The art of writing an abstract

THE ART OF WRITING A

SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACT

Introduction

n abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis, review,

conference proceeding or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject

or discipline, and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the

paper's purpose and its quality. Most of the studies are indexed according

to the abstracts, keywords and authors. Abstract writing is a challenge and

is the first impression of the work being published, reviewed or which has

been published. “First Impression is the last Impression” implies to abstract

writing. One can be sensitized in few minutes about the quality and nature

of work done. A good abstract is concise and informative piece of words

presented in a scientific manner. Often conference organizers, publishers

and reviewers ask for the abstract first before proceeding to the full article.

The abstract should provide the context or background for the study and

should state the study’s purpose, basic procedures (selection of study

subjects or laboratory animals, observational and analytical methods), main

findings (giving specific effect sizes and their statistical significance, if

possible), principal conclusions, and funding source(s). It should emphasize

new and important aspects of the study or observations. While writing an

abstract, more time should be spent on presenting the main idea of the

work done rather than criticizing the ideas and methods adopted by others

for the same work. Always keep in mind that the abstract should be written

in such a way that it grasps the attention of the reader.

A

Qualities of a good abstract

Clear and concise, explain abbreviations at their first occurrence

Spread the knowledge! Share it!

Make short sentences

Brevity shows that it contains essential information

Word limit of 150 – 200 commonly used (not to exceed 250 in some

journals)

Justified according to the nature of work done

Self-contained

Stands on its own and follow the IMRAD pattern (explained later in

the text)

A good abstract is written for the work which has been done. It should

not be written for ongoing work

Adheres strictly to abstract guidelines and deadlines

Types of abstract

Descriptive: A descriptive abstract outlines the topics covered in a piece of

writing. It is like a table of contents in paragraph form.

Example of descriptive abstract:

HOMOEOPATHIC PERSPECTIVE OF THYROID DISORDERS

R. K. Manchanda1, Archana Narang2,Saurav Arora3, Latika Nagpal3

Abstract

Homoeopathy is a unique system of medicine based on individualization and symptom

similarity of the patient. It treats every sickness of a man as a whole and individualized

entity. The homoeopathic literature is loaded with vast examples of thyroid diseases and

their cure with homoeopathy. There are numerous examples of clinical and therapeutic

studies done on thyroid disorders but there are few peer reviewed controlled design

studies in Homoeopathy. Homoeopathic medicines play an important role in immuno

modulation at the cellular level and can cure cases of sub clinical & mild hypothyroidism

and hyperthyroidism. Homoeopathic Medicines due to their infinitesimal light isotopic

forms are capable of penetrating the Hypothalamus-Pituitary Axis. The need of the hour is

to carry out scientific, evidence based studies and case documentation to prove the


potential role of homeopathy in reversing the functional & immune disturbances of thyroid

gland.

Keywords: Homoeopathy and thyroid disorders, research in homoeopathy, autoimmune

thyroiditis, goiter, immuno-modulation

Informative: An informative abstract provides detail about the substance

of a piece of writing because readers will sometimes rely on the abstract

alone for information. Informative abstracts typically follow this format:

1. Introduction (to identifying problem or the subject undertaken for

the writing with bibliographic citation or other identification of the

document). Background of the statement can also be added in one

or two lines (I)

2. Material and methods (M)

3. Results in a concise and brief manner (R)

4. Analysis (A)

5. Discussion and Conclusion(s) (main points only) (D)

One can remember the simple pneumonic for this “IMRAD”

Example of informative abstract:

PREVALENCE OF THYROID DISORDERS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN IN DELHI – POST IODIZATION SCENARIO

An epidemiological survey conducted by SHMC & Hospital and Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, Delhi, India, under the first phase of EMR project on “Effects

of Homoeopathic treatment on natural history of autoimmune thyroiditis” by AYUSH

V. K. Chauhan1, R. K. Manchanda2, Archana Narang1*, Saurav Arora3,

Latika Nagpal3 , R. K. Marwaha4

Abstract

Introduction: Optimal thyroid function is essential for normal growth and development in

young population. Autoimmune thyroiditis is becoming increasingly prevalent in children as

evident from goiter surveys.

Material & Methods: Screening of 4543 children between 6-18 years of age from

different schools of Delhi was done during the first phase of research study under EMR


project by AYUSH for thyroid function status - clinically, serologically &

ultrasonographically.

Result: Data of 4506 children has been analyzed & it has been found that goiter is

prevalent at mild endemic level in children (17%) even after two decades of iodization.

Significant increase in anti TPO ab positivity (6.39%) and thyroid dysfunction (11.92%) was

found in school children.

Conclusion: Significant increase in overall anti TPO ab positivity and thyroid dysfunction

raises suspicion about the role of prolonged iodine supplementation.

Keywords: anti thyro-peroxidase antibody (anti TPO ab), free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4), goiter,

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), subclinical hypothyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity,

universal salt iodization (USI).

Decreased Intensity of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in ChickChorioallantoic Membrane Under Influence of Ultradiluted Belladonna Extract

1Bhaswati Bandyopadhyay, 2Satadal Das, 1Milan Sengupta, 3Chandan Saha,4Kartick Chandra Das, 4Debabrata Sarkar and 5Chaturbhuj Nayak

1Department of Microbiology, Virology Unit, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata-700073, India

2Department of Pathology and Microbiology, D.N. De H. Medical College,West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata-700046, India

3Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology,School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata-700073, India

4Drug Proving Research Centre, CCRH, Government of India,Kolkata-700 046, India

5Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health, CCRH, Government of India, JLN Anudandhan Bhawan,

61-65 Intitutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058

Abstract

Problem statement: No specific antiviral therapy is currently available despite an

emergence and resurgence of Japanese encephalitis in South-East Asian Countries. There

are only few recent studies, which were aimed to treat Japanese encephalitis with newer

drugs. There is thus a real need for study on antiviral agents that can reduce the toll of

death and neurological sequelae resulting from infection with this virus. Approach:

Optimum dilution of the JE virus was determined which could produce significant number

of pocks on Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM). Then Ultradiluted belladonna preparations

were used to see their inhibitory action on JE virus infection in CAM. Results: Ultradiluted

belladonna showed significantly decreased pock count in CAM in comparison to JE virus

control. Conclusion: Ultradiluted belladonna could inhibit JE virus infection in CAM,


which may be mediated through glycosidase inhibitory role of calystegines present in

belladonna.

Key words: Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM), pock,

belladonna

Requisites of an abstract: Motivation: The first thing which is needed to carry out a work is

motivation. It defines the area and effort one wants to put or search

for a quality and purposeful work and writing. Poorly motivated works

usually are of low quality and are rejected for most of the time. This

portion also emphasize upon the importance of work carried.

Problem statement: The next step after motivation is defining the

problem statement we are undertaking, this includes the scope of

problem we are trying to solve. The importance of problem must also

be defined, as the outcome of the study will largely depend upon the

problem(s) we have defined. The problem statement is defined using

the tool, “Literature review” aggressively and exhaustively. Previous

research and work done also help us to define problem statement in a

finer and more descriptive way.

Approach: It is also known as material and methods. This portion is

vital to a research as it tells us how the work was carried over and

tools used. Material and methods simply implies to the “entire set of

things” which were used during the research and “how” they were

used. It can range from screening, inclusion of subjects, medicines

used, frequency of repetition and follow ups, change of remedy,

investigations and procedures followed etc.

Results: Results obtained in the work should be presented and

compiled in an easy comprehensible manner. Results can both be

presented in running manner and tabulate form. Results must not be

confusing and complex. The stress should be given to authentic and

obtained result. Results obtained doesn’t mean only the positive

outcomes, it is an array of the observations and facts obtained and


should be presented in the same way they have appeared, observed or

made.

Conclusion: conclusions are the inferences drawn after obtaining the

results. Conclusion must be written in an informative and successive

manner so that it becomes easy for the reader to make a hierarchy of

thoughts regarding the outcomes of the study.

Formatting: One should not complain about the fact that single page

is too short to write the whole idea. One should take advantage of the

number of word limit given for abstract writing as too short abstract

looks as bad as too long. The title should be put in header outside the

text. One should use paragraphs and indents to separate blocks of

texts with spacing slightly larger than line spacing. The space

between lines should be 1.5 – 2.0. Short titles to the paragraphs may

be given in informative abstracts which set them apart.

Other considerations: Some journals request that following the

abstract 3-10 keywords or short phrases that capture the main topics

of the article may be provided and identified by the author. These

keywords will assist indexers in cross indexing the article.

“Don’t’s” in an abstract

Avoid using long article like introductory sentences. Introduction

must not exceed one or two lines

Details of material and methods adopted (highlight only the details of

material and methods adopted). Methods should be provided in

generic terms and not much detail which can be explained in final

presentation

Descriptive names of institutions, registration numbers, and

identification marks, etc.

References, tables and figures are not to be given in abstract

Future tense must not be used in abstract and it should look as if the

paper is already written


Avoid using adverbs and adjectives

Avoid identifying yourself all too obviously, like “I have done this”

Conclusion: An abstract is a piece of hard work which makes an article or

a research paper easy to comprehend, interesting to read upon and shorter

to be indexed in database. Abstract writing is not an easy job. Take time to

write the abstract, once you have written it go through it and let others

read it. Reread it and go through it after one or two weeks. This will make

you learn a lot about your own ideas. The positive criticism from your fellow

researchers or colleagues will help in refining your ideas and

misunderstanding and ambiguities will get clarified. Abstract should be

simple, easy to comprehend, short and concise.

References:

1. Koopman, Phil. "How to Write an Abstract"

http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html, April 2004.

2. Seminar on Scientific and Technical Writing, CCRH headquarters,

March 2008

3. Dr Rajni Kant, Assembling and organizing data, Indian Council for

Medical Research, March 2008

4. Johan Roorvck, Vincent Van Heuven, Guidelines for writing abstracts,

http://www.leidenuiv.nl/hil/abstr.htm , Apr 1999

Authors:

1. Dr. Archana Narang, M.D., Medical officer (Teaching), currently

working as Co-Investigator in EMR project of CCRH on Autoimmune

thyroiditis in collaboration with Institute of Nuclear Medicine and

Allied Sciences (INMAS). She has many credentials being author and


http://www.leidenuiv.nl/hil/abstr.htm

http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html

co-author in several national and international publications. You can

contact her at - [email protected]

2. Dr. Saurav Arora, B.H.M.S. (Gold Medalist), currently working as

Senior Research Fellow at SHMCH in a project on autoimmune

thyroiditis. You can contact him at:-

[email protected],http://cinchonabark.wordpress.com

The art of abstract writing presented here is an endeavor to share the scientific culture amongst research minded fraternity.


http://cinchonabark.wordpress.com/

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The art of writing an abstract

Health & Medicine

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