Understand the Purpose of the Abstract
The abstract provides a concise summary of your research paper, including the research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, and conclusions. It should be a standalone section that allows readers to quickly understand the purpose and key findings of your study.
2. Follow the APA 7th Edition Formatting Guidelines
Length: The abstract should be between 150-250 words.
Placement: The abstract appears on its own page, immediately after the title page and before the main text of the paper.
Title: Center the word “Abstract” in bold at the top of the page.
No Indentation: The abstract is written in a single paragraph with no indentation!!!!
3. Write a Clear and Concise Summary
Begin with the Research Topic: Start by stating the topic of your research. This should include the main focus or purpose of your study.
Example: “This study explores the relationship between social media use and anxiety in adolescents.”
Include Research Questions or Hypotheses: Briefly mention the research questions or hypotheses that guided your study.
Example: “The primary hypothesis was that increased social media use would correlate with higher levels of anxiety.”
Describe the Participants: Mention the number of participants and relevant characteristics (e.g., age, gender, demographic information).
Example: “The study included 200 adolescents aged 13-18 from urban high schools.”
Summarize the Methods: Provide a brief overview of the research design, methods, and procedures.
Example: “Participants completed online surveys assessing their social media usage and anxiety levels.”
Report the Key Results: Highlight the most important findings, focusing on those that directly address your research questions or hypotheses. Avoid detailed statistics; focus on the main outcome.
Example: “Results indicated a significant positive correlation between time spent on social media and self-reported anxiety levels.”
State the Conclusions: Conclude with the implications of your findings, and if applicable, mention any recommendations or future research directions.
Example: “The findings suggest a need for interventions aimed at reducing social media use among adolescents to mitigate anxiety.”
4. Avoid Common Pitfalls
Avoid Excessive Detail: Keep it concise. Do not include unnecessary details, such as minor procedural steps or extensive background information.
Use Clear and Direct Language: Write in a straightforward, objective manner. Avoid jargon or overly complex sentences.
5. Review and Revise
Check for Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure that the abstract is easy to understand and that each sentence serves a clear purpose.
Proofread: Check for grammatical errors, typos, and adherence to APA formatting.
Get Feedback: If possible, have someone else read your abstract to ensure it is clear and informative.
6. Final Steps
Final Formatting: Ensure that the abstract is properly formatted according to APA guidelines.
Add Keywords: After the abstract, include a list of 3-5 keywords that represent the main topics of your paper. These should be indented and italicized.
Example: Keywords: social media, anxiety, adolescents, mental health