Abstract

Abstracts should accurately summarise the main text.

Structure of the abstract

Usually around 250 words.

Introduction: Provide context, identify the knowledge gap, and state the study’s aims and scope (2–3 sentences).
Methods: Summarise the study design (e.g., location, population, model; 1–2 sentences).
Results: Present the most important or interesting¹ findings (2–3 sentences).
Discussion: Highlight the most important or interesting¹ conclusions and their implications (2–3 sentences).

Check your field

Check your target journal to see what the abstract should look like exactly.

E.g. clearly answer the main research question, unexpected or counterintuitive, or has implications for policy or future research. ↩ ↩²