How to Write a Great Dissertation Abstract

Meta title: How to Write a Great Dissertation Abstract

Meta description: This post is the best step-by-step guide, with examples and expert tips, on how to write an abstract for a dissertation.

Writing a Dissertation Abstract

A dissertation abstract is a crucial part of this complex type of academic paper. Coming at the start of the dissertation, an abstract is a short description (call it summary) of your work that helps to get the reader up to speed on the aims and outcomes of the study.

Although the abstract is located at the beginning of the dissertation, you should write it at the very end so that you have the entire report to summarize. So, here are the main things that you need to include in an abstract.

• The objective and research problem of the dissertation
• The research methods.
• Results from the study.
• The conclusion to the study.

In most cases, the abstract in dissertation is pretty short, about 150-300 words. However, different universities have varying limitations on length, so check the guideline from your department.

How to Write an Abstract for a Dissertation

Once done with the dissertation, the abstract should be on its own page, immediately after the dissertation title page, and acknowledgements, but prior to the table of content. So, how do you write an abstract?

Aim

To craft a winning abstract, you should start by defining the study purpose. So, tell the reader about the theoretical or practical problem that the study is responding to. Also, indicate the research questions that the study seeks to answer.

Note that when writing the abstract, you can either use past or present tense. See the two examples below, showing two things: how not to write it, and how to write it.

• Wrong: This study will evaluate the relationship between use of computer games and violence among teenagers.
• Right: This study investigates the relationship between the use of computer games and violence among teenagers.

Methods

The next item on writing an abstract for a dissertation is indicating the research methods that you used.  Indeed, you should make this as straightforward as possible. Remember that you should not go into details of analyzing the validity of the study or obstacles. See the examples below:

• Wrong: Interviews will be done with 30 participants.
• Right: Interviews were conducted with 25 participants.

Results

When it comes to the results, you need to summarize them. You can do this part in the past simple tense or present. See the example below:

• Wrong: Our analysis has shown a great correlation between the use of violent games and violence in teenagers.
• Right: Our analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between the use of violent computer games and violence in teenagers.
• Right: Our analysis shows a strong correlation between the use of violent computer games and violence in teenagers.

Conclusion

This is the last section of your dissertation abstract. Here, you need to provide a direct answer to the research question in your study. The goal is to ensure that by the reader will clearly understand the core argument in the study. Note that conclusions in abstracts are done in past participle.

• Right: We concluded that violent computer games increase the risk of violence in teenagers.
• We conclude that violent computer games increase the risk of violence in teenagers.

Keywords

If your dissertation will be published, your department might require that you provide a list of keywords at the bottom of the abstract. The keywords are used to reference the most crucial elements of the study to help readers easily navigate through your paper during searches.

You might want to check other top dissertations to understand how to write a dissertation abstract.

Pro Tips for Writing Abstract for Dissertation

At this point, we must indicate that summarizing a whole dissertation into a few paragraphs is not a simple task. But because the abstract is the first thing that readers get when reading your dissertations, it is very important that you get it right. So, here are some useful tips to guide you.

• The abstract of a dissertation should give a summary of the entire dissertation. So, so consider summarizing every section of the dissertation, and put the summaries together to form the abstract.
• Read dissertation abstract examples to learn how other writers did their abstracts. Take a keen interest in how the experts wh summarized their works in the abstract example dissertation. Then, make a better abstract for your dissertation.
• Make sure to write concisely. A great abstract should be short and to the point. Therefore, you need to ensure that every word you use when writing a dissertation counts.
• Strictly follow the guidelines provided by your department. In most universities, the guidelines for writing dissertations are provided by individual departments. So, make sure that you understand these formatting guidelines and strictly follow them.
• Work with your supervisor. When writing your dissertation, it is important to involve your supervisor at every stage. Having supervised other dissertations, your supervisor will be able to tell you if you are on the right track or not. If he/she recommends that you make changes, stick to the recommendations.

Dissertation Abstract Checklist

In addition to the above tips and guide, use the checklist below to ensure your dissertation abstract has all the required components. You might also want to check how a different dissertation abstract example applied all the components in the checklist.

• The word count of your dissertation abstract is within the recommended limit. This is usually one page.
• The abstract is positioned well in the dissertation. This should be after the title page and acknowledgements, but prior to the table of contents.
• The abstract clearly states the research problem or objective.
• The abstract clearly and briefly describes the dissertation methodology.
• The results of the study have been summarized.
• The conclusion of the study is clearly stated.
• The abstract is properly proofread.
• It can be clearly understood even by a person without prior knowledge on the subject.

Seek Help from Professional Dissertation Writers

The abstract is one of the most important parts of a dissertation because it helps to introduce the whole argument in the dissertation to the reader. Therefore, you have to get it right. Using our guide and expert tips, you can now get started with crafting a winning dissertation abstract. But even with the guide and even using a good dissertation abstract example, many students still find it a challenge. Well, do not get stuck or stressed about writing a dissertation abstract because help is only a click away. Seek help from professional dissertation writers.

Expert thesis writers have a deep understanding of what is an abstract in a dissertation, and vast experience in similar works. Whether it is your dissertation which was complicated, time is limited, have other engagements, or feel worn out after the lengthy writing process, writing help is all that you need. Well, why risk getting it when expert writing help is easily available?