the research paper. If you follow these tips, you can write an effective abstract for your paper.

• Write in the Last: The ideal way of writing an abstract is to write in the end. Starting with the abstract is too risky.

• Use Keywords: Choose relevant keywords according to your research paper for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Incorporate them naturally in your writing.

• Follow Guidelines: Don’t forget to follow the university guidelines properly for the word count, abstract structure, and format.

• Use Active Voice: It is best to use the active voice for the direct flow of the abstract. This also improves readability.

• Be Specific: Instead of using vague statements in your abstract, better to opt for concrete data and results.

• Avoid Jargon: Ideal to keep the language clear and concise for the abstract writing.

Step-by-Step Process on How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper

A well-written abstract is concise and effective, telling the worth of your article. Writing an abstract is much easier, as you have to write only this section after completing your whole draft. Majority students just write it without thinking or to call off, but what about the search engines and marketing? Following these simple steps can help a thesis writer to write a strong and effective abstract formula for both humans and search engines.

1.    Identifying Needs and Requirements

View the journal or conference instructions for the word count limit of an abstract. Check whether the structured format is required or not. Analyze the keywords required by the targeted publication.

2.    Create a Draft

Start writing with a 2-3 sentences for the introduction to the article. State your research statement or questions. Explain the methodology of the research briefly. Summarize the main results with the data and end it with a conclusion.

3.    Check for Clarity and Concise

Remove unnecessary words and jargon that are not relevant to the content of the study. Use active voice and precise language, ensuring each sentence contributes to the study and overall understanding.

4.    Proofread Properly

Proofread to ensure that you have covered each component of the study in your draft. Verify that the overall abstract reflects the content of the study. Don’t use references, citations, or abbreviations in your abstract.

5.    Seek Feedback

Better to seek feedback from your peers, family, or professionals to ensure clarity. A new pair of eyes can help to identify the mistakes you cannot see by yourself. Modify your abstract according to the feedback.

6.    Finalize

Finalize your summary, removing the grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes or formatting errors. Make sure to adhere to the word count.

Example of an Abstract

The following is the research abstract example on the topic “Augmented Reality in Education.” You can use it as a research abstract template for your reference.

“Although Augmented Reality (AR) technology is increasingly adopted across different environments, it remains largely seen as experimental, mainly because the advantages of using AR are not well understood. (Introduction and Purpose) This research provides a review of the literature on the use of AR in learning and education. We have analyzed 93 relevant articles, of which 21 address the learning outcomes and gains of utilizing AR. (Methodology) Our research shows the positive impact of using AR on learning motivation and joy, as well as on independent learning, critical thinking, concentration, spontaneous learning, and practical skills, which are still not examined in detail. (Results) After discussing the benefits and classification of using AR in educational settings, this extends avenues for future studies. We have analyzed the importance of conducting long-term research to demonstrate the value of using AR in learning settings beyond initial novelty and to explore its integration with other technologies. (Conclusion)“

Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Writing an Abstract

Students often cannot write a compelling, sharp abstract because they don’t see common mistakes as problems. Avoiding little mistakes can help you to enhance your abstract and grab the reader’s attention. You can also take help from research paper editing services to analyze your mistakes and overcome them.

• Order of Writing: If you write it before finishing the paper, it may lead to missing details. Better to write it in the end.

• References or Figures: Avoid adding citations, references, and figures as nobody wants footnotes here. Keep it contained and cleaned.

• Vague Phrases: Using vague phrases in abstract, like “important results,” tells nothing to the readers nothing. It is ideal to be precise and use concrete findings and numbers.

• Length: Using fewer than 100 words is too short, and more than 300 words is too lengthy. Stick to the ideal length of the abstract, which is 150-250 words.

• Jargon: Overloading the abstract with jargon can confuse the readers. Better to use concise and simple plain language to be understood by everyone.

• Copying Sentence: Using the same sentence can create a patchwork. Better to pick them and write in your own words.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of an abstract?

The main purposes of an abstract are to show the relevance of your paper to the readers who are looking to pick for their own research and to tell the key findings to those who don’t have enough time to go through the whole paper.

Can I cite a reference?

It is better to avoid citation of the sources in your abstract, as it is to tell the audience about the original research, not the sources, and it should be concise and precise.

What is an ideal word count for an abstract?

The ideal word count of the abstract is 150-250 words. It can be exceeded to 300, not more than that. More than 300 is too lengthy, and below 100 is too few.

Which things should not be included in the abstract?

An abstract should not contain the numeric references, bibliography, figures, and footnotes, as the readers have to know the summary of the research in this part.

Final Verdict

Writing an abstract does not mean writing a summary; it briefly explains what your research paper contains. Abstract of an article tells the gaps, purpose, findings, and scope of your study. Choosing the type of your abstract depends on its purpose and your audience: highlight, informative, descriptive, or critical.

The main components to include in your abstract are the introduction, aim of the study, methodology, findings, and conclusion. The ideal way to write an abstract is to place it at the end, use keywords and active voice, avoid jargon, be specific, and follow the guidelines.

The process of writing is to identify the structure and format, create a draft, check clarity, proofread, get feedback from professionals, and finalize it by modifying. The above given abstract paper example can help you a lot if you closely follow it. Must avoid the common pitfalls by avoiding references, figures, jargon, and vague phrases, writing after finishing the paper, following the word limit, and writing in your own words instead of copying.