When writing the introduction, the first sentence should mention the core content of the paper, while the second should be its background or context of the issue.
- What problems does this study solve?
- What is the main gap in knowledge that your study intends to fill?
- Why are the results of this study important?
The conclusion is the final section of the abstract. It answers the question “So what?” This section interprets what you have found in the previous section and states the overall implications of your results. The conclusion describes what these findings mean for the long-term or the field in question. It can also contain your recommendations based on your findings.
You should dedicate about three to four sentences to your methodology section. Here, you should describe the following:
Introduction
Breaking down an abstract into its constituent parts and the composition of an abstract can best be described by the chart below:
Make sure that you are only stating the results. Interpreting it should be in the next section, where you can give the reader what the results mean and how it can affect the field of knowledge you are researching in.
A structured abstract may also help cut down on bibliographic utility expenses that academic libraries, which are common research repositories, maintain for these papers. These expenses, while small compared to their operating costs, are still remarkably high, as you can see below.
- Accurate
- Nonevaluative
- Coherent and readable
- Concise
See the Quick Lesson on Abstracts in APA Academic Writer for more information.
According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., an abstract is a "brief, comprehensive summary fo the contents of the paper" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 73). Including an abstract allows a reader to quickly assess whether the article will be of interest or fulfill a particular information need.
Generally, it is one paragraph ranging from 150 to 250 words . A well written abstract should be:
Q. I need to write an abstract. What is that? How do I do it? Where do I put it in my paper?
This is the abstract, or summary, of your entire paper. It is usually no longer than 250 words in length. You should choose your words carefully so that the abstract does not get too long. Notice that there is no indentation in the abstract. It is one paragraph and the left margin is flush and the right margin is ragged (not justified). The abstract is written in the past tense and should include general overview of the paper you wrote. It also should include any major hypotheses and your method(s), if applicable. Be sure to write your results in a general style, without using numbers. The abstract should end with a very brief concluding statement.
An abstract begins on its own page and is placed immediately after the cover page and before the text of the paper.
Learn how to write an abstract and how to select keywords, including how to achieve the appropriate length, content, and format.
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The abstract is the single most important paragraph in your entire paper, according to the APA Publication Manual.
Remember, although the abstract should be placed at the beginning of your paper (right after the title page), you will write the abstract last after you have completed a final draft of your paper. In order to ensure that all of your APA formatting is correct, consider consulting a copy of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content.
By following a few simple guidelines, you can create an abstract that follows the format. Done well, an abstract generates interest in your work and helps readers learn if the paper will be of interest to them.
Experimental Report Abstracts
Psychology papers such as lab reports and APA format articles also often require an abstract. In these cases as well, the abstract should include all of the major elements of your paper, including an introduction, hypothesis, methods, results, and discussion.
The purpose of your abstract is to provide a brief yet thorough overview of your paper. It should function much like your title page—it should allow the person reading it to quickly determine what your paper is all about. Your abstract is the first thing that most people will read, and it is usually what informs their decision to read the rest of your paper.
While it is sometimes overlooked or only an afterthought, an abstract is an important part of any academic or professional paper. This brief overview serves as a summary of what your paper contains, so it should succinctly and accurately represent what your paper is about and what the reader can expect to find. The abstract is a critical component of an APA-formatted paper.
First, you need to keep in mind that an abstract precedes the research paper’s body and serves as its brief annotation. Many researchers skim through paper abstracts to see whether this or that study fits their search criteria. When you conduct research, you may waste hours, if not days, of vital time reading full texts of articles. Based on the information in the abstract, a careful reader can extract the key facts about this specific study, thus making a quick decision whether to read it on or not.
- The abstract typically starts with a context description and a brief account of the study phenomenon’s background.
- Then come the topic and objective of the study.
- It’s good to include the central research question in the abstract
- If space allows, make sure to give a brief account of previous research on your subject so that the reader understands what is known and not known about it, what gaps researchers point out, what urgency the issue represents, etc.
- Research methodology, data collection, and analysis methods
- Key findings derived from the study
- Implications of your findings and recommendations for improving the situation/solving an issue.
Sample #3 Efficiency of self-monitoring blood pressure apps for patients with uncontrolled hypertension
Sample #2 Arabic language acquisition through role-playing in Saudi kindergartens
Contents of an abstract
Those still unsure about how to write an abstract for a scientific paper can look at the following examples and try to create their abstracts.
As your abstract is typically small (most academic institutions and scholarly journals put a cap of 250 words), every word in this section counts. So, choosing the correct language and formulating your ideas concisely is of strategic importance. Are you wondering how to write an effective abstract for a research paper? Here are some pro tips for structuring your abstract so that it gives maximum value to the readers.
As soon as you receive an assignment to write a research paper, there will be an Abstract required in most cases. So, what is an abstract, and how to write an abstract for a research paper? This article will guide you through all ins and outs of high-quality abstract completion.
It is a 100- to 200-word paragraph that gives your readers a quick and extensive overview of your paper and its organization. A research paper abstract expresses your thesis and the most crucial points that you wish your reader to be informed about clearly. For a clear summary, your reader should be able to note the applications or implications of the study that you are going to discuss in your paper.
- Start with a brief but precise statement of the problem.
- Have a description of the research method and design
- Give your significant findings.
- The conclusions reached
It comprises the final 1-2 sentences of your abstract, which give the overall take-home message of your research.
An abstract is essential because people head to it to learn about your findings. Maximize the amount of information that you include here.
Definition of an Abstract
Abstract example: “The importance of drinking water – hydration – in keeping the body fit, tissues and muscles strengthened and preventing diseases.”
Example: “This article looks at the political, economic, and cultural forces that contribute to illegal immigration to the US. The causes for immigration are explored, and the connection between these problems US immigration policies analyzed.”
How to write an abstract for a research paper is a question that gets many students’ and researchers’ minds up and working. The vital role of quickly explaining your study in a concise and precise manner is made possible by an abstract. Your supervisor or editor will have the urge to read further as a result of this critical section of an essay. Unlike in the era of paper manuscripts, a compelling and captivating abstract is what you need in this digital age.