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Question 1

What is an abstract?

Answer 1

A summary or synopsis of the full research paper.

Question 2

What is the purpose of an abstract?

Answer 2

To summarize major aspects and give an overview of the main story of the paper.

Question 3

What sections should be briefly summarized in an abstract?

Answer 3

Each main section of the paper (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).

Question 4

What is the ideal length of a well-written abstract?

Answer 4

Typically 100-300 words.

Question 5

Why is the abstract important on journal websites?

Answer 5

It’s often the only part freely available to readers and can determine if they read further.

Question 6

What style and format are commonly used for abstracts?

Answer 6

Simple/conventional or structured; descriptive or informative.

Question 7

What is the IMRAD structure?

Answer 7

Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion format.

Question 8

Why should an abstract avoid abbreviations?

Answer 8

To ensure clarity as readers might only see the abstract and not understand abbreviations.

Question 9

What are the two main types of abstract styles?

Answer 9

Descriptive and Informative.

Question 10

What is a graphical abstract?

Answer 10

A single, concise visual summary of the main findings of the article.

Question 11

When should you write the abstract?

Answer 11

After completing the main text to avoid inconsistencies.

Question 12

What is a structured abstract?

Answer 12

An abstract divided under individual headings, providing a mini-version of the paper.

Question 13

What is the purpose of keywords in an abstract?

Answer 13

They help readers and search engines find the paper.

Question 14

Give an example of effective keyword usage.

Answer 14

Better keywords: ‘Dietary habits, Lifestyle pattern, Obesity, University students, Saudi Arabia’

Question 15

What does a descriptive abstract omit?

Answer 15

Details about experimental design or data.

Question 16

What does an informative abstract include?

Answer 16

Details on study design, methods, results, and conclusions.

Question 17

What voice is preferred in abstracts?

Answer 17

Active voice, as it improves readability and author responsibility.

Question 18

How does the active voice benefit writing?

Answer 18

Emphasizes author responsibility, improves readability, and reduces ambiguity.

Question 19

When is passive voice acceptable in abstracts?

Answer 19

In the methods section where the process is more important than the person doing it.

Question 20

What is the main difference between simple and structured abstracts?

Answer 20

Simple abstracts are one paragraph; structured abstracts have headings.

Question 21

What is one characteristic of a well-written abstract?

Answer 21

It stands alone and does not require reading the entire paper.

Question 22

What should an abstract not include?

Answer 22

References, unsupported conclusions, or citations of tables/figures.

Question 23

Why might readers move on if an abstract is weak?

Answer 23

They may perceive the study as weak or uninteresting.

Question 24

What is a key function of an abstract?

Answer 24

To summarize the major aspects of the entire paper.

Question 25

What is an example of using active voice in an abstract?

Answer 25

'We designed the study' instead of 'The study was designed by us'.

Question 26

What are the elements of a scientific paper?

Answer 26

Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References.

Question 27

What should an abstract contain?

Answer 27

Brief background, aims, methods, results, and conclusions.

Question 28

Why should sentence length be limited in abstracts?

Answer 28

To improve readability; keep sentences at 25 words or fewer.

Question 29

What should not be included in an abstract?

Answer 29

New information absent in the paper.

Question 30

How should the abstract connect with the title and introduction?

Answer 30

Using the same keywords for consistency and searchability.

Question 31

What does 'Abstract Must Stand on Its Own' mean?

Answer 31

The abstract should be understandable without additional context from the full paper.

Question 32

How are keywords chosen effectively?

Answer 32

Think from the reader's perspective on what terms they would search for.

Question 33

What is the preferred abstract style for research with original data?

Answer 33

Informative style.

Question 34

What format is often used in high-impact journals like Nature?

Answer 34

Descriptive abstract style for some papers.

Question 35

What does an informative abstract allow for?

Answer 35

To substitute for reading the entire paper.

Question 36

What might happen if an abstract is written too early?

Answer 36

It may contain errors or outdated information.

Question 37

What are common mistakes in abstracts?

Answer 37

Using unnecessary abbreviations, including unsupported conclusions.

Question 38

What is an example of a concise visual for a graphical abstract?

Answer 38

A specially designed figure that captures the main findings.

Question 39

What verbs are recommended in abstracts?

Answer 39

Strong, active verbs to clearly convey actions.

Question 40

What is the primary purpose of using active voice?

Answer 40

To make it clear who is responsible for each action.

Question 41

Why are keywords used by journals?

Answer 41

To classify articles and assist in peer reviewer selection.

Question 42

What should be avoided in selecting keywords?

Answer 42

General terms that are too broad and unhelpful.

Question 43

What is a graphical abstract typically used for?

Answer 43

To provide a one-glance summary of findings online.

Question 44

What type of sentence structure is often clearer in abstracts?

Answer 44

Subject-verb-object format in the active voice.

Question 45

What is a key benefit of structured abstracts?

Answer 45

They are easy to read and peer-review.

Question 46

What section often uses the passive voice?

Answer 46

Methods section.

Question 47

What should authors consider when selecting keywords?

Answer 47

What terms a potential reader would use to find the article.

Question 48

What does IMRAD stand for?

Answer 48

Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.

Question 49

How should an abstract reflect the study design?

Answer 49

By briefly summarizing the methodology and principal findings.