What is an abstract?
An abstract is a concise summary of your research paper that highlights the key findings and implications. It is typically 250 words or less and is placed at the beginning of your paper. An abstract is important because it gives readers a quick overview of your research and helps them decide whether or not to read your full paper.
Why is it important to write a good abstract?
A good abstract is important for several reasons:
- It helps readers to quickly understand the purpose of your research, the methods you used, and the key findings.
- It allows readers to decide whether or not your research is relevant to their interests.
- It can help to improve the visibility of your paper in search engines.
How to write an effective abstract for your nursing paper
Step 1: Understand the purpose of your abstract
The first step to writing an effective abstract is to understand its purpose. Your abstract should provide a clear and concise overview of your research, including the following:
- Your research question or aim
- Your key findings
- The significance of your research
Step 2: Gather the information you need
Once you understand the purpose of your abstract, you need to gather the information you need to write it. This information includes:
- Your research question or aim
- Your key findings
- The implications of your research
You can gather this information by reviewing your research notes, data analysis results, and literature review.
Step 3: Write your abstract
Once you have gathered the information you need, you can start writing your abstract. Here are some tips for writing a strong abstract:
- Start with a strong introduction that states your research question or aim.
- Summarize your key findings in a clear and concise way.
- Discuss the implications of your research and its significance to the field of nursing.
- Conclude with a brief statement that summarizes your main points.
Tips for writing a strong abstract
Here are some additional tips for writing a strong abstract:
- Be clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not understand.
- Use active voice and strong verbs. This will make your abstract more engaging and easier to read.
- Proofread carefully for grammar and spelling errors.
Example of a strong abstract
Here is an example of a strong abstract for a nursing paper:
Background: The prevalence of obesity among children is increasing at an alarming rate. Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based obesity prevention program for elementary school students.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 elementary school students. The intervention group received a school-based obesity prevention program that included nutrition education, physical activity promotion, and parental involvement. The control group received the standard school curriculum.
Results: The intervention group had a significantly greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) than the control group. The intervention group also had a significant increase in physical activity levels and a decrease in dietary fat intake.
Conclusions: The school-based obesity prevention program was effective in reducing BMI and increasing physical activity levels in elementary school students. This program could be used to help prevent childhood obesity and its associated chronic diseases.
Conclusion
Summary of main points
An abstract is a concise summary of your research paper that highlights the key findings and implications. It is typically 250 words or less and is placed at the beginning of your paper. A good abstract is important because it helps readers to quickly understand your research and decide whether or not to read your full paper.
Restatement of the significance of your research
An effective abstract for a nursing paper should be clear, concise, and informative. It should state the research question or aim, summarize the key findings, and discuss the implications of the research for the field of nursing.
FAQs
Q. What are the different types of abstracts?
There are two main types of abstracts: informative and descriptive. Informative abstracts summarize the key findings of a research study. Descriptive abstracts provide a general overview of a research study, including the research question or aim, methods, and implications.
Q. How long should my abstract be?
Abstracts are typically 250 words or less. However, the specific length requirements may vary depending on the journal or conference to which you are submitting your paper.
Q. What should I include in my abstract?
Your abstract should include the following:
- Research question or aim: State your research question or aim in a clear and concise way.
- Methods: Briefly describe the methods you used to conduct your research.
- Key findings: Summarize your key findings in a clear and concise way.
- Implications: Discuss the implications of your research for the field of nursing.
Q. What should I avoid including in my abstract?
You should avoid including the following in your abstract:
- Background information: Your abstract should focus on the key points of your research, not on providing a detailed overview of the background literature.
- Detailed methodology: Your abstract should provide a brief overview of the methods you used, but should not include all of the details of your methodology.
- References: References are not typically included in abstracts.
Q. How can I make my abstract more engaging?
Here are some tips for making your abstract more engaging:
- Use active voice and strong verbs.
- Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not understand.
- Use clear and concise language.
- Highlight the most important findings of your research.
- Discuss the implications of your research for the field of nursing.
