How To Write A Research Paper Abstract | Steps And Examples
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at September 23rd, 2024 , Revised On September 23, 2024An abstract is written to pique a reader’s interest and if necessary, motivate them to leave the comfort of their home and get the full article or paper.
In simpler words, an abstract is a well-structured summary of your academic work, such as an article, research paper, thesis or dissertation. It outlines the most important aspects of your work and is about 300-500 words. Although the structure may vary from discipline to discipline, it is still a necessary part of academic writing.
Abstract Research Paper Definition
A research paper abstract is the face of the research paper. This means that it is what creates the first impression of the paper. It is the summary of the research paper and communicates the content quality and relevance. They exist with one vital purpose, and that is to sell your research. A reader quickly scrutinises and scans the abstract to gain an idea of your research, the problem statement addressed, the methodologies used and the results gained from it.
An abstract most commonly has the following parts:
- Introduction
- Purpose
- Method
- Result
- Conclusion
Types of Abstracts In Research Paper
One of the main purposes of an abstract is to describe your paper. It can either be informative, descriptive, structured or unstructured. Let’s develop a common understanding of how research paper abstracts are written based on content and writing style.
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Structured Abstract
Structured abstracts are mostly written in journals and have a separate paragraph for each section. Each part is organised and has distinct headings such as introduction/background, objective, design, methodologies, material, results and conclusion.
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Unstructured Abstract
An unstructured abstract is mostly used in social sciences and humanities disciplines and does not have separate paragraphs for each section. It consists of one whole paragraph that serves as the face of the research paper.
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Descriptive Abstract
A descriptive abstract only outlines the crucial details of the researcher’s publication. They are mostly short, consisting of 75-105 words. They briefly explain the background, mission statement, purpose and objective but omit the research methodologies, results and conclusions.
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Informative Abstract
This abstract can be both structured and unstructured and provides detailed information on the research paper. This means that it is an extensive paragraph on each aspect of research and provides accurate data on each section, especially results.
How to Make Abstract In Research Paper
The abstract part of the research paper summarises the main points of the article. Whether you are applying for research grants, writing a thesis or dissertation or studying a research problem, it is necessary to know how to make a good abstract for a research paper. Here are some of the details on how to write a research paper abstract.
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General Topic In Study
This section serves as the introduction to the research paper. It answers the questions of what is being studied or what problem statement is being addressed here. The hypothesis and purpose are highlighted within this section, setting the context for the rest of the research paper.
It is recommended to never go into detailed information as this part only offers initial information regarding the research. Also, this part is always written in the present or past tense, and never in the future as the research has been completed.
Example:
Our study’s main objective was to assess the photoprotective capability of chocolate consumption, by contrasting a simple dark chocolate with a specifically made chocolate with preserved high flavanol. According to the study’s hypothesis, eating chocolate induced with HF can provide nutritional defence against skin damage by the sun.
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Research/Analytical Methods
Next, it is important to write the research methods used in the research. Either qualitative or quantitative methods, every aspect of them should be mentioned to give the reader a good idea of what scale, survey and sample was used within the research. Some questions that need to be answered in this paragraph are:
- What was the research setting?
- What was the sample size, and how were the participants sampled?
- What was the research method used?
- What was the primary outcome of the initial test?
- What questions or treatments were administered to the participants?
Example:
A double-blinded in vivo study was carried out, where 30 healthy adults participated in it. It included 8 males and 22 females between the age of 10 years to 43 years. Fifteen subjects each were given either an HF or LF chocolate and were divided based on their skin phototypes.
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Results/ Arguments
This section can be both in present and past tense and must include the main findings of the study. It should be detailed and lengthy, giving all relevant results. These are the following questions this section of the abstract research paper must answer:
- What did the study yield?
- What were the results in comparison to the hypothesis?
- What were the predictions and were the outcomes similar to it?
Example:
In conclusion, our research revealed that eating chocolate high in flavanol shields humans from damaging UV rays, mainly because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The research indicates that HF chocolate lessens the acute inflammatory response to UV rays, by regulating the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide.
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Discussions
Finally, you should discuss the conclusions and the author’s thoughts on the research. Whether the hypothesis proved to be right or not is mostly discussed here, along with the limitations or complications encountered during the research. It is necessary to mention this as a reader must be aware of the credibility and generalisability of the research.
Example:
Our research concludes by showing that cocoa flavanols have the potential to be a safe natural method of shielding skin from UV damage.
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Research Paper Abstract Example
Here is an abstract example for research papers to help you understand how abstracts are written:
Study name
Does the lockdown have a role in stopping COVID-19?
Abstract
Every day the coronavirus is spreading, with deaths and fatalities increasing day by day. This has led to a nationwide lockdown all over the world. Our study aims to study the effect of lockdown days on the spread of coronavirus in countries. COVID-19 data from 49 countries was gathered from www.worldometer.com. As of May 5, 2020, there were 1440776 approved active cases of COVID-19 from the countries included in this study. Data on COVID-19 days and lockdown days was obtained from the websites of the official institutions of these 49 countries. Moreover, the correlation test was used to analyse the associations between total COVID-19 cases and the lockdown days. The lockdown days were seen to be correlated to the COVID-19 pandemic. The social-isolation phenomenon; the lockdown has been seen to prevent COVID-19 and the spread of this deadly virus. There are several concerns about the ability of the national healthcare system to effectively manage COVID-19 patients. To slow down the spread of this virus, it is necessary to take the strictest of actions. Even though Italy and Spain have the highest death rates because of COVID-19, there has been a sudden drop in the rates because of the strict measures taken by the government.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should write an abstract when you are completing a thesis or dissertation, submitting a research design or applying for research grants. You can also write an abstract if you are writing a book
You should avoid using passive sentences and future tenses. Avoid detailed descriptions as an abstract is supposed to be just a summary. Complex jargon and complicated long sentences should also be avoided as they take away the reader’s interest. Lastly, always address your problem statement in a good way.
You should try to focus on showcasing your original work, rather than cite other work. Try to make your work as comprehensive and understanding so that your work is highlighted better.