Research Writing: Types of Abstracts
Different types of abstracts serve various purposes in research writing:
1. Descriptive Abstracts
- Provides a brief snapshot of the research.
- Outlines the research topic, purpose, scope, and mentions methodology.
- Does not include specific results or conclusions.
- Length: 100-150 words.
- Use: Offers a general overview to help readers decide if they want to read the full paper.
2. Informative Abstracts
- Gives a detailed summary of the research.
- Covers the research problem, methods, key findings, results, and conclusions.
- Length: 150-300 words, depending on complexity.
- Use: Provides a thorough summary of research for academic journals and databases.
3. Choosing the Right Type
- Descriptive abstracts: Quick overview, useful for less detailed studies.
- Informative abstracts: Detailed summary, useful for in-depth research findings.