What is a research paper abstract?

A research paper abstract is a brief summary of your study that helps readers quickly understand what your research is about. It's especially important now, with so much research being shared online.

Think of your abstract as a short preview of your paper. It should give a quick look at the main points, including the research problem, methods, results, and conclusions. Since many people first see your abstract online, it needs to grab their attention and make them want to read more.

An abstract is like a snapshot of your entire paper. It’s your chance to show what’s important and why it matters. Because many papers are reviewed online, a clear and interesting abstract can help your research stand out.

To write a good abstract, focus on explaining the main goal of your research, how you did the work, what you found, and why it’s important, all in a few short sentences. Keep it simple and clear, and make sure it summarizes the key points of your research.

Before Writing Your Abstract

How long should an abstract be?

Abstracts are meant to give a brief overview of your study, but there are two main types: descriptive and informative. Here's a quick breakdown of both:

Descriptive Abstract:
This type is usually short, around 100-200 words. It gives a general idea of what the paper is about, covering the background, purpose, and objectives of the research. However, it doesn't include results, and sometimes it leaves out methods and conclusions.

Informative Abstract:
This type is longer, ranging from a paragraph to a full page. It summarizes the entire study, including the methods, results, and conclusions. It's like a mini version of your full research paper, giving readers everything they need to understand your study without reading the entire paper.

Informative abstracts are more common than descriptive ones, especially for journal and conference submissions. They are often used for longer and more technical research in fields like science, engineering, and psychology.

On the other hand, descriptive abstracts are more commonly found in humanities and social science papers. To know which type to use, check the submission guidelines for the journal you're submitting to, and read other articles published in that journal to see which style they follow.

Research Abstract Guidelines and Requirements

When writing a research paper, it’s important to follow the guidelines and requirements provided by the journal you are submitting to. This rule also applies to conference submissions or class assignments. Each publisher has its own formatting and structure rules. Here are some common things you’ll find in the journal guidelines:

• Is there a word or character limit?

• What are the formatting and style requirements?

• What type of abstract is needed?

• Are there specific rules for content or organization?

By following these guidelines when you first submit your paper, you can avoid having your work rejected right away.

Identify Your Target Readership

The main goal of your abstract is to guide researchers to the full text of your research paper. In academic journals, abstracts help readers decide if your research is relevant to their work. They also give a quick summary of your main points. While writing your abstract, ask yourself these questions:

• Is your research aimed at other researchers in your field?

• Could your study be useful to the general public?

• Do your results include broader implications that should be mentioned in the abstract?

Outlining and Writing Your Abstract

What to include in an abstract

Your abstract should summarize all parts of your research clearly and briefly. Since it needs to do this in just a few hundred words, avoid confusing terms or vague phrases. Stick to these guidelines when writing your abstract:

• Don’t use acronyms or abbreviations; these need explanations, which take up space. Instead, explain these terms in the introduction of your paper.

• Only mention well-known people or works if you must. Avoid referring to anything outside your study.

• Do not include tables, figures, sources, or long quotes in your abstract. You will have room for those details in the main paper.

Use keywords in your abstract to focus your topic

The keywords section of your research paper is an important tool for search engines and databases. These keywords help readers find your paper when they search for related topics. Your keywords should be common terms that are highly relevant to your research and appear in your abstract. Aim to include 5 to 10 key words or short phrases that are central to your work.

For example, if you're writing a paper about obesity rates among lower-income groups in different countries, you might include keywords like “obesity,” “prevalence,” “international,” “lower-income,” and “cross-cultural.” These terms will attract a broad audience interested in your study. If you need more guidance on choosing the best keywords for your paper, check out our tips for selecting research paper keywords.

Research Paper Abstract Structure

As mentioned earlier, the abstract (especially the informative abstract) serves as a summary of your research paper. It does the same work as the long text in your paper but in a much shorter form. In fields like hard sciences and social sciences, the abstract typically includes these sections, organized in a clear way.

Each section is usually brief, just one or two sentences, but can be expanded if an idea is particularly interesting. Since the abstract is typically one paragraph, the sections should flow together smoothly. Use the following checklist to make sure your abstract covers all the necessary points.

1) State your purpose and motivation

Let’s say your research is about rabies in Brazilian squirrels. Why should people care? Begin your abstract by explaining why your study matters. Why is it important to your field and maybe even to a larger audience? What’s the goal of your research? What are you hoping to accomplish? Try to answer these questions:

• What inspired you to start this research?

• Why is your study important for your field or for the general public?

• Why should readers want to read your full article?

In short, the first part of your abstract should highlight why your research matters and how it could affect your field or the broader scientific community.

2) Explain the research problem you are addressing

After explaining why your study is important, you need to state the specific problem your research addresses. For example, with the topic “rabies in Brazilian squirrels,” the problem might be the lack of understanding about how the disease spreads among squirrels in that region. What is the missing piece your study fills in?

Although you can combine the motivation and problem sections, separating them helps with clarity. Consider these questions:

• What is your study trying to understand or solve?

• What is the focus of your research—are you looking at something broad or narrow?

• What is the main point or argument of your research?

This section should clearly explain what your study aims to resolve and how it contributes to the field.

3) Discuss your research approach

Next, explain how you tackled the research problem. In this section, you’ll go into the details of how you conducted the study. If the work is your own or from your team, share the methods you used.

If you reviewed other studies, mention that as well. Were you using experiments, case studies, or simulations? Was there a specific research model or approach you followed? Think of this section as a "behind-the-scenes" look at your research process.

Make sure to:

• Explain your research methods, the type of study, and any important variables.

• Briefly present key evidence that backs up your research.

• Highlight the main sources that helped you along the way.

This section helps readers understand how you gathered data and what methods led to your conclusions.

4) Briefly summarize your results

In this section, focus on sharing the concrete results of your study. Instead of using vague terms like "tremendous" or "small," try to include clear numbers, percentages, or figures where possible. This will make your results easier for readers to understand. Save general or qualitative statements for the conclusion. Consider these questions when writing this part:

• What specific findings did your study reveal? (e.g., trends, numbers, or connections between different factors)

• How did your results align with your hypothesis? Was your study successful?

• Did you find any surprising outcomes, or were the results mostly as expected?

This section is where you directly report your findings, so focus on clarity and accuracy.

5) State your conclusion

In this final part of your abstract, share the impact of your study’s results and any limitations. Stay focused on what your results mean specifically, not just the general topic. Are your findings likely to change the way people think about "Brazilian squirrels"? Or are the effects of your study smaller? Avoid exaggerating the importance of your work; being too bold can make others doubt your claims. Answer these questions:

• How do your results impact your field or the world at large?

• What other types of research might help address related issues?

• What additional information is needed to further expand knowledge in this area?

This section gives readers a sense of how your study fits into the bigger picture and where future research could go.

After Completing the First Draft of Your Abstract

Revise your abstract

Make sure to revise your abstract before finalizing it. Check for any spelling or grammar mistakes and ensure the format follows the required guidelines. This step helps polish your work and ensures clarity.

Get feedback from a peer

Have someone else read your abstract to see if it clearly explains your research. Choose someone familiar with research papers but not an expert in your field. Ask them to summarize the main points of your study. This will help you understand if you’ve communicated your key ideas effectively.

In addition to research peers, you might want to ask a professor or a writing center expert for feedback. Any outside perspective can help you improve how your abstract comes across.

Consider getting professional writing and proofreading

While feedback from peers is helpful to ensure your abstract is clear, it’s also a good idea to have an academic editor review it for grammar, spelling, style, and formatting issues. Even if these errors don’t affect the content, they can discourage readers from engaging with your full study. Help In Homework offers paper writing services to fix these errors and improve the clarity and impact of your work.

Additional Abstract Rules and Guidelines

Write your abstract AFTER completing your paper

Even though the abstract appears at the start of your paper, it doesn't just introduce your topic (that's what the title is for). Instead, it summarizes your entire research. Writing the abstract last helps make sure it matches the findings and points made in your paper.

Keep your content in the correct order

Questions and answers should be organized in a clear and familiar way to make the content easy to follow. It’s best if it follows the same general structure as your essay, like the typical "introduction," "body," and "conclusion" format, even if those sections aren’t perfectly separated.

Write the abstract from scratch

Since the abstract is a standalone summary, it should be written separately from the main paper. Don’t copy and paste direct quotes or rephrase sentences from the body. Instead, use fresh words and phrases to keep the abstract engaging, avoid repetition, and save space.

Don’t include too many details in the abstract

Your abstract should focus on a general overview of your study, without going into detailed explanations. You can mention key terms but avoid defining them. Aim to be specific enough to give a clear idea of your research while keeping the summary broad and concise.