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Topic 4.7 of Writing Up Research

Writing the Abstract and Conclusion

A structured abstract is a compressed version of the whole paper, readable without context. A conclusion synthesises findings into an answer to the research question — it does not restate the results or add new material.

~20 min total·4 quadrants of structured content

By the end of this topic, you will

Write a structured abstract that covers purpose, method, results, and conclusion in 200–300 words
Distinguish an abstract from an executive summary and explain when each is appropriate
Write a conclusion section that synthesises the study's findings into a direct answer to the research question
Avoid the two most common conclusion errors: restating results without synthesis, and introducing new evidence not in the results chapter

Quadrant 1 · e-Tutorial

Video lectures and walkthroughs

Quadrant 2 · e-Content

Articles and case studies

research-methodology

Writing the Abstract and Conclusion

An abstract must stand alone: it is often the only part a reader reads. A conclusion must synthesise: it is not a summary of what each section contained. Both are written last and both are commonly written badly.

10 min read

Quadrant 3 · Web Resources

Downloadable material and curated external links

Web resources coming soon.

Quadrant 4 · Self-Assessment

Test your knowledge — earn a certificate on first pass

Assessment coming soon.