Dissertations and research projects

Abstracts

What is an abstract?

The abstract is a brief summary of your dissertation to help a new reader understand the purpose and content of the document, in much the same way as you would read the abstract of a journal article to help decide whether it was relevant to your work. The function of the abstract is to describe and summarise the contents of the dissertation, rather than making critical or evaluative statements about the project.

When should I write the abstract?

The abstract should be the last section you write before submitting your final dissertation or extended project report, as the content will only be decided once the main document is complete.

What should I include?

Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words, and should cover the following content:

1. ​Begin with a brief statement that should ‘hook the reader’, capturing the research problem or what makes your project relevant. You may also want to set the scene for the project and give some brief contextual information.
2. Give one summary sentence per section of the dissertation, including your key findings and conclusions. Remember, the abstract is designed to inform the reader about the key aspects of the project, rather than teasing them with a sense of mystery!​
3. Finish by summarising your key findings and stating what the project contributes to existing literature/what the project has achieved.

What style of writing should I use in the abstract?

One of the best ways to find the right ‘voice’ for the abstract is to look at other examples, either from dissertations in your field or study, or from journal articles. Look out for examples that you feel communicate complex ideas in a simple and accessible way. Your abstract should be clear and understandable to a non-specialist, so avoid specialist vocabulary as far as possible, and use simple sentence structures over longer more complex constructions.

Most abstracts are written in the present tense, but this may differ in some disciplines, so find examples to inform your decision on how to write. Avoid the future tense - ‘this dissertation will consider’ - as the research has already been completed by the time someone is reading the abstract!

You may find it useful to consult this list of phrases for abstract writing (dissertation.laerd.com).