The Ultimate Guide to Scientific Papers, Part 2

The scientific abstract format is not like a typical abstract, which is usually designed to be alluring to a wide range of readers. The scientific abstract is an abbreviated version of the key points of a research paper. It includes results and is designed to make a paper searchable in databases and to inform other professionals if the work is relevant to them. If you want to know how to write a scientific abstract, then this is the guide for you.

The most basic advice is to be methodical. People often peel away the layers of anxiety about scientific papers only to realize that underneath that is a thick layer of boredom. Even for those who love doing and reading science, writing it can be difficult. (Fortunately, there are professional who enjoy writing science and some of them make a living writing science for others.)

After writing a scientific paper that demands excruciating detail and specificity, the scientific abstract can leave a feeling of mental whiplash. After needing an entire paragraph to describe your beakers and pipettes, you now are being asked to review your entire experiment in 50 to 150 words.

Consider that each sentence will be about 15 to 20 words, maybe a little longer. (That sentence was 15 words.) A shorter abstract means you should stick to the lower end of the sentence recommendations below and a longer abstract would lean toward the upper end of the recommendations.

Don’t focus on your negative feelings. Writing a scientific abstract often overwhelms people because the examples are full of words, ideas, and concepts, that the average student does not understand. Science makes us aware of our ignorance. Remind yourself that ignorance is an opportunity to learn, which is why you are in school in the first place. If you already knew, you wouldn’t be there!

Don’t use absolutes. In a scientific abstract, absolutes are out (i.e. everyone, all, etc.) and so is “proved” (proof, proven, and every other form of that word and its synonyms.) You investigated how common a positive response to vanilla ice cream was. You found (not discovered) evidence to suggest (support, indicate, signify, etc) that is was very common, among adults, in the Venice Beach area. You are specific about who you asked, adults, and where they were at the time, Venice Beach.

Don’t lie. Your abstract is somewhat like an advertisement for your paper, but unlike an advertisement, a good abstract is completely honest. “Everyone loves vanilla ice cream and we proved it!” is a commercial, not an abstract.

Your abstract will need to cover the following a few basic areas. If this is your first abstract, cover these four bases, in this order:

• State your research question
• List your basic methods and materials
• State your key results
• Include at least one short sentence on a finding and/ or major recommendation

Now consider how long your scientific abstract should be. A paragraph would be about 80 to 120 words; a half page would be about 150 words. Take that word count and apply to each of the sections stated above.

• Your research question can take about 15 to 30 words. (One or two sentences.)

Shorter example: This paper examines the effect of reduced sunlight on dandelion growth.

Longer example: This paper examines rates of dandelion growth in different circumstances. The independent variable was the quantity of sunlight and the dependent variable was the height of the plant and the width of the flower.

• Your methods and materials need another 30 to 45 words. (Two or three sentences.)

Example: All plants were in pots of the same size, with the same amount of dirt (measured by weight) and water (measured by volume). Half of the plants were shaded from direct sunlight by plywood. Growth rates were measured every day for eight weeks.

• Your key results can be expressed in 30 to 45 words, as well. (Two or three sentences.)

Example: Of the 20 plants in each group, 18 full sunlight plants survived and nine partial sunlight plants survived. The average height for partial sunlight plants was 1.1 inches shorter, and the average flower width was .24 inches shorter.

• Include at least one short sentence on a finding and/ or major recommendation. (About 15 to 35 words.)

Using standard deviation, the results were found to be statistically significant, so this study indicates that dandelions grow better in full sunlight than in partial sunlight. Future research might examine whether fertilizer or additional water can compensate for a lack of sun.

In general, creating new files at each stage of the writing process is a terrible idea. Students end up with a dozen documents that don’t actually provide any valuable information. However, keeping a copy of your outline is often very helpful when writing scientific papers, especially when it comes time to write the scientific abstract.

If you haven’t kept a copy of your outline, you can recreate it by using the text of your finished paper. In your finished paper, you can find your research question very easily. You can also quickly pick out your sampling method, the key independent and dependant variables, your data collection method, and your method of analysis.

You really can just copy and paste each, one after the other into a single paragraph. Then, you can edit the paragraph to a smaller size and add a sentence or two about your results and recommendations for future research.