HOW TO WRITE AN ABSTRACT

Mustapha Muktar, Ph.D

Department of Economics

Bayero University Kano-Nigeria

Abstract is a very important component of scientific researches and papers/reports as well. Academic literature uses the abstract to succinctly communicate complex research. An abstract may act as a stand-alone entity instead of a full paper. As such, an abstract is used by many organizations as the basis for selecting research that is proposed for presentation in the form of a poster. It is therefore mandatory for all research projects to contain abstracts. This piece of note is therefore intended for my research project students (both undergraduate and postgraduate levels).

Abstract should contain brief introduction of the research, brief statement of the research problem, summary of main objective of the research, brief methodology employed. A summary of major findings and lastly summary of the main conclusion and major recommendation(s). Abstract length varies by discipline and publisher requirements. Typical length ranges from 100 to 500 words, but very rarely more than a page. Abstracts are written in single spacing and sometimes in italics but this are not necessary. However they should not be more than 500 words at the same time not more tha