I want to develop a research paper on the step by step writing process of abstract for the novice scholars of my university. Their ideas about writing abstract are not clear. Now, this question is a research question which needs your response as a research respondent.
Your ideas together with examples are appreciated. Your suggestions and comments to improve my research work are also appreciated.
Wishes,
Valuable is your attention to the Abstract. The Abstract is probably the single most important part of a paper. The Abstract appears (is distributed) more widely than the actual text of the paper; and is a basis for deciding whether to read the text.
Key components for an effective Abstract:
1) the rationale (purpose) of the study.
2) the approach (method) taken,
3) central findings.
4) ways that the findings relate to the rationale for the study (that is, the implications of the results).
With good wishes !
Valuable is your attention to the Abstract. The Abstract is probably the single most important part of a paper. The Abstract appears (is distributed) more widely than the actual text of the paper; and is a basis for deciding whether to read the text.
Key components for an effective Abstract:
1) the rationale (purpose) of the study.
2) the approach (method) taken,
3) central findings.
4) ways that the findings relate to the rationale for the study (that is, the implications of the results).
With good wishes !
This paper provides detailed suggestions, with examples, for writing the background, methods, results, and conclusions sections of a good abstract.
Table 1 of the article summarizes good qualities of an abstract (see attached)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136027/#!po=13.6364
In my point of view 'Abstract' should cover the answer for following questions:
What we have done in the research study?
How we have done?
Where we have done?
Why?
When?
To Whom?
Who we have done?
Abstract should stand as a brief recapitulation of the whole research which gives a glimpse on what to expect in the main manuscript.
How to write an "abstract" for a research paper?
Agreed with the above researchers / scholars on how to write the abstract's contents. Want to add 2 points:
Too often abstracts do not include findings. Although abstracts are usually limited to 100 to 300 words, depending on the publication, it is important for the abstract to be a complete, concise summary of the article. I've seen many abstracts that indicate "results will be discussed." That may be sufficient for a conference abstract where more analyses will be done before the date of the conference, but for an abstract in a publication, the most important information --- the findings -- should not be left out.
Unfortunately, I've recently read advice to authors to leave some of the important information out of the abstract so that readers will go to the full article to get that information. This a questionable form of "marketing" and defeats the purpose of an abstract, which should give a succinct summary of the article.
One of the serious issues in writing an attractive abstract is as follows:
- There is usually a very limited space for writing an abstract, so that the most essential part should be non-proportionally conveyed and taken care of.
- It is true that people searching through the abstracts can be mostly focused in either a purpose, or a method, or a result, or a conclusion part. However, most of mature researchers are getting engaged when they read the conclusions part. This is what the author(s) claim to be either found, or proven, or created, or built, or tested, or thorough studied. Researchers used to know well the front line results, directions, and levels of competition. Accordingly, their reaction on the conclusions part is quite exacerbated in making read / not read decision.
- Whatever the conclusions are, their description in the abstract are to be the most eloquent and intriguing part of the abstract. It should give a better opportunity to be chosen for reading.
It is better to introduce the aim of research and contents available in the research paper.
How to write a research paper abstract
The abstract should work like a marketing tool. It should help the reader decide “whether there is something in the body of the paper worth reading” by providing a quick and accurate summary of the entire paper explaining why the research was conducted, what the aims were, how these were met, and what the main findings were.
You can also follow the detailed steps (with examples) mentioned in this article to write an effective title:
https://www.editage.com/insights/how-to-write-an-effective-title-and-abstract-and-choose-appropriate-keywords
An abstract, if of value to other researchers, should tell the findings of the study.
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