The Ultimate Guide to Write a Dissertation Abstract: Step-By-Step Guide, Example and Tips
Published: 01-09-2025
Modified: 01-09-2025
Have you ever found yourself sitting in front of a blank page and wondering how to capture the essence of months or years of research in a handful of sentences? You're not alone! It is always a daunting task to attempt to summarize a large research project, such as a dissertation, into an abstract. But here's the truth—your abstract isn't just a summary; it's the hook that grabs readers and convinces them your research is worth exploring.
For those of you who are struggling to write an abstract, don't worry in this blog I am going to break down the process of writing an abstract. It will cover its components, essential tips, and tricks and provide you with a guide and sample so that you can craft an informative and unforgettable abstract yourself. So, stay with me and let’s dive in!
What is a Dissertation Abstract?
An abstract is a brief summary of your dissertation work, research, or study. It gives the readers a brief of your findings and enables them to determine if they should go through your whole work.
AACN Journal stated,
Effective abstracts provide sufficient details to expedite classifying the paper as relevant (or not) to readers.
The Components of an Abstract

To write an abstract that informs and engages, focus on these key elements of dissertation abstract:
Brevity and Clarity
- An abstract should be in the range of 150-300 words, depending on the policies of the institution that you are undertaking your research.
- Avoid complex academic tone and jargon, keep the language simple so that maximum reader can understand easily
Structure
An abstract should cover the following elements:
- Introduction:Summarize the problem statement or research question in one or two sentences.
- Methodology:State the approach and methods used.
- Results: Emphasize the key results.
- Conclusion: What are the implications of the study?
Keywords
The page should contain some keywords that will help it to be indexed by academic search engines.
An effective abstract provides a snapshot of your study. Ensure it aligns with your Dissertation Introduction for coherence.
Writing an Abstract: A Beginner's Guide

Here's how to create a compelling dissertation abstract
Step 1: Complete your Dissertation First
Your abstract should be the final part to write to make sure it is consistent with the rest of your study.
Step 2: Start with the Problem Statement
Explain in detail what issue your research is going to solve. For example:
Step 3: Summarize the Methodology
Explain your methods, and do not go into excess detail.
Step 4: Highlight the Results
Share the findings of your study briefly:
Step 5: Conclusion with Implication
Wrap up the abstract and indicate Why your research is essential and what it suggest:
Step 5: Add Keywords
Add relevant keywords to help others find your paper when they search online
Sample:
Final Sample Abstract
Using the above guide, let me create a sample abstract for you on the topic: The Impact of Social Media on College Students' Mental Health

If you are still clueless and don’t know where to begin, you can reach out to Owlisdom where native US writers can help you craft well-organized, high-quality, human-written research papers and provide excellent dissertation writing services for as little as $15 per page.

Best Practices-Tips for Writing Dissertations Abstracts

Review Examples
To familiarize yourself with the tone and structure of abstracts within your field of study, read published abstracts.
Get Feedback
Submit your draft to your friends, teachers, or other people in order to receive feedback.
Edit Ruthlessly
Omit all the extra words in order to make it short and effective.
Don’t include New Information
Do not bring in new information that is not in the dissertation.
Don’t Overload with Details
Please keep it simple; do not clutter the material with information that is unnecessary.
Highlighting your main results succinctly is crucial. Refer to our guide on Results and Findings in Dissertation for more details.
Closing Thoughts
When it comes to clarity, structure, and relevance, you don't have to write an abstract that only informs but one that engages your audience. Do not forget that this small section can significantly increase the dissemination of your research findings—so do it right!