SECTIONS OF AN ABSTRACT

Although some journals still publish abstracts that are written as free-flowing paragraphs, most journals require abstracts to conform to a formal structure within a word count of, usually, 200–250 words.

The usual sections defined in a structured abstract are the Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136027/

Dear Sabah,

At most times, in an abstract I include the introduction of topic, objectives, methodology, findings and implications of the study.

Best Wishes

SECTIONS OF AN ABSTRACT

Although some journals still publish abstracts that are written as free-flowing paragraphs, most journals require abstracts to conform to a formal structure within a word count of, usually, 200–250 words.

The usual sections defined in a structured abstract are the Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136027/

Dear Malini,

 I have found the following files useful. Please check them out.

http://www.uky.edu/academy/sites/www.uky.edu.academy/files/How%20to%20Write%20Research%20Abstract.pdf

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/presentations_abstracts.html

http://orsp.umich.edu/research-proposals-abstract-or-summary

HOW TO WRITE AN ABSTRACT: Tips and Samples

Leah Carroll, Ph.D., Director, Office of Undergraduate Research, university of Berkeley 

An abstract is a short summary of your completed research. If done well, it makes the reader want to learn more about your research.

These are the basic components of an abstract in any discipline:

1) Motivation/problem statement:Why do we care about the problem? What practical, scientific, theoretical or artistic gap is your research filling?

2) Methods/procedure/approach:What did you actually do to get your results?

3) Results/findings/product: As a result of completing the above procedure, what did you learn/invent/create?

4) Conclusion/implications: What are the larger implications of your findings, especially for the problem/gap identified in step 1?

Thanks for sharing.

I agree with the views of the colleagues. In my opinion, an abstract without, at least, aim, methodology and results does not serve its purpose, that is, to provide the reader with an idea of the work, especially experimental.

For purery review works, the situation may be different. For example, methodology may be omitted, as not necessary.

Regards

The abstract is the 'face' of any research paper. It should not be too long and boring. It should be short and reveal all important aspects of the paper. After reading abstract, one should be able to decide whether it is worthwhile to go forward or not. Title of the paper should also be composed properly to attract attention of the researchers working on same or similar problems.

Research is essentially a systematic enquiry, seeking facts through objective verifiable methods in order to discover the relationship amongst them and deduce from them to broad principles or laws. It is really a method of critical thinking. It comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis, and collecting data, organizing data, evaluating data, making deductions and making conclusions, after all suggestions are given to solve the problem at last carefully testing the hypothesis to determine whether they are fit to the make generalization.

Any good research can be carried out by following points:-

1. Background study of the topic:

Why is this research important?

What other studies have there been in this area?

How will this research add to knowledge in this area?

What do you want to find out?

What is the main question you wish to answer?

What are the specific questions you will focus to address the main question?

2. How you will do (Research Design):

To whom you are targeting in this research?

How many people or case files do you intend to interview or read through?

Where will the research take place?

Will participants be clearly and fully informed of the purpose of the research study?

How will you do this?

How will participants be clear about the expectations of the researcher?

3. Timetable:

When will your research start and finish?

Are there particular stages to the research - e.g. piloting, then main research?

Is the timetable realistic?

Is it influenced by external constraints or deadlines?

4. Methodology:

How will you provide regular updates and progress reports?

What sort of data will you be collecting - e.g. are you intending to survey or talk to people directly, using published data or a mixture of the two?

What is the main method you will use to carry out the research - e.g. questionnaire, face-to-face interviews, focus groups, paper reviews etc.?

How will you select your sample?

How will you collect your data?

Is there any potential risk or harm to participants or yourself?

If so, what are the potential risks and what do you intend to do to reduce them?

What are the elements of "abstract" (of a research paper)?

Agreed with other researchers / scholars' comments on items to be included in an abstract.  Different journals have different requirements for authors to comply on the abstract e.g. some are free text from 200 to 500 words whereas some e.g. Emerald publisher etc. have their unique format i.e. required authors to fill up the following sections: 1) Purpose, 2) Design / methodology / approach, 3) Findings, 4) Research limitations / implications, 5) Practical implication & 6) Originality / value.  For those free text abstract with words constraint, think minimally it should include the following:

Give a complete, but concise description of your work. Keep in mind that you want to attract readers, to entice them to read your entire text. You want to sell your work. Impoertant oints: motivation (Why?); problem statement (What?); approach and method (How?); results and conclusions (what are the answers?). Stick to the word count, be precise and affirmative, use keywords.

What are the elements of "abstract" (of a research paper)?

Dear Sabah,

Agree with the previous colleagues. The elements are clearly described in their descriptions. Besides what are the definition, its elements, and the functions of an abstract, the "how to write" point it is also essential here. As the points are mentioned by some colleagues, it is depend on the journal requirements.

In addition, you can also write abstract by considering the keywords in respect of the retrieval method of the manuscript in the publisher database. One of the techniques is by keeping similarity between the title, abstract, and the keyword parts of the paper. It is important since the retrieval method is performed by using the keywords. At the end, this may useful for increasing the paper readership.

May help,

Many journals have number of words limit. Hence every thing can not be included. Abstract is like FIR of an article

Dear Sabah,

Abstract of a research paper is typically a short summary of the complete research paper. If done well, it makes the reader interested to learn more about the research. Typical abstract of a research paper should provide information on the following points:

• Reason for conducting the research/study
• Materials and methods used for conducting the research
• Findings of the research/study
• Importance/significance of the findings
• Novelty of the research reported 

If the abstract is to be published in a journal, size/word limit fixed by the journal need to be strictly followed. Five to 10 words or phrases that are key to the research/study should be included in the abstract.

Dear,

Abstract is the important part of the research paper. It is often the last item that you write, but the first thing people read when they want to have a quick overview of the whole paper. In order to write the effective abstract, use one well-developed paragraph that is coherent and concise; and cover all the essential academic elements of the full paper, viz. the background, purpose, research methods, results and conclusions with in given word limits.

Dear Sabah, 

I believe that an abstarct is a mini paper. As such, it should include introduction, methods, results and discussion. And the major difference is that only the most important details are usually written in the abstract. That is, more details of the study are found in the body of the study. 

In my humble opinion, the hypothesis doesn't need to be included in the abstract. However, it must be stated in the body of the research and it is usually written at the end of introduction. 

In general, you may begin your abstarct with a general statement that tells why the study was done. Next, include the population and important information about the population and the methods. The methods can be followed by the most important findings / discussion of the study. The minor findings can be left to the body of the paper. 

Peace, 

Karwan 

.

About the coverage of abstract:

1. Broad objectives

2. A line on about data and methods used to test the hypotheses

3. Main results

4. A line on how this study is useful

5. Must be complete up to 150 words, depends on journal to journal.

Abstract should be written in a manner so that a reader develops his interest in the detailed study or article. 

Only 1. and 2. from your list should be in an abstract. Keep it as broad as possible, you can mention why it is important (context) and summarize the essence of your study but, above all, leave your conclusions for the conclusion part (unless your journal or respective authority/advisor requires otherwise explicitly).

The abstract is a very concise summary of a research study. It usually includes a background idea related to the problem, the main question or the general objetive, the methodology and the main results. You could also add the main conclusion of your study.

Actually the elements in your list are valid for a summary. Note that some articles only have a summary which tends to be longer than an abstract, thus permitting for theoretical framework, methods and conclusions to be included.

Here is one short explanation where it is claimed that

the informative abstract is the equivalent of the summary

while the descriptive abstract is the short abstract

http://www.uis.edu/ctl/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2013/03/smreabs.pdf 

Hello actually your list is the which always followed in most of the journals. For me summarization can also be included to be precise. The theoretical framework is not necessary.

Qué elementos colocamos en el abstract, dependerá de lo que queremos comunicar. Básicamente si es un producto de investigación, es un ensayo, o una relatoría de experiencia. En caso de presentar un artículo científico, se colocará el objetivo de la investigación que es soporte de ese artículo, la premisa de la cual se parte, (hipótesis si la hubiere), los métodos (dependiendo de la disciplina: los materiales), referencia a la teoría sobre la que se reflexiona, hallazgo fundamental y conclusión. Todo esto descrito en 250 a 300 palabras.

Al presentar el resumen es necesario considerar, además de los elementos ya señalados en las otras respuestas, que éste debe ser: a) preciso: que refleje de manera correcta el objetivo del manuscrito; b) completo: no omita información de métodos y materiales utilizados y defina todas las abreviaturas; c) conciso y específico: haga que cada oración sea explicita en sí misma; d) coherente: escriba en prosa clara, utilice verbos, más que sustantivos.

An academic abstract is a short summary of a research article, thesis, conference paper, etc. The abstract always stands at the beginning of the paper. An academic abstract usually contains the following key elements relevant to the research article: focus of the research (aims and objectives); research (working) method/methodology; main findings of the research; conclusions. It also should include the main keywords, relevant to the research. The length of the abstract varies according to the specific publisher requirements and the respective scientific area and typically ranges from 100 to 500 words.