Creating a Scientific AbstractCreating a Scientific Abstract

Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. Gail P. Taylor, Ph.D. University of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San Antonio

Additional References:Additional References:http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Bio111/Bio111LabMan/Preface%20B%7F.html

http://www.uaf.edu/csem/ashsss/abstract_writing.html

07/01/2010

• http://www.vimeo.com/3968357

What is a Scientific Abstract?What is a Scientific Abstract?

• Summary report of scientific Summary report of scientific studystudy

• Several TypesSeveral Types– Begin papersBegin papers– Used at ConferencesUsed at Conferences

• Purpose determines formatPurpose determines format• ConferenceConference

– Determines format/styleDetermines format/style– Published in books or CDsPublished in books or CDs

• Represent you and your mentorRepresent you and your mentor• Draws people to your workDraws people to your work

For ConferencesFor Conferences• Create Abstract• Confer with Mentor (your mentor is always right)• Receive Approval from RISE/MARC program

director (SACNAS and ABRCMS)• Submit

– Choose Oral Presentation or Poster (might not have choice)

• Conference Responds:– Accepted or not– Oral or Poster

• Prepare Oral or Poster presentation• Attend Conference• Make presentation

General Abstract FormatGeneral Abstract Format

• Project TitleProject Title• Author, affiliations (university/department) Author, affiliations (university/department)

and Address, perhaps email…and Address, perhaps email…• Introduction – Foundation for research & Introduction – Foundation for research &

Purpose of Research (can put “overall goal”)Purpose of Research (can put “overall goal”)• Hypothesis- What you expectHypothesis- What you expect• Methods - How studiedMethods - How studied• Results - Principal findingsResults - Principal findings• Conclusion and Discussion - Success of Conclusion and Discussion - Success of

hypothesis and what findings meanhypothesis and what findings mean

Following the Rules…Following the Rules…

• Concise as possibleConcise as possible– Body length determinedBody length determined

• ~300 Words~300 Words• ~2500 Characters~2500 Characters

– Title length may be determinedTitle length may be determined

• Formatting specifiedFormatting specified– Font used and its sizeFont used and its size– Title capitalizationTitle capitalization

• Single spacedSingle spaced

Advice in WritingAdvice in Writing

• Abstracts are short but time-consumingAbstracts are short but time-consuming• Very information-dense, but simply formattedVery information-dense, but simply formatted• Write “long” and pare down if neededWrite “long” and pare down if needed• Analyze one sentence at a timeAnalyze one sentence at a time

– Each sentence has purposeEach sentence has purpose– Each sentence logically follows anotherEach sentence logically follows another

• Use plain English wherever you canUse plain English wherever you can• Use active voice when you canUse active voice when you can• State only your most important conclusion(s)State only your most important conclusion(s)• There is not good writing, only good rewritingThere is not good writing, only good rewriting

Following Conventions - Following Conventions - Tense in Scientific WritingTense in Scientific Writing

• Present tense – Present tense – – previously published information accepted as factpreviously published information accepted as fact

• In Intro and discussion: Spatial resolution of MR microscopy can reach 3 microns [ref].In Intro and discussion: Spatial resolution of MR microscopy can reach 3 microns [ref].

– Refer to other parts of your documentRefer to other parts of your document• Figure 4 shows a diffusion-weighted image.Figure 4 shows a diffusion-weighted image.

• Past tense - methods and results/actionsPast tense - methods and results/actions– What we did, saw, and foundWhat we did, saw, and found– Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane.Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane.– All animals exhibited significantly diminished learning capacity…All animals exhibited significantly diminished learning capacity…

Duke University Medical Centerhttp://wwwcivm.mc.duke.edu/civmResources/iplHelp/writing.tips/tenses.html

TitleTitle• Length and text style determined by conferenceLength and text style determined by conference• Optimally, identical to “paper” title:Optimally, identical to “paper” title:

– Very brief summary of researchVery brief summary of research• Omits “A study of,” “Investigations of,” etcOmits “A study of,” “Investigations of,” etc• Put species studiedPut species studied• Put limiting informationPut limiting information• Avoid “cute” or abbreviationsAvoid “cute” or abbreviations

– May or may not give resultsMay or may not give results• TopicTopic – Effects of phenobarbital on learning – Effects of phenobarbital on learning• Conclusive – Phenobarbatal diminishes learningConclusive – Phenobarbatal diminishes learning……

• Helps people to choose and find articleHelps people to choose and find article

• Ex: Effect of Owner Education Level on Number of Cats per Household• Ex: FGF-2 Induces Regeneration of the Chick Limb Bud

IntroductionIntroduction• What is the general topic you were What is the general topic you were

investigating and why is it important?investigating and why is it important?

• Provide supporting information for title Provide supporting information for title

• Generally max 3 sentencesGenerally max 3 sentences

• General information to specificGeneral information to specific

HypothesisHypothesis

• What are the specific questions you are What are the specific questions you are addressing with this project? addressing with this project?

• Sometimes you need two sentences, Sometimes you need two sentences, but one is better but one is better

MethodsMethods

• How did you do this experiment? How did you do this experiment?

• One or two sentences are needed for One or two sentences are needed for short abstract (175 words). Three for short abstract (175 words). Three for longer. longer.

• Just to give general ideaJust to give general idea

• No vendor info neededNo vendor info needed

ResultsResults• What did you find out? What did you find out? • One to two sentences ought to be enough: state only One to two sentences ought to be enough: state only

you main point(s). you main point(s). • IncludeInclude your most important data that influenced your your most important data that influenced your

conclusionconclusion– mean values, significance, standard deviations, mean values, significance, standard deviations,

number of samples you studied, etc.)number of samples you studied, etc.)

Conclusion/DiscussionConclusion/Discussion

• How did hypothesis turn out?How did hypothesis turn out?• What does your work mean?What does your work mean?• What is the big point that you want to What is the big point that you want to

take home? take home? • Usually one or two sentencesUsually one or two sentences

Acknowledgements of Funding

• At end, place recognition of funding source:– This work was supported in part by

• NIGMS MBRS-RISE GM 60655• NIGMS MARC-U*STAR GM 07717• Work Study Research Training Program

SACNAS Abstract Link

• http://www.sacnas.org/confNew/confClient/

• http://www.sacnas.org/confNew/confClient/current/register/attendee/abstract_summer.asp#guidelines

Writing an Effective Abstract

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