Abstract and keywords are important elements of a scientific article. They help readers quickly understand the content of the research and determine its relevance to their own work. The quality of the abstract often serves as an indicator of the level of the research, while keywords ensure the article’s visibility in scientometrics databases and search engines. How to correctly write an abstract and choose keywords that will work for your article? Read further.
What is an abstract?
An abstract is a concise summary of the main results of the conducted research. Its length usually does not exceed 300 words and it covers the main elements of a scientific article:
- the purpose and research problem
- structure and methodology
- key results and conclusions
Thanks to the abstract, the reader can quickly understand the content of the work, obtaining summarised information about all its sections.
The purpose of the abstract in a scientific article is to:
- give the potential reader the opportunity to quickly determine how important the results of your work are for their own research
- briefly convey the main conclusions of the article, which is especially convenient for those who do not have time to read the full text
- ensure visibility and correct ranking of the article in the search systems of scientometrics databases thanks to keywords
How to write a high-quality abstract?
- Formulate the purpose of the research. Clearly state which problem you addressed and why it is important.
- Describe the methods. Briefly indicate which approaches or research design were used.
- Present the key results. Focus on the most important data without secondary details.
- Formulate conclusions. Explain the theoretical and practical significance of the results obtained.
- Respect the word limit. Usually 150-300 words, depending on the journal’s requirements.
- Write clearly. Avoid overuse of terminology or excessively long sentences so the abstract is accessible to a wide range of researchers.
What are keywords in a scientific work?
Keywords are a mandatory structural element of scientific articles. Their correct selection and accurate translation is one of the main requirements of any academic journal. They are an effective tool for increasing citability and contribute to the research’s influence.
Why are keywords needed in a scientific work?
- Reflect the content of the research: help to convey the subject and main concepts of the work as accurately as possible.
- Facilitate searches in databases: articles are found by keywords in Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and other platforms.
- Aid classification: allow the work to be correctly assigned to a particular scientific field or discipline.
- Affect citability: the more precisely the keywords are chosen, the greater the chances that the article will be found and cited by other scientists.
What are the advantages of keywords?
Increased visibility of the article
When keywords are well chosen, the article is easier to find in search engines and scientometric databases (Scopus, Web of Science, etc.). This increases the likelihood that it will be seen by researchers from different countries and disciplines.
Increased citation rate
If an article can be quickly found through relevant terms, other researchers are more likely to include it in their works as a source. This directly affects the citation level and the author’s h-index.
Accurate indexing in databases
Keywords help systems to correctly categorise the publication into a specific scientific category or direction. This facilitates further search, makes the article visible in the relevant sections, and ensures more precise positioning.
Broader scientific audience
By choosing both highly specialised and more general keywords, the article can attract not only specialists in a narrow field but also representatives of related disciplines. This increases reach and encourages interdisciplinary dialogue.
Strengthening the researcher’s authority
Regular use of appropriate keywords creates an association of the researcher with a specific topic or field. This enhances academic recognition, strengthens reputation as an expert, and opens more opportunities for collaboration.
How to choose keywords?
- Reflect the topic of the article. Choose words that best represent the content of the research.
- Use industry terminology. Apply widely accepted academic terms that will be accessible to the audience.
- Respect the optimal number. Journals usually require 5-7 keywords or key phrases.
- Translate accurately. For international journals always add the English version of the keywords.
- Avoid repetition. Do not duplicate words from the article title, diversify the list with synonyms.
A well-written abstract and carefully chosen keywords will serve as a “guide” for your article in the world of scientific publications. They will help quickly convey the content of your work, make it more visible among many others, and attract the attention of the target audience for whom your research may be useful and relevant.
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