Writing Clear Summaries Of Research Findings

90% of academic abstracts are forgettable. Here’s how to write one that actually gets read, shared, and cited. Let’s be honest → Most abstracts are filled with fluff. → They bury the problem. → They confuse the reader before they even reach the results. If your abstract doesn’t grab attention within seconds, it fails, no matter how groundbreaking your research is. So what does a powerful abstract actually include? This 4-part framework breaks it down: ———————————————————— 1️⃣ PURPOSE ★ Define the Problem → What is the gap your research is addressing? → Why does it matter; academically or socially? ➤ Set the stage ➤ Identify the gap ➤ Emphasize relevance to your field Too many abstracts skip this and jump into methods. Don’t. Context is everything. ———————————————————— 2️⃣ METHODS ★ Describe What You Did → Did you run a qualitative study? A meta-analysis? → What tools or datasets did you use? ➤ Keep it short ➤ Avoid jargon ➤ Make it understandable even to someone outside your field This isn’t the place for a full protocol. Just enough to establish credibility. ———————————————————— 3️⃣ RESULTS ★ Show the Discovery → What did you find and why does it matter? ➤ Highlight the most critical results ➤ Use numbers: % increase, significance levels, etc. ➤ Focus on what moves knowledge forward Don’t drown the reader in data. One or two sharp findings are more impactful than five vague ones. ———————————————————— 4️⃣ CONCLUSION ★ Make It Matter → What do these results mean in the real world? ➤ Tie it back to your field, your audience, or global challenges ➤ Avoid hype; ground your claims in your data ➤ Include implications, recommendations, or calls to action This is your chance to move beyond academia. Make the reader care. ———————————————————— Final Tips → Use active voice. → Avoid filler. → Stay within 250 words. → Aim for clarity > complexity. ———————————— 💬 What part of abstract writing challenges you the most? ♻ Repost or send this to someone preparing a thesis or manuscript. #AcademicWriting |#ResearchExcellence

Jason's consistent writing principles tailored for high-impact empirical business research. As I've worked on putting together my paper-writing seminar, I've developed a list of writing principles that I think people might find interesting. Section One: Structural and Stylistic Principles (1) Lead with the Contribution * State the empirical finding and theoretical contribution clearly in the abstract, introduction, and each section opening. * Avoid “mystery novel” builds; use “newspaper” style (Cochrane; Starbuck) (see next post). (2) One Paper, One Contribution * Frame the manuscript around a single, central, novel contribution. * Trim or reframe secondary analyses (Cochrane; Bem). (3) Empirical Clarity over Jargon * Define constructs precisely. * Differentiate constructs from adjacent concepts. Avoid theoretical fog (Pinker; Starbuck). (4) Start Strong, Finish Stronger * First sentence = empirical anchor. * Last paragraph = theoretical resonance + boundary conditions. * No “more research is needed” clichés (Starbuck; Bem). Section Two: Theoretical Integrity and Positioning (5) Anchor Constructs in Theory and Context * Establish the focal construct’s position in a nomological network (antecedents, outcomes, moderators). * Cite prior work only after stating your theoretical move (Bem; Thatcher et al. 2002, 2018). (6) Match Theory to Data * Align theoretical scope and granularity with the level of data analysis (individual, team, org). * Avoid overreach; respect construct and data maturity (Cochrane; Bem; MISQ examples). (7) Clarify the Type of Contribution * Specify whether you’re validating, refining, or extending constructs or theory. Be explicit about generalizability bounds (Thatcher et al.; Bem). Section Three: Sentence and Paragraph Discipline (8) Topic Sentences Drive Paragraphs * Every paragraph starts with a sentence that summarizes the key idea. Keep to one point per paragraph (Starbuck; Pinker). (9) Avoid Academic Throat-Clearing * Eliminate vague openings like “The IS field has long been interested in…” or “As technology evolves…” (Cochrane; Pinker). (10) Eliminate Unnecessary Words * Edit for compression and clarity. Avoid metacommentary and verbose qualifiers (Strunk & White; Bem). Section Four: Empirical Craft and Presentation (11) Show, Don’t Just Tell * Present empirical findings clearly in tables/figures. Use those to lead—not trail—the write-up (Thatcher et al.; Starbuck). (12) Explain How, Not Just What * In results and discussion, interpret the “why” behind empirical patterns—link back to theoretical framing. (13) Name Constructs Consistently * Use precise, unambiguous terminology across abstract, intro, model, methods, and discussion (Starbuck; Thatcher et al.). I am sure that I've missed a few - but - 13 feels like enough. I hope they help others as they pursue publication (or teaching others how to publish). Best of luck! #academicwriting

Guide to Essay 5 - Commonwealth Shared Scholarship PROMPT Provide a short outline of your proposed study/research. This should be written for an audience that does not have any prior knowledge of the subject, and must not be overly technical. Any abbreviations or specialist terms must be explained. 1️⃣ Consider the reviewer as you write Assume your reviewer has little or no background knowledge in the subject area. This means you should avoid ‘too much’ jargon, technical language, and abbreviations. 👉 Simplify: Your explanation should be clear and accessible. Aim to explain your topic in a way that an intelligent high school student could understand. 2️⃣ Identify and focus on the core of your research. Be clear in defining your research and the central focus of your study 👉Instead of saying "I will research epigenetic modifications," say, "I want to further understand how certain changes in our DNA, which do not alter the genetic code itself, can affect the way our body functions as we age." 3️⃣ Frame the importance of your research Why it matters: Explain why this topic is important in a simple way. Highlight the relevance of your study to real-world challenges. 4️⃣ Outline the Objectives Your Goals: State your research objectives in a straightforward manner. Example: "The goal of my study is to identify markers in our genes that can tell us more about how people age. With these markers, we may be able to create new therapies to keep people healthier as they grow older.” 5️⃣ Describe the methods in layman’s terms Explain your approach: Provide a simple explanation of how you will conduct your research. Use analogies if needed to make it more relatable. Avoid technical jargon: Replace words like "sequencing" with more general descriptions, like “analyzing the DNA to look for changes." Example: "I will be studying different kinds of cells from people of various ages to find changes that might explain why some people develop age-related diseases." 6️⃣ Include potential outcomes and impact expected results: Briefly state what you hope to find. 7️⃣ Explain the broader impact: Connect your findings to a real-world impact. How could your research improve people's lives? Example: This research could help create treatments that slow down the aging process, allowing people to stay healthier longer. 9️⃣ Keep it concise Short and Clear - Make sure each part of your outline is to the point. 👉 Aim to provide just enough information to make your research understandable 👉 Avoid too many details - Your goal is to communicate the essence of your research, not every detail. #share #repost #commonwealth #scholarship