Dissertation abstract: introduction

Writing a dissertation abstract is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an acknowledged scholar. The abstract will help potential readers determine the relevance of your research and communicate the key parts of your dissertation to those who don’t have time to read the whole abstract. You can think of a dissertation abstract as the brief summary of your dissertation, meant to offer helpful insights into the paper’s methodology, findings, implications, and purpose. If you want to make an impression on your readers, your dissertation abstract example should be clear, concise, and informative. 

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What is a dissertation abstract?

What is a dissertation abstract in general terms? A dissertation abstract is a standalone summary of your dissertation that you can find at the beginning of an academic paper. The primary goal of a dissertation abstract is to provide a short overview of the topic without going into much detail or overwhelming the reader. Your audience must know if your paper relates to their area of interest before they read the full dissertation. Typically, an abstract for a dissertation is between 150 and 300 words. 

The average dissertation abstract length is determined by the institution that you are in or the academic field that you study. An abstract should be entirely self-contained, meaning that it should communicate the main ideas of your work without the audience having to read the dissertation body to understand what your paper is about. The dissertation abstract has several goals:

• To guide the readers. A clear abstract will help the readers determine whether their interests align with your research paper. 
• To increase visibility. All abstracts are kept in special academic databases, which means other scholars will locate your paper easily. 
• To summarize your work. If your dissertation abstract is well-written, it will provide your audience with an outline of the paper with its core principles captured briefly. 
• To demonstrate the value of your paper. By delivering a short overview of the paper, you emphasize its importance and value in the academic field.

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Key elements of a dissertation abstract 

If the dissertation abstract is structured correctly, it will serve as a guide for your readers and will help them navigate your paper and its content with ease. Below are the key elements of a dissertation abstract that you need to be aware of:

Purpose and problem statement

The purpose statement identifies the primary focus of your research. It also provides a context to the study and outlines the main problem you are going to explore in the dissertation. This section of the dissertation abstract should be as clear and concise as possible. It should also allow the readers to understand the core problem that you are researching.

Example: This dissertation explores the relationship between early education and academic performance, investigating whether parental involvement plays a role in the learning outcomes of primary school students.

Methods and approach

This is a part of the dissertation abstract that will require the scholars to describe and analyze the methods they have used to collect information for their research. Before you start outlining your methods and approach, you need to check the tools used in the research process. When writing an abstract for a dissertation, you could use qualitative interviews, surveys, observations, or a combination of methods to make your research complete. 

Example: A mixed-method approach was employed in this study. We have gathered data from 100 students through interviews and combined this information with qualitative surveys with parents to capture a more extended view of how the parents’ influence can affect the students’ primary school education.

Key findings

How to write a dissertation abstract with key findings? Key findings are an important part of the dissertation structure. The section highlights the most significant results and how they relate to the research question. However, you have to make sure that you do not overload this section with unnecessary details or findings that don’t really matter on a large scope. You only have to include the dissertation abstract findings that matter on a large scale of your research. Focus on the results that address the main purpose of your study.

Example: These findings indicate a strong connection between parental involvement and improved academic performance in children. This correlation is especially visible in reading comprehension and problem-solving activities.

Conclusions and implications

Your dissertation abstract should conclude with you briefly discussing the broader implications of your findings. You can also address how your research can affect future studies and highlight the potential applications of your findings. This is the section reserved to emphasize the significance of your paper and its relevance to other practitioners and researchers.

Example: These results emphasize the importance of parental involvement in early childhood education and suggest that schools should be more involved in supporting family involvement in education.

Writing a dissertation abstract: length, format, and style

Writing a dissertation abstract requires attention to its length, format, and style. If you are writing a dissertation abstract for the first time, you have to follow the instructional guidelines with precision and know what your institution expects of you in terms of abstract formatting. Here is what a typical abstract for a lab report or thesis needs to have in order to be considered coherent:

• Length and word count. How long should a dissertation abstract be? Abstracts are normally between 150 and 300 words. You should always check the guidelines of your university, as some institutions specify the exact number of words your abstract should have. If there is no specified number in the dissertation instructions, you should always rely on the general university guidelines with the dissertation abstract never exceeding 300 words. 
• Formatting.  Most abstracts are presented as single paragraphs. In some cases, an abstract may take two paragraphs, but that is a rare occurrence and should be discussed with your dissertation instructor. You should never use headers or section breaks within the paragraph (the abstract is self-contained and should not have section breaks to separate your content).
• Style. There is a universal rule on abstract style that says a dissertation abstract should always remain neutral, formal, objective, and unbiased, which means it should only be based on facts and should never be affected by personal opinions or beliefs. Scholars should also avoid using excessive slang or professional terms, as the dissertation will be read by people outside your field.
• No citations. As a general rule, the abstracts should not contain references or citations. The purpose of an abstract is to convey all the necessary information without the need to consult secondary sources or search for additional data elsewhere. The audience should find all the information they require within the paragraph.

Following these guidelines will help you formulate an abstract that will sound professional and appeal to a wide audience of scholars and researchers.

Dissertation abstract example

Abstract example:

This dissertation examines the impact of R. Salvatore’s The Legend of the Elf series, featuring the dark elf Do’Urden, on the Dungeons and Dragons video game adaptations. By analyzing the prevalent themes and characters in Salvatore’s work and comparing them to the overall narrative framework in Dungeons and Dragons, the research highlights how the elf’s depiction as a hero with morally complex motivations has expanded the definition of the fantasy genre. Through a mixed-methods approach and expert interviews, this study determines the ways in which Salvatore’s character defies the standard fantasy tropes and impacts the fantasy RPG genre.

The results suggest that the main character’s integration into the multilayered universe of Dungeons and Dragons video games has led to the improved representation of morally gray and ambiguous characters in the game’s narrative options. The shift reflects a dramatic change in fantasy gaming, where complex characters prevail over one-note characters, adding depth to the fantasy gaming genre and aligning the player’s experiences with the nuanced storytelling presented by Salvatore’s novels. Ultimately, the dissertation contends that The Legend of the Elf has added cultural meaning to Dungeons and Dragons video games and encouraged the adoption of more sophisticated character narratives across the RPG genre, offering an experience that can be described as narratively rich and emotionally compelling. 

Keywords: Dark elf, Dungeons and Dragons, R. Salvatore, fantasy literature, RPG, character development, video game adaptation.

Tips for writing a dissertation abstract 

To write an abstract that will provide an effective summary of your dissertation, you have to consider the following tips and practices:

• Start with the research question. Start by clearly defining the research question. This will serve as a warm-up for your audience and give them a deeper insight into your study. 
• Highlight the key findings. Since all abstracts written for a dissertation should be as brief as possible, make sure that you only include relevant findings. 
• Use active voice and strong verbs. Although the use of passive voice is not forbidden, you should attempt to render your thoughts with the active voice as often as you can. This will make your abstract easier to read and comprehend. 
• Include relevant keywords. You should always include relevant keywords in your dissertation abstract. These can improve the visibility of the abstract in academic databases. 
• Avoid repeating words. Avoid using words that are taken directly out of your dissertation body. Your dissertation abstract should be a standalone overview that does not repeat your dissertation verbatim.
• Make your abstract self-contained. The researchers should remember that a dissertation abstract should always be treated as a self-contained guide to your research paper. Do not include citations, references, or any quotes that will require your audience to understand further context.

Tips on avoiding common mistakes in a dissertation abstract 

Here is how the students can avoid making mistakes as they write a dissertation abstract:

• Avoid vagueness. Do not use metaphors or overly complicated language. Your dissertation abstract should be brief, clear, and to the point, outlining your goals and methodology without vagueness.
• Use simple words.  If you insist on using highly technical terms for your dissertation abstract, this may easily alienate readers from your study. If you must use professional words, do so sparingly and make sure the terms are explained in accessible language.
• Avoid additional context. Your abstract should only be focused on summarizing the study, meaning that you are not allowed to go into much detail or overwhelm readers with extraneous information that requires additional clarification.
• Summarize your findings. Your findings are a key part of your dissertation abstract, so you have to do your best to provide a concise summary that will encapsulate your results.

Conclusion

A dissertation abstract is one of the most essential parts of your research project. At its core, the abstract should deliver a concise summary of your study without giving additional context to the readers. It should also highlight your study’s findings, methods, purpose, and implications. With a well-structured dissertation abstract, you will be able to enhance your paper’s visibility in academic databases and emphasize the significance of your research. If you are working to summarize your research in an effective way, make sure you avoid common pitfalls like providing too much background information and references or using overly technical terms for your dissertation abstract.