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The Abstract in Academic Writing: A Comprehensive Overview

Cooley and Lewkowicz (2003:112) give this advice on the Abstract: [The Abstract] is
written after the research has been completed and the writer knows exactly what is
contained in the body of the text. It is a summary of the text and it informs readers of
what can be found in the dissertation and in what order, functioning as an overall
signpost for the reader. Although it is the last part of a dissertation to be written, it is
gen erally one of the first a reader will look at. Indeed, if the Abstract is not well
written, it may be the only part of the dissertation a reader will look at!

1. Purpose and Importance

The primary purpose of an abstract is to help readers determine whether they should
read the full text. In today's information-rich environment, researchers often skim
abstracts to quickly assess the relevance and significance of a study to their own work.
Therefore, a well-crafted abstract is crucial for:
● Attracting readers: A compelling abstract can pique a reader's interest and
encourage them to delve deeper into the full paper.
● Indexing and discoverability: Abstracts are typically indexed by databases
and search engines, making the research more discoverable to a wider
audience. Keywords included in the abstract also play a vital role in this
process.
● Facilitating peer review: During the peer review process, reviewers often gain
their initial understanding of a study from its abstract.
● Serving as a stand-alone document: In many cases, only the abstract is
publicly available (e.g., in conference proceedings or online databases), making
it the sole representation of the research.

2. Types of abstract

Here are the main types of abstracts commonly encountered in academic writing:

a, Informative Abstract (or Comprehensive Abstract)

● Informative abstracts detail the background, major points, research methods,
significant findings, the conclusion reached, and any recommendations so that
readers understand the main elements of the paper before delving further.
These paragraphs are typically 250 words in length, although this can vary
based on discipline.

b, Descriptive Abstract (or Indicative Abstract)

● Descriptive abstracts provide an overview of the content, detailing major points
and research methods involved. However, contrary to informative abstracts,
 they do not provide significant findings, conclusions, or recommendations.
Additionally, they are about 100 words in length. For these reasons, they are
often less helpful in determining the relevance of a work when conducting
research as opposed to informative abstracts.

c, Structured Abstract
● Purpose: To present the information in a highly organized and easy-to-scan
format, with clear headings for each section.

d, Critical Abstract
● Purpose: To provide a summary of the work and an evaluation or critique of
its validity, reliability, or completeness.

e, Highlight Abstract (or Indicative-Informative Hybrid)

● Purpose: To capture the reader's attention and entice them to read the full
paper, often by focusing on a particularly striking finding or implication.

3. Choosing the Right Type

The type of abstract you should write is usually dictated by:
● The journal or publisher's guidelines: Always check the "Instructions for
Authors" section first. This is the most important factor.
● Your discipline or field of study: Different fields have different conventions.
Science and engineering often require informative abstracts, while humanities
might lean towards descriptive.
● The nature of your paper: Is it an empirical study, a literature review, a
theoretical discussion, or an essay?

In the absence of specific guidelines, an informative abstract (often unstructured, i.e.,

a single paragraph) is generally the safest and most commonly accepted choice for
research papers.

4. Typical structure of abstract

An abstract is a concise, standalone summary of a research paper, thesis, or

dissertation. Its primary goal is to allow readers to quickly grasp the essence of the
study without having to read the entire document. It's often the first (and sometimes
only) part of a paper that people read. A well-written abstract should be able to stand
on its own and make a strong case for why the full paper is worth reading.
The questions you listed are precisely what a good abstract should answer:

● What was the general purpose of the study? This sets the broad context.
What is the larger field of research? What is the general problem or topic being
addressed?
● What was the particular aim of the study? This narrows down the focus.
What specific question or hypothesis did the researchers set out to investigate?
● Why was the study carried out? This is the motivation or justification. Why
is this research important? What gap in existing knowledge does it fill? What is
the real-world significance of the findings?
● How was the study carried out? This is the methodology. What research
design was used? Who were the participants? What materials or instruments
were used? What data analysis techniques were employed?
● What did the study reveal? These are the findings or results. What were the
key outcomes of the research? What were the main conclusions?

The Typical Structure of an Abstract

The structure you've outlined is a classic and effective way to organize an abstract. It
follows a logical flow that mirrors the research process itself. Let's break down each
component:

1. Overview of the study (Introduction/Background):

○ Clarification: This section is brief but crucial. It provides the context
for your research. It should introduce the general topic and the existing
knowledge or problem that led to your specific investigation. Think of it
as answering the "What was the general purpose?" and hinting at the
"Why was the study carried out?" questions.
○ Example: "The increasing prevalence of online misinformation poses a
significant threat to democratic processes. While numerous studies have
explored the spread of 'fake news' on social media, less is known about
the psychological factors that influence an individual's susceptibility to
such content."
2. Aim of the study (Problem Statement/Objective):
○ Clarification: This is the heart of your abstract's introduction. It clearly
states the specific purpose or research question of your study. This
directly answers the "What was the particular aim?" question.
○ Example: "The present study aimed to investigate the relationship
between critical thinking skills and the likelihood of sharing
misinformation on platforms like Twitter and Facebook."
3. Reason for the study (Justification/Rationale):
○ Clarification: While often interwoven with the overview, it's helpful to
think of this as the explicit statement of your study's importance. It
answers "Why was the study carried out?" by highlighting the gap in
knowledge or the practical implications of the research.
 ○ Example: "Understanding these psychological underpinnings is vital for
developing effective educational interventions and digital literacy
programs to combat the spread of misinformation."
4. Methodology used in the study:
○ Clarification: This section is a concise summary of how you conducted
your research. It should provide enough detail for a reader to understand
the approach without getting bogged down. It answers the "How was the
study carried out?" question.
○ Example: "A cross-sectional survey was administered to 250 university
students, measuring their critical thinking abilities using the Watson-
Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal and their self-reported propensity to
share misinformation through a validated questionnaire."
5. Findings of the study (Results and Conclusion):
○ Clarification: This is where you present your key outcomes. It should
state the main results clearly and then offer a brief, overarching
conclusion. It answers the "What did the study reveal?" question and
often includes a final sentence on the implications of those findings.
○ Example: "The results indicated a significant negative
correlation between critical thinking skills and the
propensity to share misinformation (r=−0.45, p<.01).
These findings suggest that enhancing critical thinking
may be a crucial strategy in the fight against online
falsehoods. The study's implications for educational
policy are discussed."
● A discussion abstract is a concise summary of a longer discussion, typically a
research paper or thesis, providing a brief overview of the work's purpose, methods,
results, and conclusions. It serves as a "shop front" for the full work, allowing readers
to quickly grasp the essence of the research and decide if they want to delve deeper.

5. Language of abstract
1. Cooley and Lewkowicz (2003) discuss the use of verb tense in Abstracts. As
they point out, there are two ways the student may view their Abstract: as a
summary of their thesis or dissertation, or as a summary of the research that
was carried out. The first of these will typically use the present simple tense
(This thesis examines ...). The second will typically use the past simple tense
(The study revealed that ...) and the present perfect tense (Previous research has
shown that ...). Table 11.1 is a summary of these different tense uses, with
examples taken from the previous Abstracts

6. Writing Process Tips

Writing an abstract is often best done after the main body of the paper is complete.
This ensures that you have a full understanding of your work and can accurately
summarize it. Consider these steps:
1. Read your entire paper: Get a fresh perspective on your own work.
2. Identify key information: Go through each section (introduction, methods,
results, discussion/conclusion) and highlight the most crucial points related to
the "why, what, how, what was found, and so what."
3. Draft a sentence or two for each section: Condense your highlighted points
into concise sentences.
4. Combine and refine: Assemble these sentences into a coherent paragraph.
Focus on flow and logical progression.
5. Edit for clarity and conciseness: Eliminate redundant words, complex
sentence structures, and unnecessary details. Check for grammatical errors and
typos.
6. Check word count: Trim or expand as needed to meet the specified limit.
7. Review against guidelines: Ensure your abstract adheres to all formatting and
content requirements of the target publication.

In essence, the abstract is more than just a summary; it's a critical marketing tool for
your research, offering a valuable first impression and determining whether your work
gets the attention it deserves. Mastering the art of writing a compelling abstract is a
vital skill for any academic writer.