descriptive research abstract

Writing Center

Two types of abstracts, abstract style.

• State your point once in a straightforward manner and move on.
• Format your abstract into clear, distinct paragraphs—although, often, only one paragraph is needed.
• Follow a logical order that mirrors that of your original document.
• Include only information or ideas found in the longer work; don’t introduce new information.
• Remove unnecessary adjectives (such as “very”) and unnecessary phrases (like “due to the fact that.”)
• Write in full sentences. It’s tempting to save words by omitting nouns ( Ex. “Found that dolphins communicate through movement”) but stick to full sentences ( Ex. “Researchers found that dolphins communicate through movement.”)

Abstracts for Texas A&M Theses and Dissertations

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An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper in a prescribed sequence that includes: 1) the overall purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated; 2) the basic design of the study; 3) major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis; and, 4) a brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions.

Writing an Abstract. The Writing Center. Clarion University, 2009; Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper. The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Koltay, Tibor. Abstracts and Abstracting: A Genre and Set of Skills for the Twenty-first Century . Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing, 2010;

Importance of a Good Abstract

Sometimes your professor will ask you to include an abstract, or general summary of your work, with your research paper. The abstract allows you to elaborate upon each major aspect of the paper and helps readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the paper. Therefore, enough key information [e.g., summary results, observations, trends, etc.] must be included to make the abstract useful to someone who may want to examine your work.

How do you know when you have enough information in your abstract? A simple rule-of-thumb is to imagine that you are another researcher doing a similar study. Then ask yourself: if your abstract was the only part of the paper you could access, would you be happy with the amount of information presented there? Does it tell the whole story about your study? If the answer is "no" then the abstract likely needs to be revised.

Farkas, David K. “A Scheme for Understanding and Writing Summaries.” Technical Communication 67 (August 2020): 45-60;  How to Write a Research Abstract. Office of Undergraduate Research. University of Kentucky; Staiger, David L. “What Today’s Students Need to Know about Writing Abstracts.” International Journal of Business Communication January 3 (1966): 29-33; Swales, John M. and Christine B. Feak. Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts . Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2009.

Structure and Writing Style

I.  Types of Abstracts

To begin, you need to determine which type of abstract you should include with your paper. There are four general types.

Critical Abstract A critical abstract provides, in addition to describing main findings and information, a judgment or comment about the study’s validity, reliability, or completeness. The researcher evaluates the paper and often compares it with other works on the same subject. Critical abstracts are generally 400-500 words in length due to the additional interpretive commentary. These types of abstracts are used infrequently.

Descriptive Abstract A descriptive abstract indicates the type of information found in the work. It makes no judgments about the work, nor does it provide results or conclusions of the research. It does incorporate key words found in the text and may include the purpose, methods, and scope of the research. Essentially, the descriptive abstract only describes the work being summarized. Some researchers consider it an outline of the work, rather than a summary. Descriptive abstracts are usually very short, 100 words or less. Informative Abstract The majority of abstracts are informative. While they still do not critique or evaluate a work, they do more than describe it. A good informative abstract acts as a surrogate for the work itself. That is, the researcher presents and explains all the main arguments and the important results and evidence in the paper. An informative abstract includes the information that can be found in a descriptive abstract [purpose, methods, scope] but it also includes the results and conclusions of the research and the recommendations of the author. The length varies according to discipline, but an informative abstract is usually no more than 300 words in length.

Highlight Abstract A highlight abstract is specifically written to attract the reader’s attention to the study. No pretense is made of there being either a balanced or complete picture of the paper and, in fact, incomplete and leading remarks may be used to spark the reader’s interest. In that a highlight abstract cannot stand independent of its associated article, it is not a true abstract and, therefore, rarely used in academic writing.

II.  Writing Style

Use the active voice when possible , but note that much of your abstract may require passive sentence constructions. Regardless, write your abstract using concise, but complete, sentences. Get to the point quickly and always use the past tense because you are reporting on a study that has been completed.

Abstracts should be formatted as a single paragraph in a block format and with no paragraph indentations. In most cases, the abstract page immediately follows the title page. Do not number the page. Rules set forth in writing manual vary but, in general, you should center the word "Abstract" at the top of the page with double spacing between the heading and the abstract. The final sentences of an abstract concisely summarize your study’s conclusions, implications, or applications to practice and, if appropriate, can be followed by a statement about the need for additional research revealed from the findings.

Composing Your Abstract

Although it is the first section of your paper, the abstract should be written last since it will summarize the contents of your entire paper. A good strategy to begin composing your abstract is to take whole sentences or key phrases from each section of the paper and put them in a sequence that summarizes the contents. Then revise or add phrases or words to make the narrative flow clearly and smoothly. A useful strategy is to avoid using conjunctions [ e.g. and, but, if] that connect long clauses or sentences and, instead, write short, concise sentences . Note that statistical findings should be reported parenthetically [i.e., written in parentheses].

Before handing in your final paper, check to make sure that the information in the abstract completely agrees with what you have written in the paper. Think of the abstract as a sequential set of complete sentences describing the most crucial information using the fewest necessary words. The abstract SHOULD NOT contain:

• A catchy introductory phrase, provocative quote, or other device to grab the reader's attention,
• Lengthy background or contextual information,
• Redundant phrases, unnecessary adverbs and adjectives, and repetitive information;
• Acronyms or abbreviations,
• References to other literature [say something like, "current research shows that..." or "studies have indicated..."],
• Using ellipticals [i.e., ending with "..."] or incomplete sentences,
• Jargon or terms that may be confusing to the reader,
• Citations to other works, and
• Any sort of image, illustration, figure, or table, or references to them.

Abstract. Writing Center. University of Kansas; Abstract. The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper. Department of Biology. Bates College; Abstracts. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Borko, Harold and Seymour Chatman. "Criteria for Acceptable Abstracts: A Survey of Abstracters' Instructions." American Documentation 14 (April 1963): 149-160; Abstracts. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Hartley, James and Lucy Betts. "Common Weaknesses in Traditional Abstracts in the Social Sciences." Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 60 (October 2009): 2010-2018; Koltay, Tibor. Abstracts and Abstracting: A Genre and Set of Skills for the Twenty-first Century. Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing, 2010; Procter, Margaret. The Abstract. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Riordan, Laura. “Mastering the Art of Abstracts.” The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 115 (January 2015 ): 41-47; Writing Report Abstracts. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Abstracts. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University; Koltay, Tibor. Abstracts and Abstracting: A Genre and Set of Skills for the Twenty-First Century . Oxford, UK: 2010; Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper. The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Writing Tip

Never Cite Just the Abstract!

Citing to just a journal article's abstract does not confirm for the reader that you have conducted a thorough or reliable review of the literature. If the full-text is not available, go to the USC Libraries main page and enter the title of the article [NOT the title of the journal]. If the Libraries have a subscription to the journal, the article should appear with a link to the full-text or to the journal publisher page where you can get the article. If the article does not appear, try searching Google Scholar using the link on the USC Libraries main page [scroll down under the heading Quick Links]. If you still can't find the article after doing this, contact a librarian or you can request it from our free i nterlibrary loan and document delivery service .

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Writing an abstract - a six point checklist (with samples)

Posted in: abstract , dissertations

The abstract is a vital part of any research paper. It is the shop front for your work, and the first stop for your reader. It should provide a clear and succinct summary of your study, and encourage your readers to read more. An effective abstract, therefore should answer the following questions:

• Why did you do this study or project?
• What did you do and how?
• What did you find?
• What do your findings mean?

So here's our run down of the key elements of a well-written abstract.

• Size - A succinct and well written abstract should be between approximately 100- 250 words.
• Background - An effective abstract usually includes some scene-setting information which might include what is already known about the subject, related to the paper in question (a few short sentences).
• Purpose  - The abstract should also set out the purpose of your research, in other words, what is not known about the subject and hence what the study intended to examine (or what the paper seeks to present).
• Methods - The methods section should contain enough information to enable the reader to understand what was done, and how. It should include brief details of the research design, sample size, duration of study, and so on.
• Results - The results section is the most important part of the abstract. This is because readers who skim an abstract do so to learn about the findings of the study. The results section should therefore contain as much detail about the findings as the journal word count permits.
• Conclusion - This section should contain the most important take-home message of the study, expressed in a few precisely worded sentences. Usually, the finding highlighted here relates to the primary outcomes of the study. However, other important or unexpected findings should also be mentioned. It is also customary, but not essential, to express an opinion about the theoretical or practical implications of the findings, or the importance of their findings for the field. Thus, the conclusions may contain three elements:
• The primary take-home message.
• Any additional findings of importance.
• Implications for future studies.

Example Abstract 2: Engineering Development and validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the pelvic bone.

Abstract from: Dalstra, M., Huiskes, R. and Van Erning, L., 1995. Development and validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the pelvic bone. Journal of biomechanical engineering, 117(3), pp.272-278.

And finally...  A word on abstract types and styles

Abstract types can differ according to subject discipline. You need to determine therefore which type of abstract you should include with your paper. Here are two of the most common types with examples.

Informative Abstract

The majority of abstracts are informative. While they still do not critique or evaluate a work, they do more than describe it. A good informative abstract acts as a surrogate for the work itself. That is, the researcher presents and explains all the main arguments and the important results and evidence in the paper. An informative abstract includes the information that can be found in a descriptive abstract [purpose, methods, scope] but it also includes the results and conclusions of the research and the recommendations of the author. The length varies according to discipline, but an informative abstract is usually no more than 300 words in length.

Descriptive Abstract A descriptive abstract indicates the type of information found in the work. It makes no judgements about the work, nor does it provide results or conclusions of the research. It does incorporate key words found in the text and may include the purpose, methods, and scope of the research. Essentially, the descriptive abstract only describes the work being summarised. Some researchers consider it an outline of the work, rather than a summary. Descriptive abstracts are usually very short, 100 words or less.

Adapted from Andrade C. How to write a good abstract for a scientific paper or conference presentation. Indian J Psychiatry. 2011 Apr;53(2):172-5. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.82558. PMID: 21772657; PMCID: PMC3136027 .

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Descriptive Abstracts: A Complete Guide to Crafting Effective Summaries in Research Writing

Introduction.

In the world of academic writing, abstracts play a crucial role in summarizing the main points of a research paper or article. They provide a concise overview of the study, allowing readers to quickly grasp the key findings and determine if the content is relevant to their interests. While there are different types of research abstracts , one that stands out is the descriptive abstract.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the meaning of descriptive abstracts, their examples, and their importance in academic writing. We will also provide valuable tips on how to write an effective descriptive abstract and highlight common mistakes to avoid. By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of what a descriptive abstract is and how to craft one that captures the essence of your research or article.

What is a Descriptive Abstract?

A descriptive abstract is a concise summary of a larger work, such as a research paper or thesis. It provides readers with a brief overview of the main points and findings of the original work. Unlike an informative abstract, which includes specific details and results, a descriptive abstract focuses on summarizing the content and scope of the work. Descriptive abstracts are typically shorter than informative abstracts, usually around 150 words or less. They are commonly used in humanities and social science papers, as well as psychology essays. The purpose of a descriptive abstract is to give readers a general understanding of the work without going into too much detail.

Examples of Descriptive Abstracts

Example 1: A descriptive abstract for a research paper on climate change:

This research paper examines the impact of climate change on coastal communities. The study analyzes data from various sources to assess the vulnerability of these communities to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and erosion. The findings highlight the need for adaptation strategies and policy interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on coastal areas.

Example 2: A descriptive abstract for a literature review on gender inequality:

This literature review explores the issue of gender inequality in the workplace. It examines existing research on the gender pay gap, glass ceiling effect, and gender discrimination in hiring and promotion practices. The review identifies key factors contributing to gender inequality and proposes recommendations for addressing these issues. The findings emphasize the importance of creating inclusive and equitable work environments for all individuals, regardless of gender.

Example 3: A descriptive abstract for a historical analysis of the American Civil War:

This historical analysis examines the causes and consequences of the American Civil War. It provides an overview of the political, economic, and social factors that led to the conflict, as well as the major events and outcomes of the war. The analysis highlights the significance of the Civil War in shaping the course of American history and its lasting impact on the nation’s identity and institutions.

The Importance of Descriptive Abstracts

Descriptive abstracts play a crucial role in academic and research writing. They provide readers with a concise overview of the content, allowing them to quickly determine if the work is relevant to their interests or research needs.

Saving Time For Readers

One of the key benefits of descriptive abstracts is that they save time for readers. Instead of having to read through the entire paper or article, readers can simply skim the abstract to get a sense of the main points and findings. This is particularly useful when conducting literature reviews or searching for specific information.

Assisting Researchers and Scholars In Organizing Their Work

Moreover, descriptive abstracts help researchers and scholars in organizing their own work. By summarizing the scope, topic, and key questions of a paper, abstracts serve as a roadmap for the author, ensuring that the main ideas are clear and well-defined. This can be especially helpful when writing longer research papers, theses or dissertations .

Facilitating the Dissemination of Knowledge

In addition, descriptive abstracts contribute to the dissemination of knowledge. They provide a condensed version of the work, making it accessible to a wider audience. This is particularly important in fields where research papers can be highly technical or specialized. Abstracts allow researchers to share their findings with others who may not have the expertise to understand the full paper.

Act As a Marketing Tool

Furthermore, descriptive abstracts can also serve as a marketing tool. When submitting a paper to a conference or journal, the abstract is often the first thing reviewers and editors read. A well-written abstract can generate interest and convince them to read the full paper. It acts as a teaser, highlighting the significance and relevance of the research.

Handy Tips: How to Write an Effective Descriptive Abstract?

To write an effective descriptive abstract, it is important to follow a few key steps. These steps will help you create a clear and concise summary of your work that accurately represents its content and purpose.

1. Identify the key questions and objectives of your research: Before you start writing your abstract, take some time to identify the main questions and objectives of your research . This will help you focus on the most important aspects of your work and ensure that your abstract provides a comprehensive overview.

2. Provide concise and clear information: A descriptive abstract should provide a brief summary of the main themes or questions addressed in your work. It should be concise and clear, avoiding unnecessary details or jargon. Use simple and straightforward language to ensure that your abstract is easily understandable.

3. Include relevant keywords: Keywords are important for indexing and searching purposes. Include a list of key words that are relevant to your research topic . These keywords will help readers find your work when searching for related content.

4. Use a coherent and logical structure: Structure your abstract in a coherent and logical manner. Start with a clear introduction that provides context and background information. Then, outline the main themes or questions addressed in your work. Finally, provide a brief conclusion that summarizes your findings.

5. Keep it concise : Remember that an abstract is a summary, not a detailed explanation of your work. Keep it concise and focus on the most important aspects. Aim for a length of around 150-250 words, depending on the requirements of the journal or conference you are submitting to.

6. Proofread and revise: Once you have written your abstract, take the time to proofread and revise it. Check for any grammatical or spelling errors, and ensure that the content is clear and coherent. Ask a colleague or mentor to review your abstract and provide feedback if possible.

By following these steps, you can write an effective descriptive abstract that accurately represents your work and attracts the attention of readers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Writing Descriptive Abstracts

Vague and imprecise language.

One of the most common mistakes researchers make in their descriptive abstracts is being too vague or imprecise. The purpose of a descriptive abstract is to provide a clear and concise summary of the work being summarized. Therefore, it is important to avoid using ambiguous language or general statements that do not provide specific information.

Including Unnecessary Details

Another mistake to avoid is including unnecessary details in the descriptive abstract. Since descriptive abstracts are usually very short, around 100 words or less, it is crucial to focus on the main themes or questions of the work and avoid including excessive information that is not directly relevant to the summary. Using jargon and technical terms that may not be familiar to the readers is also a common mistake in descriptive abstracts. The purpose of an abstract is to provide a brief overview of the work to a wide audience, including those who may not have expertise in the specific field. Therefore, it is important to use clear and accessible language that can be easily understood by a general audience.

Incomplete Abstracts

Incomplete abstracts are another common mistake to avoid. An abstract should provide a comprehensive summary of the work, including the main findings, methodology , and conclusions . Leaving out important information or omitting key aspects of the work can lead to a lack of clarity and understanding for the readers.

Withholding Main Points

Lastly, one of the mistakes to avoid in descriptive abstracts is withholding main points. The abstract should clearly state the main points or contributions of the work being summarized. Failing to do so can leave the readers confused about the significance and relevance of the work.

Descriptive abstracts play a crucial role in academic and scientific writing. They provide a concise summary of the main points and findings of a research paper, allowing readers to quickly determine if the paper is relevant to their interests. By following the guidelines and tips provided in this guide, you can write effective and compelling descriptive abstracts that capture the essence of your research.

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Writing Documents for Classes

Descriptive abstracts.

A descriptive abstract—a summary of someone else’s paper or book—is often required by professors to give you practice in summarizing and responding to sources. Writing a descriptive abstract can be especially trying if you feel as though you are reading material over your head; however, if you understand the goals of a descriptive abstract correctly you can read and write in such a way that the author’s ideas are simplified while being represented fairly.

Style for Descriptive Abstracts

In many courses, a professor will set forth specific guidelines for both form and content of a descriptive abstract. In the absence of such guidelines or to supplement them, follow this advice:

• Include a title and the word “Abstract” as a heading. Include basic bibliographic information about the source after the title (author’s name, title of work, etc.).
• Frequently, a list of key words that will be used appears just underneath the title of the abstract. Consider listing your key words in this way.
• Many professors will expect you to limit a descriptive abstract to a single page, so be certain to write with efficiency in mind—no filler.
• Begin the abstract by providing some condensed background information and a statement of overview or purpose, much like the kind of material an author provides in an introduction and a thesis statement.
• Decide on topics by selecting key information from your source. Use the chapter headings, section headings, conclusions, topic sentences, and key terms from your source to determine the topics.
• Point out relationships among topics, especially via transition words.
• Consider working from an outline to organize and write the abstract.
• Use paragraphing generously to discuss different facets of the topic; do not fear short paragraphs.
• Consider techniques such as enumeration or bulleting of key points for emphasis. However, unless the document becomes very long, you typically do not use section headings in an abstract.
• Use present tense verbs generously, both to describe ideas or events and to present the author’s goals.
• Use the author’s name or the names of other key authors, especially those who represent particular theories, directly in the text. However, you typically do not cite sources in the abstract itself; the reader understands that all of the ideas in a descriptive abstract come from a particular source unless you note otherwise.
• Do not skimp on the conclusion; assert the source’s “bottom line” information, even if that means repeating some of the author’s words.
• Some professors will expect you or allow you to close the descriptive abstract with your own views on the subject or on the author’s treatment of the subject. Explore this option as concretely you can.
• Do not use the abstract as a vehicle of apology for ideas you do not understand; stick to those key ideas that you can represent well.
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Sample Descriptive Abstract

The sample abstract that follows is a solid model written for a class in mineral policy analysis. Given the pre-determined rhetorical context, no time is wasted, and paragraphs are kept both short and detailed. Note that, in accordance with her professor’s guidelines, the writer gives her particular views on the author’s treatment of the subject at the end of her descriptive abstract. She gives a full paragraph to her commentary, even noting how the author might have calculated costs differently to achieve a different outcome. Such detail and commentary show us that the writer both understands her material and can think effectively about it.

SAMPLE DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT 

"Oil and National Security," by Darwin C. Hall, in Energy Policy (1992) v. 20, no. 11 submitted by Janet Lerner

U.S. and its allies. Oil price shocks or supply disruptions instigated by OPEC cause recessions by lowering output, raising prices, and lowering real wages. These effects are determined by applying the Granger causality tests. A benefit of a market-driven price determination system is that prices rise as depletable resources fall, implying increased scarcity. This rise in price gives an incentive to produce substitutes as well as reduce consumption of oil. There is a large divergence between the social cost of energy and the price because of environmental externalities associated with conventional energy sources. The philosophy of the administration is to rely on market prices to determine 20% of the economy’s investment. However, misplaced investments based on such a policy have implications for many years. Hall concludes that the policies reflected in the NES will result in gross economic inefficiency. I agree with Hall’s conclusion that misplaced investment in such a large part of our economy is dangerous. I believe that there should be more of an analysis concerning how varying oil prices can affect the costs associated with oil import spending. This would show how vulnerable oil import spending is relative to price changes. Although Hall mentions the opportunity cost of interest that could have been earned had the amount spent been invested, he does not attempt to quantify what that amount is. I would attempt to calculate these costs using various interest rates. I also feel that he should calculate the inventory holding cost, and I am also curious to know what the cost of oil deterioration is and if there are transportation costs involved. These additional costs could be very significant in adding to the costs that Hall has already predicted.