Abstract of a ResearchFERDINAND C. IMPORTADO CPA, MBA

Definition of abstracts

Comes from the Latin abstractum

Condensed form of a longer piece of writing.

It summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 200 – 300 words or less, the major aspects of the

entire (research) paper

Uses or importance of abstractsSelection

• Allows readers to quickly decide whether it is relevant to their purposes and whether they need to read the whole paper

Indexing

• Enable searches in abstracts• Allows for quick retrieval by

users• Incorporates the key terms

that a potential researcher would use to search

Reasons for writing abstractsSubmission of articles to journals

Application for research grants

Completion and submission of theses

Submission of proposals for conference papers

Parts or sections of an abstractReason for

writing Problem Methodology

Results Implications

Types of abstracts

Critical Descriptive

Informative Highlight

Critical abstract

Describes the main findings

and information

Judgement or comment

about the study’s validity,

reliability, or completenes

s

Evaluates the paper and

often compares it with other

works on the same subject

Generally 400-500 words in

length due to the

additional interpretive commentary

Descriptive abstract

Usually very short, 100 words or less

Incorporate key words found in the text and may include the purpose, methods, and scope of the research

Makes no judgments about the work, nor does it provide results or conclusions of the research

Indicates the type of information found in the work

Informative abstractActs as a surrogate for the work itself

Presents and explains all the main arguments and the important results and evidence in the paper

Includes the information that can be found in a descriptive abstract as well as the results and conclusions of the research and the recommendations of the author

Usually no more than 300 words in length

Highlight abstractWritten to attract the reader’s attention to the study

No pretence is made of there being either a balanced or complete picture of the paper

Cannot stand independent of its associated article

Rarely used in academic writing

How to write an abstract

Re-read all the sections of the

paper

Pick up major points from each section

Check word length for

each major point

Edit for flow and cohesion

Qualities of a good abstractCoherent, concise, and independent with good

transition

Covers all of the parts or sections of a

research or paper in a chronological order

Contains information only included in the

paper

Written in plain English understandable by the majority of the readers

Focuses on issues rather than people

ReferencesSource Web address

University of Adelaidehttps://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/learningGuide_writingAnAbstract.pdf

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

University of Melbournehttp://services.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/471274/Writing_an_Abstract_Update_051112.pdf

University of Southern California http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/abstract