How to Write an Abstract for a Scientific Article
The abstract is a concise summary of the main purpose, methods, principal findings, and conclusion of a scientific article. It allows readers to understand the core content of the study quickly and often plays an important role in determining whether the full article will be read.
How Long Should an Abstract Be?
For manuscripts submitted to SAER Journal, the abstract should generally contain 150–300 words. Depending on the manuscript type and disciplinary conventions, either a structured or unstructured abstract may be used.
Each manuscript should include 3–6 keywords. For manuscripts written in Turkish or Arabic, an English title, abstract, and keywords must also be provided.
What Should Be Included in an Abstract?
A well-written abstract should answer four basic questions:
- Purpose: Why was the study conducted and what question does it address?
- Methods: How was the study conducted?
- Results: What are the most important findings?
- Conclusion: What do the findings mean and why are they important?
Recommended Writing Order
A simple and effective sequence for writing an abstract is:
Topic and purpose → Methods → Main findings → Conclusion and contribution
1. Purpose
Briefly state the research problem and the purpose of the study. Avoid turning the abstract into a long literature review or theoretical introduction.
Example: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of X on Y.
2. Methods
Briefly describe the study design, sample or study group, main data collection method, and analytical approach.
Example: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 385 participants, and the data were analyzed using regression analysis.
3. Results
Present the most important findings directly. Because the abstract has limited space, it is not necessary to report every statistical result or reproduce detailed information from tables.
Example: The findings showed that X significantly and positively predicted Y.
4. Conclusion
State the main implication of the study and its scientific or practical contribution briefly and clearly. Do not introduce new findings or claims that are not reported in the main manuscript.
Writing an Abstract According to Study Type
Quantitative Studies
The abstract should generally include the study purpose, research design, sample, main analytical method, key statistical findings, and principal conclusion.
Qualitative Studies
The abstract should describe the research purpose, qualitative approach, participants, data collection and analysis methods, major themes or findings, and the principal conclusion.
Systematic Reviews
The abstract should include the research question, data sources searched, main eligibility criteria, number of included studies, principal findings, and overall conclusion.
Case Reports
The abstract should summarize the main characteristics of the case, why the case is important, the assessment or intervention performed, the main outcome, and its scientific or practical significance.
Structured and Unstructured Abstracts
In some disciplines, abstracts may be presented in a structured format using headings such as Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
In other disciplines, the same information may be presented as a single coherent paragraph in an unstructured format.
In both formats, the abstract should accurately and proportionately represent the content of the full manuscript.
What Should You Consider When Writing an English Abstract?
An English abstract does not need to be a word-for-word translation of a Turkish or Arabic abstract. However, it should communicate the same scientific information, findings, and conclusions.
The language should be clear, natural, concise, and academically appropriate. Discipline-specific terminology should be used accurately, and expressions that sound unnatural when translated directly should be revised.
How Should Keywords Be Selected?
Keywords should represent the main subject, concepts, variables, methods, or field of the study.
Instead of simply repeating words already used in the title, authors should select terms that may improve the discoverability of the article in academic databases and search systems.
Common Mistakes
- Turning the abstract into a long introduction
- Failing to state the research purpose clearly
- Omitting the methodology
- Using vague expressions such as “significant results were obtained”
- Reporting too many statistical details
- Including conclusions that are not supported by the main manuscript
- Using references or long quotations
- Using unnecessary abbreviations
Check Before Submission
- Is the abstract between 150 and 300 words?
- Is the purpose of the study clearly stated?
- Is the methodology briefly described?
- Are the most important findings reported?
- Is the conclusion consistent with the findings?
- Are 3–6 keywords provided?
- If the manuscript is written in Turkish or Arabic, is an English abstract included?
