what to write in a thesis abstract

McCombes, S. (2023, June 02). How to Write an Abstract | Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/abstract/

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How to Write an Abstract for Your Thesis or Dissertation What is an Abstract? The abstract is an important component of your thesis. Presented at the beginning of the thesis, it is likely the first substantive description of your work read by an external examiner. You should view it as an opportunity to set accurate expectations. The abstract is a summary of the whole thesis. It presents all the major elements of your work in a highly condensed form. An abstract often functions, together with the thesis title, as a stand-alone text. Abstracts appear, absent the full text of the thesis, in bibliographic indexes such as PsycInfo. They may also be presented in announcements of the thesis examination. Most readers who encounter your abstract in a bibliographic database or receive an email announcing your research presentation will never retrieve the full text or attend the presentation. An abstract is not merely an introduction in the sense of a preface, preamble, or advance organizer that prepares the reader for the thesis. In addition to that function, it must be capable of substituting for the whole thesis when there is insufficient time and space for the full text. Size and Structure Currently, the maximum sizes for abstracts submitted to Canada's National Archive are 150 words (Masters thesis) and 350 words (Doctoral dissertation). To preserve visual coherence, you may wish to limit the abstract for your doctoral dissertation to one double-spaced page, about 280 words. The structure of the abstract should mirror the structure of the whole thesis, and should represent all its major elements. For example, if your thesis has five chapters (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion), there should be one or more sentences assigned to summarize each chapter. Clearly Specify Your Research Questions As in the thesis itself, your research questions are critical in ensuring that the abstract is coherent and logically structured. They form the skeleton to which other elements adhere. They should be presented near the beginning of the abstract. There is only room for one to three questions. If there are more than three major research questions in your thesis, you should consider restructuring them by reducing some to subsidiary status. Don't Forget the Results The most common error in abstracts is failure to present results. The primary function of your thesis (and by extension your abstract) is not to tell readers what you did, it is to tell them what you discovered. Other information, such as the account of your research methods, is needed mainly to back the claims you make about your results. Approximately the last half of the abstract should be dedicated to summarizing and interpreting your results. Updated 2008.09.11 © John C. Nesbit

Thesis Abstract: Writing Techniques and Guidelines

Thesis Abstract: Writing Techniques and Guidelines

Thesis Abstract Writing Guidelines

Tips on how to write dissertation abstract.

Three key elements of a Thesis Abstract

Results and Conclusion

Thesis abstract process of writing, dissertation / thesis abstract examples, undergraduate level thesis abstract example, graduate level thesis abstract example.

Thesis abstract is an essential part of the dissertation paper. It is a summary of a complete work. It gives readers a chance to discover the key points of your dissertation, its research chapter, methodology and results part. Writing a proper abstract is important. Students use various techniques and guidelines to perform a perfect thesis abstract. Proper structure and of thesis dissertation is crucial. It should answer all the study’s questions and be written to identify a major element of a dissertation or thesis paper. Also check other thesis writing tips that will lead you to success or contact our thesis writing service to get professional help with Ph.D. work.

Thesis abstract (same as dissertation abstract ) answers the main questions of an entire paper. This short summary is a single page of text. It needs to show key methods used in a work, problems analyzed and gathered outcomes of a complex research work. This kind of academic assignment requires profound knowledge. People, who read abstracts, prefer those summaries that remain short, but very informative, with presented limitations in research and clear study results.

How to write the abstract of a thesis ? Thesis abstract is a small version of your dissertation or thesis . This small description ensures a better understanding of an entire paper, discovers the present condition of analyzed problems, distinguishes main objectives and determines existing expectations. A profound analysis of a major question is requested. Abstract needs to be less than five percent of the dissertation. Students write thesis abstracts of a proper length, get information for the summary using their own personal background information, knowledge and analyses’ fallouts.

Thesis abstract includes main analyzed objectives, compound research questions , problem statements, detailed dissertation methodology , and conclusions. Abstract needs to include source references and acronyms. It allows describing the top point of a dissertation paper providing a good understanding of the studied subjects and discovering numerous outcomes. Key theories and hypotheses are requested parts. They bring needed thesis abstract accurate form and allow saving time for this essential part flawless completion. Don't forget to check out thesis abstract examples provided by our professional thesis writers at the end of this article.

Writing a proper summary requires a good knowledge of an analyzed theme, valuable background information, improved writing and analytical skills. Advanced analytical skills allow performing its professional version. Key theories need to be a part of the short summary, showing main objectives of conducted analyses and research works. Proper thesis abstract format includes the following major elements:

The beginning of abstract needs to include general information. It draws readers’ attention, allows them discovering key research work’ objectives and outcomes of conducted studies when reading a single summary. However, don't confude an abstract with an executive summary format . Checking introduction, people get main information about conducted work. It is a kind of dissertation’s professional review. Writing a thesis abstract takes time for performing and must be performed after the entire dissertation paper is complete. It is clever to write it in such a way. It saves precious time and efforts used for editing in future.

Thesis abstract has a limit of words and describes the major purpose of research works, writer’s contribution to assigned problem-solving history. Many scientists have made great discoveries in their dissertations. Today, students face the same challenges. Numerous investigations are conducted with an aim to answer main questions of dissertation paper and provide appropriate indications. The level of papers’ difficulty depends on a scientist’s personal characteristics. They mostly include research skills and general knowledge.

Three key elements of a Thesis Abstract

Begin by clearly defining the purpose of your research. What practical or theoretical problem does the research respond to, or what research question did you aim to answer? You can include some brief context on the social or academic relevance of your topic, but don’t go into detailed background information.

After identifying the problem, state the objective of your research. Use verbs like investigate, test, analyze or evaluate to describe exactly what you set out to do. This part of the abstract can be written in the present or past simple tense, but should never refer to the future, as the research is already complete.

After - mention the research methods that you used to answer your question. This part should be a direct description of what you did in one or two sentences. It is usually written in the past simple tense as it refers to completed actions.

There is no need to evaluate validity or obstacles you might have encountered in this part - the goal is not to give an account of the methodology strengths and weaknesses, but to give the reader a quick insight into the overall approach and procedures you used. Mention whether you have used quantitative or qualitative methods .

Next - summarize the main research results. This part of the abstract can be in the present or past simple tense. Depending on how long and complex your research is, you may not be able to include all results here. Try to highlight only the most important findings that will allow the reader to understand your conclusions.

Finally, provide the main conclusion in thesis : what is your answer to the problem or question? The reader should finish with a clear understanding of the central point that your research has proved or argued. Conclusions are usually written in the present simple tense. If your aim was to solve a practical problem, the conclusions might include recommendations for implementation. If relevant, you can briefly make suggestions for further research.

The literature review brings additional identifications and valuable sources of information. Writing down titles and authors of used works allows readers gaining additional sources of assigned problem discoveries and reaching data for calculations. Many analyses require accurate figures and numbers. You may connect present studies with investigations described in published articles and conducted by famous researchers in past. You show your own contributions and accounts. An abstract format may be updated many times. Each popular thesis abstract includes writer’s scores greatly described at the beginning of written dissertation work.

An accurate summary shows the author’s analytical and writing skills. It contains key objectives, research justifications, detailed methodology, writing techniques, major results and study statements. Never write thesis abstracts before completing a dissertation. Table of content and paper headings may be used as guidelines to write proper thesis abstract. Letting other people read your thesis abstract before submitting is important; it gives a chance to deal with possible mistakes in minutes. Thesis abstract includes various elements. It casts light on difficult methodology and identifies what is your research problem .

Experienced writers prefer writing a dissertation abstract after the entire paper was written and the results were reached. It allows creating a professional paper’s summary. Proper scientific content is important when readers generally read dissertation’s summaries first. This is a short version of the main paper allowing readers gaining the main information and building their own expectations about dissertation outcomes. This special content needs to be flawless and original.

Thesis abstract is an essential part of every dissertation paper. It is a professional summary of a complete dissertation work presented on a few pages at the beginning of the dissertation paper. It gives readers a chance to discover the key points of the dissertation, its research chapters, calculations, source references, methodology and results part. Writing a proper abstract is essential.

Students use various popular techniques and guidelines to perform perfect thesis abstract, including numerous summaries samples available online. Proper structure of short summary is crucial. It should answer all researches’ questions and be written to identify major elements and objectives of a dissertation. Thesis abstract answers main questions of the entire paper. This short summary is a single page of text. Every thesis abstract needs to show the key methods used in a work, problems analyzed and gathered outcomes of conducted complex research work.

Researcher: [Name Surname] Presentation Title: Characterization of Iron Deposition in Recombinant Heteropolymer Ferritins Research Focus: Chemistry School: [School Name] Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Abstract: Characterization of Iron Deposition in Recombinant Heteropolymer Ferritins Deneen Cole, Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah, SUNY Potsdam (NY, USA), Dr. Paolo Arosio, University of Brescia (Italy), Dr. Sonia Levi, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Italy) Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron storage and detoxification protein found highly conserved in species from bacteria to plants to humans. In mammals, ferritin is composed of two functionally and genetically distinct subunit types, H (heavy, ~21,000 Da) and L (light, ~19,000 Da) subunits which co-assemble in various ratios with tissue specific distribution to form a shell-like protein. The H-subunit is responsible for the fast conversion of Fe(II) to Fe(III) by dioxygen (or H2O2) whereas the L-subunit is thought to contribute to the nucleation of the iron core. In the present work, we investigated the iron oxidation and deposition mechanism in two recombinant heteropolymers ferritin samples of ~20H:4L (termed H/L) and ~22L:2H (termed L/H) ratios. Data indicates that iron oxidation occurs mainly on the H-subunit with a stoichiometry of 2Fe(II):1O2, suggesting formation of H2O2. The H/L sample completely regenerates its ferroxidase activity within a short period of time suggesting rapid movement of Fe(III) from the ferroxidase center to the cavity to form the mineral core, consistent with the role of L-chain in facilitating iron turn-over at the ferroxidase center of the H-subunit. In L/H, Fe(II) oxidation and mineralization appears to occur by two simultaneous pathways at all levels of iron additions: a peroxidation pathway with a 2Fe(II)/1O2 ratio and a mineralization pathway with a 4Fe(II)/1O2 resulting in an average net stoichiometry of ~3Fe(II)/1O2. These results illustrate how recombinant heteropolymer ferritins control iron and oxygen toxicity while providing a safe reservoir for reversible uptake and release of iron for use by the cell.

Researcher: [Name Surname] Presentation Title: An Analysis of Yukon Delta Salmon Management Research Focus: Fisheries management related to Bering Sea fisheries and Yukon River salmon populations. School: [School Name] Student Level: Masters Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Abstract: The broad range of Pacific Alaskan salmon has resulted in the creation of a complex and multiorganizational system of management that includes the state of Alaska, various federal departments, a Congressionally-mandated fishery council, and a number of commercial and nongovernmental fish organizations. In the Bering Sea salmon are caught by the commercial groundfish fleet as by-catch. On the Yukon River salmon are commercially and traditionally harvested for both economic and cultural sustenance by the Yup’ik residents of the Yukon Delta. Declining salmon populations has driven scientific research which considers the effects of Bering Sea salmon by-catch. My research findings indicate that Bering Sea fisheries occur where juvenile salmon mature, directly impacting Yukon River salmon populations. Further, the research reflects that although Yukon salmon populations have plummeted, a recent effort was made to open the northern Bering Sea, which includes the Yukon River coastal shelf, to deep-sea commercial fishing. By researching the relationship of policy to cultural salmon dependence, it becomes evident that Alaskan salmon-tribes are excluded from salmon management and decision-making. Legal research reflects that three basic federal Indian concepts – inherent rights, Indian Country, and tribal right of occupancy – emerge as potential foundations that may allow Alaskan salmon tribes to begin sharing legal responsibility over salmon. Yukon River salmon are an international and anadromous species that require multi organizational management. My research reflects that current management favors the Bering Sea commercial fishing industry, despite data indicating Bering Sea fisheries impact Yukon salmon populations and an overall downward trend in Yukon salmon populations.

The methodology is an important part of your dissertation. It describes a broad philosophical underpinning to your chosen research methods, either quantitative or qualitative, to explain to readers your approach better. Make sure that you’re clear about an academic basis for your choice of research ...

When writing an academic paper on either broad or narrow research paper topics, a good research question can help you start well. It’s all about stating a clear one that your research will answer. It plays an important role because it helps you focus the entire paper and enables you to make a strong...

When you write a thesis, you should pay exceptional attention to the introduction. The reader will start your thesis from the introduction, and he will make up his view and understanding of the problem, your ideas, professionalism and writing skills based on the introduction. Your introduction is an...

The Dissertation Abstract: 101

How to write a clear & concise abstract (with examples).

By: Madeline Fink (MSc) Reviewed By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | June 2020

So, you’ve (finally) finished your thesis or dissertation or thesis. Now it’s time to write up your abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary). If you’re here, chances are you’re not quite sure what you need to cover in this section, or how to go about writing it. Fear not – we’ll explain it all in plain language , step by step , with clear examples .

Overview: The Dissertation/Thesis Abstract

What is an abstract?

Simply put, the abstract in a dissertation or thesis is a short (but well structured) summary that outlines the most important points of your research (i.e. the key takeaways). The abstract is usually 1 paragraph or about 300-500 words long (about one page), but but this can vary between universities.

A quick note regarding terminology – strictly speaking, an abstract and an executive summary are two different things when it comes to academic publications. Typically, an abstract only states what the research will be about, but doesn’t explore the findings – whereas an executive summary covers both . However, in the context of a dissertation or thesis, the abstract usually covers both, providing a summary of the full project.

In terms of content, a good dissertation abstract usually covers the following points:

We’ll explain each of these in more detail a little later in this post. Buckle up.

A good abstract should detail the purpose, the methodology, the key findings and the limitations of the research study.

What’s the purpose of the abstract?

A dissertation abstract has two main functions:

The first purpose is to inform potential readers of the main idea of your research without them having to read your entire piece of work. Specifically, it needs to communicate what your research is about (what were you trying to find out) and what your findings were . When readers are deciding whether to read your dissertation or thesis, the abstract is the first part they’ll consider.

The second purpose of the abstract is to inform search engines and dissertation databases as they index your dissertation or thesis. The keywords and phrases in your abstract (as well as your keyword list) will often be used by these search engines to categorize your work and make it accessible to users.

Simply put, your abstract is your shopfront display window – it’s what passers-by (both human and digital) will look at before deciding to step inside.

The abstract serves to inform both potential readers (people) and search engine bots of the contents of your research.

Why’s it so important?

The short answer – because most people don’t have time to read your full dissertation or thesis! Time is money, after all…

If you think back to when you undertook your literature review , you’ll quickly realise just how important abstracts are! Researchers reviewing the literature on any given topic face a mountain of reading, so they need to optimise their approach. A good dissertation abstract gives the reader a “TLDR” version of your work – it helps them decide whether to continue to read it in its entirety. So, your abstract, as your shopfront display window, needs to “sell” your research to time-poor readers.

You might be thinking, “but I don’t plan to publish my dissertation”. Even so, you still need to provide an impactful abstract for your markers. Your ability to concisely summarise your work is one of the things they’re assessing, so it’s vital to invest time and effort into crafting an enticing shop window.

A good abstract also has an added purpose for grad students . As a freshly minted graduate, your dissertation or thesis is often your most significant professional accomplishment and highlights where your unique expertise lies. Potential employers who want to know about this expertise are likely to only read the abstract (as opposed to reading your entire document) – so it needs to be good!

Think about it this way – if your thesis or dissertation were a book, then the abstract would be the blurb on the back cover. For better or worse, readers will absolutely judge your book by its cover .

Even if you have no intentions to publish your work, you still need to provide an impactful abstract for your markers.

How to write your abstract

As we touched on earlier, your abstract should cover four important aspects of your research: the purpose , methodology , findings , and implications . Therefore, the structure of your dissertation or thesis abstract needs to reflect these four essentials, in the same order. Let’s take a closer look at each of them, step by step:

Step 1: Describe the purpose and value of your research

Here you need to concisely explain the purpose and value of your research. In other words, you need to explain what your research set out to discover and why that’s important. When stating the purpose of research, you need to clearly discuss the following:

It’s essential to make this section extremely clear, concise and convincing . As the opening section, this is where you’ll “hook” your reader (marker) in and get them interested in your project. If you don’t put in the effort here, you’ll likely lose their interest.

Step 2: Briefly outline your study’s methodology

In this part of your abstract, you need to very briefly explain how you went about answering your research questions. In other words, what research design and methodology you adopted in your research. Some important questions to address here include:

Simply put, this section needs to address the “ how ” of your research. It doesn’t need to be lengthy (this is just a summary, after all), but it should clearly address the four questions above.

Need a helping hand?

Step 3: Present your key findings

Next, you need to briefly highlight the key findings . Your research likely produced a wealth of data and findings, so there may be a temptation to ramble here. However, this section is just about the key findings – in other words, the answers to the original questions that you set out to address.

Again, brevity and clarity are important here. You need to concisely present the most important findings for your reader.

Step 4: Describe the implications of your research

Have you ever found yourself reading through a large report, struggling to figure out what all the findings mean in terms of the bigger picture? Well, that’s the purpose of the implications section – to highlight the “so what?” of your research.

In this part of your abstract, you should address the following questions:

If you include these four essential ingredients in your dissertation abstract, you’ll be on headed in a good direction.

The purpose of the implications section is to highlight the "so what?" of your research. In other words, to highlight its value.

Example: Dissertation/thesis abstract

Here is an example of an abstract from a master’s thesis, with the purpose , methods , findings , and implications colour coded.

The U.S. citizenship application process is a legal and symbolic journey shaped by many cultural processes. This research project aims to bring to light the experiences of immigrants and citizenship applicants living in Dallas, Texas, to promote a better understanding of Dallas’ increasingly diverse population. Additionally, the purpose of this project is to provide insights to a specific client, the office of Dallas Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs, about Dallas’ lawful permanent residents who are eligible for citizenship and their reasons for pursuing citizenship status . The data for this project was collected through observation at various citizenship workshops and community events, as well as through semi-structured interviews with 14 U.S. citizenship applicants . Reasons for applying for U.S. citizenship discussed in this project include a desire for membership in U.S. society, access to better educational and economic opportunities, improved ease of travel and the desire to vote. Barriers to the citizenship process discussed in this project include the amount of time one must dedicate to the application, lack of clear knowledge about the process and the financial cost of the application. Other themes include the effects of capital on applicant’s experience with the citizenship process, symbolic meanings of citizenship, transnationalism and ideas of deserving and undeserving surrounding the issues of residency and U.S. citizenship. These findings indicate the need for educational resources and mentorship for Dallas-area residents applying for U.S. citizenship, as well as a need for local government programs that foster a sense of community among citizenship applicants and their neighbours.

Practical tips for writing your abstract

When crafting the abstract for your dissertation or thesis, the most powerful technique you can use is to try and put yourself in the shoes of a potential reader. Assume the reader is not an expert in the field, but is interested in the research area. In other words, write for the intelligent layman, not for the seasoned topic expert.

Start by trying to answer the question “why should I read this dissertation?”

Remember the WWHS.

Make sure you include the what , why , how , and so what of your research in your abstract:

Keep it simple.

Use terminology appropriate to your field of study, but don’t overload your abstract with big words and jargon that cloud the meaning and make your writing difficult to digest. A good abstract should appeal to all levels of potential readers and should be a (relatively) easy read. Remember, you need to write for the intelligent layman.

Be specific.

When writing your abstract, clearly outline your most important findings and insights and don’t worry about “giving away” too much about your research – there’s no need to withhold information. This is the one way your abstract is not like a blurb on the back of a book – the reader should be able to clearly understand the key takeaways of your thesis or dissertation after reading the abstract. Of course, if they then want more detail, they need to step into the restaurant and try out the menu.

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project.

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What is a Thesis or Dissertation Abstract?

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines an abstract in academic writing as being “ a few sentences that give the main ideas in an article or a scientific paper ” and the Collins English Dictionary says “ an abstract of an article, document, or speech is a short piece of writing that gives the main points of it ”.

Whether you’re writing up your Master’s dissertation or PhD thesis, the abstract will be a key element of this document that you’ll want to make sure you give proper attention to.

What is the Purpose of an Abstract?

The aim of a thesis abstract is to give the reader a broad overview of what your research project was about and what you found that was novel, before he or she decides to read the entire thesis. The reality here though is that very few people will read the entire thesis, and not because they’re necessarily disinterested but because practically it’s too large a document for most people to have the time to read. The exception to this is your PhD examiner, however know that even they may not read the entire length of the document.

Some people may still skip to and read specific sections throughout your thesis such as the methodology, but the fact is that the abstract will be all that most read and will therefore be the section they base their opinions about your research on. In short, make sure you write a good, well-structured abstract.

How Long Should an Abstract Be?

If you’re a PhD student, having written your 100,000-word thesis, the abstract will be the 300 word summary included at the start of the thesis that succinctly explains the motivation for your study (i.e. why this research was needed), the main work you did (i.e. the focus of each chapter), what you found (the results) and concluding with how your research study contributed to new knowledge within your field.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States of America, once famously said:

The point here is that it’s easier to talk open-endedly about a subject that you know a lot about than it is to condense the key points into a 10-minute speech; the same applies for an abstract. Three hundred words is not a lot of words which makes it even more difficult to condense three (or more) years of research into a coherent, interesting story.

What Makes a Good PhD Thesis Abstract?

Whilst the abstract is one of the first sections in your PhD thesis, practically it’s probably the last aspect that you’ll ending up writing before sending the document to print. The reason being that you can’t write a summary about what you did, what you found and what it means until you’ve done the work.

A good abstract is one that can clearly explain to the reader in 300 words:

Another way to think of this structure is:

Following this ‘formulaic’ approach to writing the abstract should hopefully make it a little easier to write but you can already see here that there’s a lot of information to convey in a very limited number of words.

How Do You Write a Good PhD Thesis Abstract?

The biggest challenge you’ll have is getting all the 6 points mentioned above across in your abstract within the limit of 300 words . Your particular university may give some leeway in going a few words over this but it’s good practice to keep within this; the art of succinctly getting your information across is an important skill for a researcher to have and one that you’ll be called on to use regularly as you write papers for peer review.

Keep It Concise

Every word in the abstract is important so make sure you focus on only the key elements of your research and the main outcomes and significance of your project that you want the reader to know about. You may have come across incidental findings during your research which could be interesting to discuss but this should not happen in the abstract as you simply don’t have enough words. Furthermore, make sure everything you talk about in your thesis is actually described in the main thesis.

Make a Unique Point Each Sentence

Keep the sentences short and to the point. Each sentence should give the reader new, useful information about your research so there’s no need to write out your project title again. Give yourself one or two sentences to introduce your subject area and set the context for your project. Then another sentence or two to explain the gap in the knowledge; there’s no need or expectation for you to include references in the abstract.

Explain Your Research

Some people prefer to write their overarching aim whilst others set out their research questions as they correspond to the structure of their thesis chapters; the approach you use is up to you, as long as the reader can understand what your dissertation or thesis had set out to achieve. Knowing this will help the reader better understand if your results help to answer the research questions or if further work is needed.

Keep It Factual

Keep the content of the abstract factual; that is to say that you should avoid bringing too much or any opinion into it, which inevitably can make the writing seem vague in the points you’re trying to get across and even lacking in structure.

Write, Edit and Then Rewrite

Spend suitable time editing your text, and if necessary, completely re-writing it. Show the abstract to others and ask them to explain what they understand about your research – are they able to explain back to you each of the 6 structure points, including why your project was needed, the research questions and results, and the impact it had on your research field? It’s important that you’re able to convey what new knowledge you contributed to your field but be mindful when writing your abstract that you don’t inadvertently overstate the conclusions, impact and significance of your work.

Thesis and Dissertation Abstract Examples

Perhaps the best way to understand how to write a thesis abstract is to look at examples of what makes a good and bad abstract.

Example of A Bad Abstract

Let’s start with an example of a bad thesis abstract:

In this project on “The Analysis of the Structural Integrity of 3D Printed Polymers for use in Aircraft”, my research looked at how 3D printing of materials can help the aviation industry in the manufacture of planes. Plane parts can be made at a lower cost using 3D printing and made lighter than traditional components. This project investigated the structural integrity of EBM manufactured components, which could revolutionise the aviation industry.

What Makes This a Bad Abstract

Hopefully you’ll have spotted some of the reasons this would be considered a poor abstract, not least because the author used up valuable words by repeating the lengthy title of the project in the abstract.

Working through our checklist of the 6 key points you want to convey to the reader:

This is an extreme example but is a good way to illustrate just how unhelpful a poorly written abstract can be. At only 71 words long, it definitely hasn’t maximised the amount of information that could be presented and the what they have presented has lacked clarity and structure.

A final point to note is the use of the EBM acronym, which stands for Electron Beam Melting in the context of 3D printing; this is a niche acronym for the author to assume that the reader would know the meaning of. It’s best to avoid acronyms in your abstract all together even if it’s something that you might expect most people to know about, unless you specifically define the meaning first.

Example of A Good Abstract

Having seen an example of a bad thesis abstract, now lets look at an example of a good PhD thesis abstract written about the same (fictional) project:

Additive manufacturing (AM) of titanium alloys has the potential to enable cheaper and lighter components to be produced with customised designs for use in aircraft engines. Whilst the proof-of-concept of these have been promising, the structural integrity of AM engine parts in response to full thrust and temperature variations is not clear.

The primary aim of this project was to determine the fracture modes and mechanisms of AM components designed for use in Boeing 747 engines. To achieve this an explicit finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate the environment and parameters that the engine is exposed to during flight. The FE model was validated using experimental data replicating the environmental parameters in a laboratory setting using ten AM engine components provided by the industry sponsor. The validated FE model was then used to investigate the extent of crack initiation and propagation as the environment parameters were adjusted.

This project was the first to investigate fracture patterns in AM titanium components used in aircraft engines; the key finding was that the presence of cavities within the structures due to errors in the printing process, significantly increased the risk of fracture. Secondly, the simulations showed that cracks formed within AM parts were more likely to worsen and lead to component failure at subzero temperatures when compared to conventionally manufactured parts. This has demonstrated an important safety concern which needs to be addressed before AM parts can be used in commercial aircraft.

What Makes This a Good Abstract

Having read this ‘good abstract’ you should have a much better understand about what the subject area is about, where the gap in the knowledge was, the aim of the project, the methods that were used, key results and finally the significance of these results. To break these points down further, from this good abstract we now know that:

The abstract text has a much clearer flow through these different points in how it’s written and has made much better use of the available word count. Acronyms have even been used twice in this good abstract but they were clearly defined the first time they were introduced in the text so that there was no confusion about their meaning.

The abstract you write for your dissertation or thesis should succinctly explain to the reader why the work of your research was needed, what you did, what you found and what it means. Most people that come across your thesis, including any future employers, are likely to read only your abstract. Even just for this reason alone, it’s so important that you write the best abstract you can; this will not only convey your research effectively but also put you in the best light possible as a researcher.

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Writing Abstracts for Honours Theses

Do you want to make a good first impression.

What is the first part of your thesis that most people will read? The abstract. And if you want to make sure that it's not the last thing they read, your abstract needs to be well-written.

On this page, you'll find some hints and suggestions about how to improve your abstract, including some ideas about what to include, and some tips on how to make your writing more concise. You can also look at some sample abstracts from past theses.

What is an abstract?

It is a stand-alone text, approximately 200-300 words, that provides a snapshot of your whole thesis. After having read your abstract, your reader should be able to answer the following questions.

Click on each question below to see more:

What did the researcher do in their research?

What were the reasons for doing the research? What questions was the researcher trying to answer?

How did the researcher go about finding out the answers? What methods did they use?

What did the researcher find out? What were the key results?

Why are these results important? What is their significance?

Developing the abstract for the thesis

If you are having difficulty in developing your abstract, the following suggestions might be useful.

Suggestions:

Writing concisely

As there are quite tight word limits for abstracts, it is important to make sure that every word counts, and that there is no unnecessary information. The following suggestions can be used to make your abstract more concise, while still being readable.

Ways of tightening up your writing:

Remember: practices can vary. Check with your supervisor and read examples of abstracts in your field to get a clear idea of the conventions.

See next: Sample abstracts

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How to Write a Dissertation Abstract

By: Tasha Kolesnikova

As students, drawing up an abstract is tough. If you have thought, “ What is a dissertation abstract? ” you definitely should be reading what we have to say below. It is practically the place on your dissertation where you prove its worth to the person who is reading. And since it is what the person will see first, you should use it as an opportunity to get them intrigued. Need dissertation abstract help or help with dissertation literature review ? We can help you! ;-)

What Is a Thesis Abstract?

Dissertation abstract format.

1. Always begin with the “Why” and “What”

2. tell the reader how you did your research, 3. showcase what you unearthed, 4. you also need the conclusion/limitations, 1. spend time on every sentence, 2. do some reading.

3. Stay away from including other people’s analy

4. Keep it coherent

5. keep rechecking once done, 1. what is something new you accomplished, 2. avoid repetition, 3. avoid extensive detailing.

What are the things that I need to include in my d

Does my dissertation need to have an abstract?

Can an abstract be two paragraphs?

Do i need an introduction if i have an abstract.

Can the abstract and introduction be on the same p

What should come after the abstract?

Does the abstract go on its page, how many keywords should be in an abstract, does an abstract have to be 250 words, can an abstract be more than 250 words, are 400 words too long for an abstract, how long should a ph.d. thesis abstract be, can an abstract be 100 words, what are the 3 types of abstracts, what should you put in an abstract, should abstracts have results, do citations go in abstracts, what are the 5 parts of an abstract.

What are the six steps to writing an abstract?

How long does it take to write an abstract?

What is the best dissertation abstract length?

A thesis or dissertation abstract definition is a very succinct summary of a study or paper. It showcases everything that is important in your study in a very condensed form. It should cover:

Here’s a goal to keep in mind. When writing a dissertation abstract, you should keep it at around 250-350 words. Though, you should also note that it is different from an introduction. With it, you need to convince the reader that your written paper is worth reading.

The truth is that not everyone will completely read your whole master's or Ph.D. thesis , most likely not even your examiner. The contents will often be too much to go through in a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, the abstract is crucial when the reader decides it is noteworthy enough to continue. You must keep this in mind when writing dissertation abstracts.

There is so much you have to summarize in your abstract thesis writing . You can make it easier on yourself by cutting it down to key components. This will allow you to gather everything you need and structure it in a digestible manner.

To start, first, spend some time noting down the necessary facts:

The thesis abstract format should incorporate everything mentioned above, but with a better flow. Also, remember that abstracts need to be double-spaced and have their own page. All this information allows you to build a skeleton to write around.

If you don’t know how to structure a doctoral paper/dissertation , don’t worry, as there are enough samples to act as a guide. In the sections below, we go through “What is an abstract in a dissertation?” and all you have to learn to write the perfect one.

Thesis Abstracts Examples

When learning how to write a dissertation abstract, you should use examples as a reference. It can give you some tips on summating huge chunks of information.

Take some time and go through samples to get a feel for how they are worded. For you to start with, we have created an example of a good abstract for a dissertation. We have colored each segment differently for you to see how to structure one.

For a Dissertation

My dissertation is about fiction created in England between 1770 and 1820. My argument is that the unpredictable political situation and financial predicament of that time influenced what was being produced. The anxiety faced by the people during those unsettling times was reflected in the fiction that was created. There were 7 crises that occurred during the period of 1760 - 1797 that appeared out of nowhere. This series of crises eventually led to the financial debacle, creating economic turmoil. So, how was this reflected in the fiction of that time? Well, that era marked a change in cultural behavior. Works of fiction that typically had similar endings were changed. Instead of protagonists living happily ever after and antagonists being penalized, the narrative became more irrational. This echoed the new realization that being unpredictable was the new norm. I analyzed the works of writers from that time, such as Henry Alabaster , Reynold Bouyer , and Edward Arber to illustrate this change. My conclusion shows how fiction from the late 1800s highlights how people were aware of these unsteady times in the written narratives.

Aim - Green

Method - Blue

Results - Red

For a Ph.D. thesis

This dissertation is made up of 2 essays on how marketing messaging can impact customer engagement. In the first essay, I discuss how the “yes/no” response structure can improve the response rate even if the choice is not forced on them.

Using two field experiments, I showcase how a “yes/no” response structure in emails sent to consumers has a clear advantage over the opt-in structure in choices where the consumer isn’t forced to make a choice. I discuss how certain psychological processes affect the click-through rate of “yes/no” response structures .

In the second essay, I discuss how imagery can improve what is communicated to consumers. Marketers typically use images to convey their marketing message in an easy-to-digest manner, thereby increasing appreciation for the product.

Using multiple experiments, I show how images certainly do impact how consumers positively perceive a product , but there can be mixed results depending on certain factors. I also dive into how these perceptions impact the sale of the products and determine a few areas that need to be explored further to get a more accurate result.

Limitations - Purple

Dissertation Abstract Template

With the samples above, you should have an idea of how to write an abstract in a dissertation. But, each one is unique, and you have to grasp how to structure yours specifically. Remember, there is no exact method you need to follow when it comes to the arrangement of the abstract. Just make sure everything noteworthy is added in.

The following template can be used to help you create a skeleton of your abstract. Use what you wrote down (if you did) in the earlier section - “dissertation abstract format.”

Clearly note down what you are trying to achieve with some background details. You don’t want to go into too much detail here. Simply write it in a sentence or more if necessary. For example – “ My exploration dives into the similarities between soccer and football and how they originated .”

The way you research can mean the difference in the validity of your ending. As such, it is necessary to include the means through which you got your information. Keep it simple, and don’t try to explain them. You don’t need to validate how you did it. For example - “ I carried out both virtual and in-person meetings with over 50 people to gather information for this research .”

Based on what you choose, there may be many results. In this case, choose what is most significant and write it down. Your analysis must be directly linked to this result. For example - “ After conducting the interviews, my analysis shows that soccer and football are different sports .”

When writing dissertation abstract, having an answer is crucial. Any reader must be able to understand what you are trying to achieve. While researching, if there were any limitations, you should include them as well. This way, you are giving a very accurate summation of your study. For example - “ The study concluded that both sports shared similarities, but are inherently different sports. However, when it comes to the origination of each sport, there are mixed references. ”

Tips for Writing Doctoral Dissertation Abstracts

The biggest obstacle you will face while writing abstract for dissertation is the summation. 300 words aren’t much, and you may have a lot to condense. Your current university could be lenient about how many words it is, but this is probably not going to be the same everywhere. You should learn how to keep an abstract minimalized for any future work.

Below we have a few additional tips for how to write an abstract for a dissertation:

You will likely come across many things to write about in your research , but it doesn’t all need to be written down. Since this summation is so brief, every word should be rechecked. Keep the center of attention on the segments and try to explain them without going into detail. Also, don’t be excessive while writing and embellish the facts to fit your argument.

As mentioned earlier, looking through examples is a great way to learn how to write an abstract for thesis. Go online and search for those done by other people similar to what you are doing. You will surely learn a thing or two.

3. Stay away from including other people’s analysis

Yes, you will probably have additional literature done by others in the contents of your dissertation. However, you shouldn’t include that literature in your summation. Only write about things you did by yourself.

While it is important to compress, do not overdo it. You have to be able to communicate all your thoughts to the person reading them. Be mindful of missing out on crucial information and writing egregiously.

Always remember that your first attempt is your first draft. Take the time to go over what you wrote and rewrite in your paper anything that needs to be changed. You will likely identify places where you can improve your writing or make it more clear. To help with this, you should ask your peers to review your writing.

Tips on how to write Ph.D. dissertation abstracts

Despite the fact that most abstracts follow a similar pattern, a Ph.D. dissertation is written at a considerably greater degree of sophistication. Here are some other guidelines you should follow:

Your Ph.D. dissertation should showcase the unique perspective you added to the main argument. You haven’t achieved anything without this, and people are not likely to read it. If you need help with phd dissertation writing - welcome to Studybay! We would be glad to help you.

The information that is unnecessarily and repetitively provided is not something you need. Readers should be enticed to continue reading after reading your summary. Readers will become disinterested if you keep repeating material.

The center of attention should be on your argument . You shouldn’t deviate too much from that. Don’t make a note of throwaway details or focus on unimportant information.

What are the things that I need to include in my dissertation abstract?

It should include the following: introduction, aims and objectives, methodology, results, and conclusion. Without these areas, it isn’t complete.

The abstract is an essential component of a dissertation. It helps the reader know if the paper includes information that they want to know. Without it, readers are likely to skip reading your dissertation.

I have a 10000-word dissertation – how long should its abstract be?

No matter how long your dissertation is, the abstract should not exceed more than 300 words . Always keep it between 200 and 300 words.

Where do I include an abstract? Does it come before the table of contents?

Yes, it will typically come before the table of contents page but after the title and acknowledgments.

A typical abstract should always be only one paragraph that is double-spaced. But, this can vary depending on your topic and if the assignment calls for a longer text.

Most academic papers do require both an introduction and an abstract. It should provide a more detailed description of the subject matter. However, it doesn’t delve into the points that you outline in the abstract such as methodology.

Can the abstract and introduction be on the same page?

The abstract is quite important, so it should get its own page on your research paper . Therefore, you will need two separate pages for the introduction and the abstract.

This will depend on your dissertation, but usually, the table of contents or the introduction follows the abstract.

Yes, the abstract should always be on its page. It should usually only take up about half of a double-spaced page.

Keywords are important terms that the reader should know before reading your dissertation. It is recommended to include between 3 and 5 keywords in the abstract.

Exact word counts can vary between dissertations, but typically it should be 200 to 300 words.

Yes, it can be more than 250 words, though it shouldn’t exceed more than 300. However, depending on your assignment or guidelines, this number can vary.

For a typical abstract, yes, 400 words is a bit too long. However, you could push it to 400 words depending on your topic and assignment guidelines.

All abstracts follow a similar number of words. Your Ph.D. thesis abstract should also be between 200 to 300 words.

Most abstracts are between 200 and 300 words. However, there are certain papers that don’t require as many. Experimental research abstracts can be shorter than 100 words.

You should write down the most important findings of your research. However, you shouldn’t go into detail.

No, you should avoid citing it in the abstract. The abstract should only include information that you researched yourself.

What are the six steps to writing abstracts?

There is no set limit to how long it should take you. Since it is a crucial element of your paper, you need to spend some time perfecting every abstract you write.

How can you avoid common problems in writing abstracts?

The biggest problem with an abstract is associated with word count and formatting. Make sure you stick to the word count and don’t include unnecessary details. Conversely, don’t avoid including important information as well.

Should it be written in the first person?

Your abstract needs to be written in the third person and the present tense.

The best length will be anywhere between 200 and 300 words . This can vary slightly depending on the topic and type of paper.

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I studied sociology and marketing at Europa-Universität Viadrina (Germany) and Universidade da Beira Interior (Portugal). When I was a sophomore, back in 2018, I decided to put what I've learned into practice, so I got my first job in digital marketing. I currently work in the content marketing department at Studybay, building strong, effective, and respectful communication between the platform and our clients.

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After concluding your research, this part of your write-up is a text that should summarise the specific details of your work. Once this part is read, it should be instrumental in answering all possible questions of your readers. However, it should not be filled with extraneous materials because then it would be confusing.

I found this blog from google and I’m so happy I did. It helped me work on my sentences, investigate different methods of writing, and highlighted the importance of this section’s contribution to my dissertation. It was well structured and acted as a checklist of everything I will need.

In theory, writing your research work or dissertation may seem so straightforward, but it is not always that way. Little things can make your work not get published. All elements of your work are important, just like the one discussed in this article. I feel like this gives insights to young people who are currently working hard towards a degree.

This blog was full of the knowledge I needed to write a good piece of work for my phd. It broadened my understanding of the process of writing and the significance of writing it in a concise way.

The implications of not following specific guidelines in writing your dissertation include loss of relevance and value. To avoid this, all your findings, methods, as well as conclusions, need to be presented well, and that is something this blog expresses clearly.

If like me, you struggle to get to the word limit in your dissertations or are worried about how a bad abstract could affect your grade, this article will help you. I learnt that it’s just a one page section of my work and, with the right research, I can easily get top marks.

It is nice to see attention being drawn to a crucial part of academic writing. Basically, it answers the research question and gives a concise summary of the content of the journal article.

If you’ve been looking around for dissertation abstract examples, you’ve come to the right place. This article told me everything I needed about how to write a phd abstract and tips for my phd thesis – it was very helpful.

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