Why a compelling abstract is essential? Because an abstract is one of the most read sections of a paper. Many researchers decide if they want to continue reading based on the abstract.
An abstract is where you state the idea, and give reasons on why your research is compelling enough.
The purpose of a research paper abstract is to effectively transfer your idea to the readers. The more effective your communication is, the better the chances that your research will be utilized for the greater good.
To get the abstract right, you need to have an idea that is worth shareable and then clearly describe
what the problem is?
why it’s important to be researched?
what methods were used to understand it?
what were the result?
Check out this real world example
of how highly cited research paper abstracts are structured.
The problem is tightly related with the central idea. Here you identify a current state and indicate why it’s a problem. Avoid technical jargons and communicate the problem in simple terms.
Once the problem statement is clear, readers evaluate whether it’s important enough to be solved for. By connecting the problem with the “why”, you have made the “pitch” on why your research is important.
Here you mention the studies, experiments or methodologies used to understand and derive the results. For example, did you use simulation, analytic models, prototype construction, or analysis of field data? Mention that. This indicates that you have followed scientific standards of arriving at the conclusion.
Here you mention all the “relevant” findings that directly impacts your conclusion. You mention the “insights” that are core to your paper, insights that directly co-relate with your “central idea”. Avoid vague results such as “small”, or “significant.”
The more relevant and the more concrete the results, the faster the research is consumed.
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