How To Write An Abstract

Dr. Ruwan Ferdinando

MBBS, MSc, MD, MAAA, MA,
Adv. Dip. Psychology,
Adv. Dip. Psychological Counselling and Psychotherapy

Consultant Community Physician

Deputy Director (Training), National Institute of Health Sciences, Kalutara
 What is an Abstract
• An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis,
review, conference proceeding, or any in-depth analysis of
a particular subject or discipline
• It is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the
paper's purpose.
• An abstract acts as the point-of-entry for any given
academic paper or for academic poster .
 What does a good abstract do?
• Sparks interest in your project
• Provides a concise description of your research project
• States in a clear and simple way the main points of your
project
• Stands alone
• Targets your specific audience!
 Components of an Abstract
• Title
• Background
• Aims
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
 Title of an Abstract
• The title is clear and informative
• The title is representative of the content and breadth of the
study (not misleading)
 Background of an Abstract
• The background summarises the context for the research /
intervention
• A brief outline of the situation / issue / problem / gap / event
/ process or aspect that precipitated the project stated
 Aims of an Abstract
• The study / intervention addresses important problems; the
study / intervention is worth doing
• The aims are clear and well articulated
• SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time
bound)
 Methods of an Abstract
• The design is defined and appropriate for the research
question / intervention and plausible
• The setting, target population, sample, instruments and other
aspects of methodology mentioned
• No major ethical issues
 Results of an Abstract
• Results are stated: input / process / output / outcome
indicators used
• Results are relevant for the study / intervention
• Results are organized in a way that is easy to understand
• The amount of data presented is sufficient and appropriate
 Conclusions of an Abstract
• The conclusions are clearly stated; key points stand out
• The conclusions follow from the design, methods, and results;
justification of conclusions is well articulated
• Practical significance or theoretical implications are discussed;
guidance for future studies / interventions is offered
 Overall Assessment
• Does the abstract deal with an important health problem /
issue / concern
• Is the content of the abstract structured in the prescribed
sequence (i.e. background, aims, methods, results, and
conclusions)?
• The text is well written and easy to follow
• Is the abstract conform to the word count prescribed (less
than 300 words)?
• Is the abstract free from errors in spelling, grammar, and
punctuation?
 Overall Assessment
• Is the abstract free from references, illustrations, and
unnecessary abbreviations?
• Any part/s of the abstract that can be edited to make it more
meaningful and concise (e.g. is there unnecessary
information? is there repetition of material? are there any
long sentences that can be rewritten to make them more
concise and meaningful?)
• Can the abstract be understood without reference to any
further information?
• There is no apparent conflict of interest