The abstract is possibly the most crucial part of your dissertation for a range of reasons. First, journal editors evaluate the abstract before determining whether to forward your paper for evaluation. Similar to this, when your work is published, it is the first part that readers look at; frequently, it is the only section of the dissertation that they will ever read. This is due in part to the fact that many literature databases only index abstracts and full-text articles are frequently obtainable.
• A significant element of the Master dissertation is the abstract.
• To make the most of a limited amount of space, utilize the below-mentioned six suggestions.
• Conclude clearly, but do not exaggerate the work.
1. First start with writing the paper
When your research is finished, some authors will advise you to compose the abstract right away. However, it is likely that your dissertation writing has been stretched out over months or even years; as a result, the whole picture of your accomplishments might not be current in your mind. This issue is resolved by first writing the paper, which successfully refreshes your memory as you consolidate all the elements of your work into a single document.
If you are struggling to begin, you might want to look through your dissertation and underline the key phrases in each area (introduction, methodology, results, and discussion/conclusions).
2. Give some background information in the Introduction before stating your goal
Your abstract's initial section has a lot of important space. The reader must be informed in these 1-3 sentences as to the purpose and background of your research.
Abstract immediately grabs the attention of the reader. The content might go on to describe what information is lacking in the field or what previous researchers have done to try to address the problem and what is the gap in the literature.
3. Give a brief description of the methodology
You can summarise the fundamental layout of your study in the methods portion of your abstract. Excessive detail is unnecessary; however you should quickly describe the main strategies and methods employed in the study.
4. Clearly state the key conclusions of your study
The research results section of the abstract is most likely the most significant section, just as the abstract can be the most crucial section of your work. This is due to the fact that your abstract's primary purpose is to inform readers of your analysis and findings. As a result, the findings portion should be the longest in your abstract, and you should aim to provide as much information as possible.
5. Avoid overstating the case and concisely explain the conclusion
The last few of lines of your abstract should be devoted to the proposed study's conclusions, which are its main point. Starting this part with sentences like "Our study revealed that..." or "Overall, we conclude that..." is an excellent idea. Then, clearly describe your major conclusion. You might also include any other fascinating secondary results you may have. Consider ending your essay with a statement that outlines your work's theoretical or practical significance and/or how it has progressed the field. This will make it easier for readers to comprehend the significance of your findings.
As was pointed out previously, a large number of readers who are unable to access the entire text of your dissertation will only read the abstract, and without access to your data, they will be forced to accept your findings at face value. To avoid misleading the readers, it is important that you do not exaggerate the conclusions in the abstract.
6. Points to avoid in the abstract
There is typically a strict word limit on the abstract because it serves as an overview of the research. It can be difficult to condense all of your work's most crucial elements into a 250-word paragraph. But the task might be a little bit easier if you know what to avoid when writing the abstract.
