Abstract or Executive Summary

Abstract

In academia, an abstract is usually required when submitting journal articles, conference papers, book proposals, as well as when applying for research grants. The length of an abstract varies depending on the publication, but 100–250 words are standard for journals in the communication field. An abstract is not an excerpt from the main text but an original document that is self-sufficient without referring to the main text. Thus, copying from the main text is considered unacceptable, as readers will notice it once they read the main document. At the same time, including key phrases and terms that readers might look for is necessary so that the readers can easily find the article in online searches. An abstract is not an evaluation of the main text either. Rather, it is a condensed version of the main text that includes main points.

The role of an abstract has become more important with the popularity of online searching, because often only the abstract is accessible to everyone online for free. Thus, an abstract works as a point of entry for many readers, whereby they can evaluate whether the main document is useful for their purposes.

When submitting a document for publication, the abstract is usually placed at the beginning of the document, followed by a set of keywords. However, writing an abstract after completing the document is recommended for a thorough and accurate abstract. Along with the abstract, keywords need to be selected carefully as they will assist readers in finding the document via online searches.

Including key information about the main document in a precise manner in the abstract is important to help readers decide whether to read or use the document. Standard components of an abstract include (1) the research focus and a problem statement, (2) method, (3) major findings or results of the study, and (4) conclusion. Each section usually contains one or two sentences. Because of the limitations on the length of an abstract, each sentence should include maximized information, using optimum wordings and expressions. In terms of the tense of an abstract, an abstract is usually written in past and present tense. In general, the method and results sections are written in past tense, whereas the conclusion section is written in present tense. In addition, writing an abstract using active voice tends to make the abstract powerful and dynamic to convey the contents. Thus, a good abstract is one that provides accurate information in a concise manner to readers. Next, this entry explains each part of an abstract in detail.