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Research Summary – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

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A research summary is a concise overview of a study’s purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions. Writing an effective research summary allows you to distill key insights for an audience, enabling them to quickly understand the core message and significance of the study. This guide provides an in-depth look at the structure of a research summary, examples, and tips for writing one that is clear, informative, and engaging.

Research Summary

A research summary condenses the essential parts of a research paper or study into a brief format, usually ranging from a single paragraph to a page. The goal is to give readers a clear understanding of the study’s objectives, methodology, major findings, and implications. Research summaries are often used in academic papers, grant proposals, and professional reports.

Key Characteristics of a Research Summary :

• Conciseness : Communicates the main points without unnecessary detail.
• Clarity : Presents information in a straightforward and easily understandable manner.
• Structure : Follows a logical flow, typically mirroring the structure of the full research report.

Structure of a Research Summary

A well-structured research summary generally includes the following sections:

The title should reflect the main topic or research question, helping readers quickly understand what the study is about. If applicable, the title should also hint at the methodology or scope of the study.

2. Introduction

The introduction provides context for the research question and explains why the study is important. Briefly summarize the problem or gap in knowledge that the study addresses and state the research objectives or hypotheses.

Example : “This study investigates the impact of social media on adolescent mental health, specifically focusing on self-esteem and anxiety. The research aims to understand how social media usage patterns relate to these psychological outcomes.”

3. Methodology

This section briefly outlines the research design, sample size, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. The goal is to give readers an idea of how the study was conducted.

Example : “The study employed a mixed-methods approach, using an online survey of 500 adolescents and in-depth interviews with 20 participants to gather quantitative and qualitative data on social media habits and mental health.”

The results section summarizes the major findings of the study without going into detailed statistics or data. Focus on the key insights that answer the research question or support the hypotheses.

Example : “The analysis revealed a positive correlation between increased social media use and higher levels of anxiety. Participants who spent more than three hours per day on social media reported lower self-esteem scores compared to those with limited usage.”

5. Conclusion

The conclusion provides a brief interpretation of the results, discussing their implications and potential applications. This section may also suggest areas for further research.

Example : “The findings suggest that prolonged social media exposure may negatively impact adolescent mental health. Future research could explore intervention strategies to promote healthier social media habits.”

6. Keywords (Optional)

Some research summaries include keywords to help readers find relevant studies quickly. Keywords should relate to the study’s main concepts or topics, such as “social media,” “mental health,” “adolescents,” and “self-esteem.”

Example of a Research Summary

Title : Effects of Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Older Adults

Introduction : This study examines the impact of regular physical activity on cognitive function in adults aged 65 and older. With age-related cognitive decline being a major public health concern, understanding the benefits of exercise on brain health could inform preventive strategies.

Methodology : A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 participants divided into an exercise group and a control group. The exercise group participated in supervised workouts three times per week, while the control group maintained their usual activities. Cognitive assessments were administered at baseline and after six months.

Results : Participants in the exercise group showed significant improvements in memory and executive function compared to the control group, who exhibited no cognitive gains.

Conclusion : Regular physical activity appears to benefit cognitive function in older adults, potentially delaying age-related cognitive decline. Further research is needed to explore optimal exercise regimens for brain health.

Writing Guide for a Research Summary

Step 1: read the full research report.

To write an accurate summary, read the complete research report or study. Take notes on the main points, including the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Step 2: Identify the Core Message

Distill the study’s core message by identifying the research objectives, key findings, and implications. This will form the foundation of your summary, ensuring that it remains focused and relevant.

Step 3: Use Clear and Concise Language

A research summary should be concise and free from unnecessary jargon. Use simple language to make the study accessible to a broad audience, especially if the summary is intended for readers outside the research field.

Step 4: Follow the Structure

Adopt a clear structure to organize information logically. Begin with an introduction to the research question, briefly describe the methodology, highlight the main findings, and conclude with the study’s implications.

Step 5: Revise for Brevity and Clarity

Revise your draft to remove redundant information and ensure that each sentence adds value. Aim to keep the summary short, ideally within one or two paragraphs for a single-page summary or slightly longer for comprehensive reviews.

Step 6: Include Keywords if Needed

If the summary will be published in an academic or searchable format, add relevant keywords to help readers find the study easily. Select terms that represent the study’s main themes or topics.

Tips for Writing an Effective Research Summary

• Focus on Key Points : Avoid including minor details and focus on summarizing the main findings.
• Avoid Technical Jargon : Use plain language, especially if the summary is for a general audience.
• Use Active Voice : Active voice makes sentences clearer and more direct.
• Keep it Objective : Avoid adding personal opinions or interpretations beyond what is presented in the study.
• Proofread : Check for clarity, grammar, and adherence to the structure.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including Too Much Detail : A research summary should only cover the essential points without overwhelming readers.
• Overuse of Technical Terms : Unless intended for a specialist audience, limit technical language to ensure accessibility.
• Neglecting the Structure : Follow the structure to maintain a logical flow of information.
• Personal Interpretations : Stick to summarizing the study’s findings and implications without inserting your own analysis.
• Ignoring the Objective : Keep in mind the purpose of the summary, whether for an academic journal, project proposal, or professional report.

A research summary provides a snapshot of a study’s essential points, helping readers quickly understand the objectives, methods, findings, and implications of the research. By following a structured approach, using clear language, and focusing on the core message, you can write an effective research summary that communicates the study’s contributions. Whether for academic or professional purposes, a well-crafted summary makes research accessible, engaging, and valuable for a wide audience.

• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . Sage Publications.
• Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2016). The Craft of Research . University of Chicago Press.
• Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills . University of Michigan Press.
• Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research . Cengage Learning.
• Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches . Pearson.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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APA Sample Paper

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Research Summary

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A research paper analyzes a perspective or argues a point. It is an expanded essay based on your interpretation, evaluation or argument about a certain topic.

According to Sunny Empire State College , “When you write a research paper you build upon what you know about the subject and make a deliberate attempt to find out what experts know. A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge in order to find the best possible information in that field.” Whatever type of research paper you choose to write, it should present your own ideas backed with others’ (especially experts on the field) information and data.

Every research paper has a research summary. A research summary is a brief overview of what the whole research is about. It is a professional piece of writing that describes your research to the readers. It concisely yet perfectly captures the essence of the research as a whole. You may also see What Should Be in an Executive Summary of a Report?

Fundamentals of a Research Summary

Having a good template for a research summary is nothing if you don’t know its importance and basic function. Before you start writing your research summary, you should first know its fundamentals on the areas you need to pay attention to such as its content, style and organization.

• The content of your research summary must briefly discuss the techniques and tools used in the research and the importance of the research as a whole. Explain how the research can be of benefit for the people.
• To organize your research summary, each topic must be discussed in separate paragraphs. How you came up with a factual research must be briefly explained in a separate paragraph.
• If you have a lengthy research paper, try not to write not more than 10% of the entire paper. If it’s not as lengthy, you should not write more than 300 words in your summary.

However, rules may vary according to your research professor’s standards. This is just the basic fundamentals on how to write your research summary. Also see  Thesis Outline Examples

How to Write a Research Summary

It is apparent that a research summary is a condensed version of the main idea of your research paper. Because of this, it is advised that the summary of your paper is written after you are done with your entire research. This is to ensure that all the added information in your research can be written in your summary as well and all of those that removed can be edited out. Here are a few steps on how to write a research summary:

Read your paper

It should be a fact you should know beforehand; the importance of reading your entire research paper thoroughly to write an effective research summary. Along the way, take notes of the important details and key findings that you want to highlight in your paper. This will help you organize your summary better. Remember that your research summary is a mini-paper of your study and it should contain the main ideas of your entire research.

Write a draft

For your first draft, focus on the content rather than the length of your summary. Your draft is your first outline on what to include in the final summary. Writing a draft ensures you write a clear, thorough and coherent summary of your research paper. Also see  How to Write a Rough Outline

Identify main points

Within your research paper, you must identify the major points that will encourage prospective readers to go through your research paper. These major points must thoroughly and completely explain what the paper is trying to convey.

Separate sections

Identify the differences of the main section in your paper. Write a few sentences describing the main ideas of each section. In short, you should be able to present and thoroughly describe what each main section is focused on. It should have these basic sections:

• Introduction, brief opening statement
• Purpose of the study
• Data gathering method
• Summary of findings
• Description of recommendations with actual justification.

Combine Information

All the information you have gathered must be then used to make your summary. Remember that your summary is just an overview of your research paper as a whole. It should be not be more than 10% of your whole paper. Also see  5 Summary Writing Examples and Samples

Making The First Draft

After establishing the basic way of writing a research summary, it is a must to write a first draft. It should follow the flow of the original paper. Here’s a few steps on how to make a first draft:

First, state the research question in the introduction of your summary. This holds the ground as to the summary’s direction. Provide an explanation why your research is interesting and how it can help your target recipients.

Second, state the hypothesis you wish to prove. This will help you and your readers stay grounded on the topic at hand.

Third, briefly discuss the methodology used in your research. Discuss and describe the procedure, materials, participants, design, etc. The analysis of your data must also be included. You may also see  How to Write a Successful Thesis Proposal

Fourth, describe the results and significance of your research. And lastly, briefly discuss the key implications of your research. The results and its interpretation should directly coincide with your hypothesis.

Editing your Research Summary

A research paper is a formal piece of writing. Your summary should be tailored to your expected readers. Say for example the prospective readers are your classmates, so the style of your paper should be clearly understood by them.

Eliminate wordiness. Avoid using unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. Write in a way it would be easier for your readers to understand. It is common for research papers to establish a word count. Avoid elongating your sentences when it has shorter versions.

Being vague in describing and explaining the points of your paper might lead to confusion in your readers part. Use specific, concrete language when presenting results. Use reliable and specific examples and references as well. You should also use scientifically accurate language to help support your claims. Avoid informal words and adjectives to describe the results of your research.

Paraphrase the information you want to include in your research paper. Direct quoting the information you have read from a different source is not oftenly used in formal writings. To give the exact credit for the information you paraphrased, follow the citation format required by your professor.

Reread your paper and let others read it as well. This way minor errors you were not able to notice can be quickly pointed out and corrected.

Research Summary Writing Tips

Your research summary should not be more than 10 pages long or not more than 10% of your original document. This keeps your research summary concise and compact. It should be short enough for your readers to read through but long enough for you to clearly explain your study.

Copy and paste

Avoid simply copy and pasting different parts of your paper into your summary. You should paraphrase parts that you want to include. As most research advisers read through all of your paper, it can easily be identified if you have copy-pasted parts from your research and might give you a bad grade.

Consider the readers

Although not a requirement from your professor, catering your summary to what the readers need is sometimes required. As some studies are given out to different influential people in the field, writing a summary that caters to the readers’ necessities might be required.

Research Article Summary Template

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Research Writing Summary Tips (continuation)

Clarity and organization.

One of the common mistakes in writing a research is publishing an unclear and unpolished summary. Bear in mind that your readers are likely reading about the topic of your research for the first time, avoid unclear and uncertain explanations and a disorganized summary.

Use strong and positive language

Use precise and strong words to help strengthen the foundation of your summary. Your summary should be able to stand alone despite it being a part of the research paper. Once you have convinced your readers with the recommendations regarding the topic of your paper, the readers should be able to find concrete evidence and explanations within your summary. Avoid pleas and biased statements in your summary, but make sure you are able to relay the sense of urgency for the recommendations you have given.

Divide into parts

To make things easier for you, divide your paper into different sections and headings, much like creating an outline. With this in mind, every point should be explained limited to its essence. In this way, you avoid writing too much information about your paper in your summary.

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