How to Write an APA Abstract, writing an abstract for a paper.

By following a few simple guidelines, you can create an abstract that follows the format. Done well, an abstract generates interest in your work and helps readers learn if the paper will be of interest to them.

If your paper is a meta-analysis or literature review, your abstract should:  

APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association. It is used in writing for psychology and other social sciences. These style guidelines specify different aspects of a document's presentation and layout, including how pages are structured, how references are organized, and how sources are cited. This format also stipulates the use of an abstract designed to briefly summarize the key details contained in a paper.

The format of your abstract also depends on the type of paper you are writing. For example, an abstract summarizing an experimental paper will differ from that of a meta-analysis or case study. For an experimental report, your abstract should:  

How to Write an Abstract in APA Format

A good abstract lets the reader know that your paper is worth reading. According to the official guidelines of the American Psychological Association, an abstract should be brief, but packed with information. Each sentence must be written with maximum impact in mind. To keep your abstract short, focus on including just four or five of the essential points, concepts, or findings.

An abstract must also be objective and accurate. The abstract's purpose is to report rather than provide commentary. It should accurately reflect what your paper is about. Only include information that is also included in the body of your paper.

The abstract is the single most important paragraph in your entire paper, according to the APA Publication Manual.

See the Quick Lesson on Abstracts in APA Academic Writer for more information.

According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., an abstract is a "brief, comprehensive summary fo the contents of the paper" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 73). Including an abstract allows a reader to quickly assess whether the article will be of interest or fulfill a particular information need.

This is the abstract, or summary, of your entire paper. It is usually no longer than 250 words in length. You should choose your words carefully so that the abstract does not get too long. Notice that there is no indentation in the abstract. It is one paragraph and the left margin is flush and the right margin is ragged (not justified). The abstract is written in the past tense and should include general overview of the paper you wrote. It also should include any major hypotheses and your method(s), if applicable. Be sure to write your results in a general style, without using numbers. The abstract should end with a very brief concluding statement.

Generally, it is one paragraph ranging from 150 to 250 words . A well written abstract should be:

Answer

• Accurate
• Nonevaluative
• Coherent and readable
• Concise

An abstract begins on its own page and is placed immediately after the cover page and before the text of the paper.

Learn how to write an abstract and how to select keywords, including how to achieve the appropriate length, content, and format.

The abstract should be written in the past tense because the investigation has transpired. However, statement of facts in, say, the results and discussion and the conclusion, must be in the present tense.

Abstracts are important references for scientists or students working on their research proposal

Finally, the references (e.g. name of author and date) should not be cited in the abstract unless the research paper involves an improvement or modification of a previously published method used by a researcher.

Specifically, you should write the abstract to meet its intended purpose. The abstract should:

Number of Words

So how should the abstract of a research paper be written so that maximum benefit is derived from it?

In some academic institutions or scientific journals, however, recommendations are not incorporated in the abstract. That is because anyone can make recommendations based on the conclusion/s of the study.

1. state clearly the objectives of the study

   The limited number of words required for the abstract means that every word included in the abstract is necessary and that this should be presented in a coherent manner. Important information should fit into one paragraph so this requires a little bit of thinking challenge and practice to the beginning researcher.

   

   However, writing a convincing abstract is much more important today than it was before. Thus, it is essential to spend enough time and energy in crafting an abstract that presents the central arguments of your paper.

   Reading samples while writing a literature review gives a good idea of the type of abstract that each subject should have.

   Some abstracts discuss the relevant and previous researches on the chosen topic. However, after identifying them, you must also mention a unique perspective you are working on.

   • Critical Abstract - This type of abstract allows the reader to critically evaluate the paper for analyzing its reliability. It is about 400-500 words in length.
   • Descriptive Abstract - It usually states the type of information found in the research work in less than 100 words.
   • Informative Abstract - Like the descriptive abstract, it also mentions the information along with the results, conclusion, and recommendation. The length of the abstract is no more than 300 words.
   • Highlight Abstract - It is written to provide the complete picture of the research study to attract the readers.

   Table of Contents

   

   Also, identify the contribution of your study in concrete terms i.e., percentage, trends, figures, etc. Similarly, also compare the methods and results with the hypothesis by stating whether the study was successful or not.

   The main goal here is to give an overall idea of the approaches, procedures, and sources that you have used. It can be qualitative, quantitative, case study, etc. Simply state your reasons for choosing a particular method and why it benefits your research.

   Remember, the Publication Manuals of the American Psychological (APA) style has some specific requirements for formatting these keywords.

   

   After you have explained the reasons behind your topic’s importance, your personal interest in the issue, and the problem discussed in your paper to your readers, it is time to showcase the methods you used to conduct all that great research. The description of the processes and methods you have used are as important as the research itself. It shows the readers the extent of your research and the professional approach you took regarding your subject. Describe where you looked for the information, what kind of sources they were, what type of research you did yourself. Did you do an experiment, a survey, an interview, a field study where you explored your local beach for traces of plastic pollution? A detailed description of the approach to your research is a great tool for showing your reader how academically capable you are of conducting serious scientific research. Your section that examines the approach you took for your research should include the details of your research, such as the specific studies and highlights from the most significant works you used.

   An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper. Usually, an abstract is about 6-7 sentences long (approx. 150-250 words). There are many purposes that an abstract may serve. First and foremost, it gives readers a glimpse of your paper. This gives your readers an opportunity to make a decision whether or not your study is worth their full attention. Another purpose of an abstract is to prepare your audience for the details from your research, your arguments and your supporting evidence. And lastly, an abstract introduces the key points of your paper so that readers can keep them in mind while reading your research.

   An informative abstract usually follows a certain format. First, the author includes identifying information, supported by citations and other identifications of the documents. Next, all the main points are restated to ensure a better understanding of the research. This section is followed by the methodology and all the key findings of the study. Lastly, a conclusion presents the final findings of the research and concludes the informative abstract.
   Briefly, an informative abstract:

   In the conclusion part of your abstract, you should focus on the argument you started off with and connect it to the results you received. It is crucial to give the reader a complete picture of what insights you've discovered in regards to the subject, but also whether you have found the solution for the problem you addressed. Explain, whether your research is sufficient to convince people to be more responsible in regards to their plastic consumption? Will it alter their behavior and their everyday habits? Your conclusion should tie it all together and not leave any uncertainties. After you’ve got all the structural details down, let’s move on to some helpful tips.

   Research Results

   

   • has a length that can vary, depending on the topic—but cannot be longer than 300 words
     • what is the goal of your study

       Identifying purpose and motivation is one of the most difficult, yet important parts of your abstract. Let’s assume that your paper is about the importance of recycling plastic. Your primary job is to explain to readers why they should care about the contamination of plastics on land and in the ocean. You need to provide some solid arguments to keep your reader interested in continuing to read. It is crucial to answer these questions:

       An informative abstract is a detailed summary of the research itself. There are instances when readers rely on the abstract itself as a source of information. Therefore, it is extremely important to include all the specifics from a certain study. A well-presented, informative abstract can almost substitute the rest of the paper by itself.

       

       Add some background information of your research topic into the abstract. However, avoid adding irrelevant information and lengthy details. Instead, keep the information brief, concise, and focused on the main research question and topic.

       Start your abstract by clearly describing the purpose and objectives of your research. Explain its significance to the people, society, and a field of study. Also, discuss which research question(s) do you aim to answer in your paper.

       A strong abstract further allows the reader to decide whether he wants to continue with your paper or not. It is an essential part of a research paper and a thesis, and no paper is considered complete without it.

       Moreover, only choose the facts that are related to your study. It will help you explain the significance of the expected outcome of your research.

       Write the Research Paper First

       

       It is a well-defined and short summary of longer research work. Moreover, an abstract serves the purpose of informing the readers about the central theme and points of your research. It also describes the aims and outcomes that tell the audience what the full paper is about.

       Also, identify the contribution of your study in concrete terms i.e., percentage, trends, figures, etc. Similarly, also compare the methods and results with the hypothesis by stating whether the study was successful or not.

       Similarly, to state your research problem, answer the following questions: