An abstract written in a dissertation is a summary which is well structured and outlines the key and vital points of the research. An abstract generally covers only the topic and what the study is all about, excluding the research findings. In the case of a dissertation abstract, the research details and its results and conclusions provide a summary of the entire research project. An abstract is generally 300-500 words in length written in one paragraph.
A good abstract for a dissertation contains the following:
- The research purposes.
- The methodology of the research being used.
- The key findings and outcomes from the analysis.
- The exact implications of these findings from the study.
Purpose of the abstract
An abstract has two primary essential purposes and functions:
- To inform the reader of the research’s main idea, aim, objective and critical findings even without having them read the entire piece of the work. When the potential readers want to decide whether to read your dissertation or not, it is the abstract that everyone goes through. It mainly summarises what the research is all about and the key findings of the research t get o to deliver an overall idea of the whole study.
- The second purpose of the abstract is to inform the dissertation databases and the several search engines as the general index of the dissertations. Search engines will often use the phrases and keywords used in the abstract, and they will categorise the work and make it easy and accessible to the users whenever they search for these keywords.
Importance of a writing a good abstract
The central and primary importance is the time aspect; most people do have the time to read out the entire research dissertation, thus prefer just going through the abstract, which summarises the whole piece of work. In order to have good abstract writing, agencies like dissertation writing services uk can be approached by students, researchers and scholars. A good abstract helps the reader with a summary of the complete work and lets them decide whether to go for the entire research piece or not. Even researchers going through other research in the relevant field will have to get through many readings. If one goes through all the literature reviews, they will always opt for reading the abstract to save vital time.
Even for markers, it’s very impactful. They are always looking to assess your abilities to summarise and concise your work. Thus, it is vital to invest effort and time in creating and crafting an exciting and enticing piece of the abstract.
Even for graduate students going for interviews, the employers will assess your abilities and expertise by reading through your abstract. Thus, it also highlights the expertise which lies in you and is also significant to professional accomplishments. Readers will always judge the book by its cover, whether good or bad. Thus, having a good dissertation abstract is a must.
How to write a dissertation abstract
A dissertation abstract consists of four main sections: the purpose, methodology, key findings, and implications. The structure of the abstract of a dissertation also contains the same.
Step 1: Describe the value and purpose of the research
One should clearly and briefly explain the importance and meaning of the study first. One needs to clearly and concisely explain why the research is essential and what the research is set out to discover. One should clearly state the purpose of the study by:
- What are the research questions and research aim?
- Why are these questions and dreams important?
It is imperative to make this section extremely brief, clear and convincing. Remember, this is the opening section of the abstract, and it has to be exciting and attractive and should hook the readers or the marker and make them interested in the project. Otherwise, people will lose interest in reading through it. An abstract in dissertation help in delivering the summarized version of the entire research.
Step 2: Outline the research methodology
This section needs to clearly state what research designs and methodologies were being adopted in the research process. This section answers the “how” of your research. Some of the crucial questions to be addressed in this section are:
- Which approach was adopted in the process, whether qualitative or quantitative?
- What and who were your samples comprised of?
- How was the data collected?
- How was the data analysed?
This section should never be lengthy, but it should essentially answer these questions.
Step 3: Presenting the vital critical findings of the research
In this section, one must state and highlight the key findings from the research. This section answers the original questions that the study had been set out to address. Never mention all findings data as it can be huge; just state the essential findings only. Be extremely concise to present the results for the readers to understand, and high clarity is the key here.
Step 4: Describe the exact implications of the findings of the research
In this section, you have to mention the several impacts the critical results of your study will have in existing relevant fields or elsewhere in reality. This section highlights the “so what?” question of the survey. Some of the questions should be addressed in this section:
- What is its impact on the existing field and body of knowledge?
- What is the actual effect on the real world of the findings from the research?
- How will future research be affected by these findings in the relevant field?
This section highlights the extreme value of the research in reality. To make up an excellent, effective dissertation abstract, one should include all the answers to these questions.
Practical tips for writing a good abstract for a dissertation
While crafting the dissertation abstract, always assume the reader is not an expert but an intelligent layman. The most powerful technique one can use here is to think from the readers’ perspective. Always start by trying to answer why they should read this dissertation or why they should read it as a reader. Ensure the terms WWHS which mean what, why, how, and what questions of the research in your abstract.
- What have you studied?
- Why exactly topic was the important?
- How was the study designed?
- What are the essential findings and implications of the research?
Keep it very simple:
Never use big words or complex terminology and jargon that confuse the reader and cover the actual meaning with overload. One should make their writings easy to digest and understand. A good abstract should attract all vessels of readers and will always be easy to read.
Be very specific:
Clearly outline the insights and most critical findings of your research. Never hold back any information. After reading the abstract, a reader should clearly understand the key findings to feel interested in getting to the dissertation.
