14/09/2020
AN ABSTRACT
Sometimes your professor will ask you to include an abstract, or general summary of your work, with your research paper. The abstract allows you to elaborate upon each major aspect of the paper and helps readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the paper. An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper in a prescribed sequence that includes: 1) the overall purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated; 2) the basic design of the study; 3) major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis; and, 4) a brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions (Clarion University, 2009).
Today we give you an example of how an abstract should look like. The following is an abstract from a research by one of PremierResearch writers. The research was published in the National Research Database of Zimbabwe repository; as well as at the Lupane State University repository.
Here we go:
RESEARCH TOPIC
Mathuthu, Mlamuli (2016) An Assessment of the Availability and Effectiveness of Safe Systems of Work (Ssow) In Minimising Occupational Accidents in Manufacturing Companies in Zimbabwe. A Case Study of Kango Pvt Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Despite the rigorous review of laws in Zimbabwe and practices in individual companies, accidents are still high. The researcher, therefore, sought to assess the availability and effectiveness of Safe Systems of Work in minimizing occupational accidents. In this study the researcher's main objective was to assess the availability of SSoW and to find out how effective were the available SSoW. The effectiveness of SSoW was dependent on the blending of SSoW with job descriptions and their regular review. Companies claim to be aware of the practices that cause accidents and those hat mitigate them, but accidents are still rife. Therefore, the researcher felt that there is a link between the availability and effective use of SSoW with accident occurrence. This study adopted a mixed research approach that focused on both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. On quantitative approach hypothesis testing was conducted through chi-square test to produce generalizable conclusions. Questionnaires, interviews with managerial employees and observation of achieved SSoW and job descriptions were used to collect data. Data was then presented in the form of graphs, pie charts and tables. From the data gathered it was found that companies lack holistic and integral approach systems in their efforts to minimize work related accidents. Despite the fact that SSoW were provided, these lacked adequate monitoring and review and employee involvement in their development and reactive review. Jobs which are administrative in nature also seem to be given less attention when it comes to accident issues, the reason being the wrong perception that they are safe. The hypothesis test revealed that the blending of SSoW with job descriptions coupled with their review has an effect on accident minimization as the computed p-value was found to be lower than the significance level alpha = 0.05, at 0.006. The research therefore concluded that there is lack of an integral approach to accident minimisation in manufacturing companies. From the research findings the researcher recommended that manufacturing companies should adopt a more systematic approach in their provision and use of SSoW if the SSoW is to be effective. It is only through the proper development, provision, use, monitoring and review of SSoW that accidents can be minimised.
NB: A simple rule-of-thumb is to imagine that you are another researcher doing a similar study. Then ask yourself: if your abstract was the only part of the paper you could access, would you be happy with the amount of information presented there? Does it tell the whole story about your study? If the answer is "no" then the abstract likely needs to be revised.
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