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Scientific Writing > Lec.4 > Flashcards

Lec.4 Flashcards

1
Q

What is an abstract?

A

A summary or synopsis of the full research paper.

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2
Q

What is the purpose of an abstract?

A

To summarize major aspects and give an overview of the main story of the paper.

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3
Q

What sections should be briefly summarized in an abstract?

A

Each main section of the paper (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).

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4
Q

What is the ideal length of a well-written abstract?

A

Typically 100-300 words.

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5
Q

Why is the abstract important on journal websites?

A

It’s often the only part freely available to readers and can determine if they read further.

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6
Q

What style and format are commonly used for abstracts?

A

Simple/conventional or structured; descriptive or informative.

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7
Q

What is the IMRAD structure?

A

Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion format.

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8
Q

Why should an abstract avoid abbreviations?

A

To ensure clarity as readers might only see the abstract and not understand abbreviations.

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9
Q

What are the two main types of abstract styles?

A

Descriptive and Informative.

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10
Q

What is a graphical abstract?

A

A single, concise visual summary of the main findings of the article.

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11
Q

When should you write the abstract?

A

After completing the main text to avoid inconsistencies.

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12
Q

What is a structured abstract?

A

An abstract divided under individual headings, providing a mini-version of the paper.

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13
Q

What is the purpose of keywords in an abstract?

A

They help readers and search engines find the paper.

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14
Q

Give an example of effective keyword usage.

A

Better keywords: ‘Dietary habits, Lifestyle pattern, Obesity, University students, Saudi Arabia’

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15
Q

What does a descriptive abstract omit?

A

Details about experimental design or data.

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16
Q

What does an informative abstract include?

A

Details on study design, methods, results, and conclusions.

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17
Q

What voice is preferred in abstracts?

A

Active voice, as it improves readability and author responsibility.

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18
Q

How does the active voice benefit writing?

A

Emphasizes author responsibility, improves readability, and reduces ambiguity.

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19
Q

When is passive voice acceptable in abstracts?

A

In the methods section where the process is more important than the person doing it.

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20
Q

What is the main difference between simple and structured abstracts?

A

Simple abstracts are one paragraph; structured abstracts have headings.

21
Q

What is one characteristic of a well-written abstract?

A

It stands alone and does not require reading the entire paper.

22
Q

What should an abstract not include?

A

References, unsupported conclusions, or citations of tables/figures.

23
Q

Why might readers move on if an abstract is weak?

A

They may perceive the study as weak or uninteresting.

24
Q

What is a key function of an abstract?

A

To summarize the major aspects of the entire paper.

25
Q

What is an example of using active voice in an abstract?

A

‘We designed the study’ instead of ‘The study was designed by us’.

26
Q

What are the elements of a scientific paper?

A

Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References.

27
Q

What should an abstract contain?

A

Brief background, aims, methods, results, and conclusions.

28
Q

Why should sentence length be limited in abstracts?

A

To improve readability; keep sentences at 25 words or fewer.

29
Q

What should not be included in an abstract?

A

New information absent in the paper.

30
Q

How should the abstract connect with the title and introduction?

A

Using the same keywords for consistency and searchability.

31
Q

What does ‘Abstract Must Stand on Its Own’ mean?

A

The abstract should be understandable without additional context from the full paper.

32
Q

How are keywords chosen effectively?

A

Think from the reader’s perspective on what terms they would search for.

33
Q

What is the preferred abstract style for research with original data?

A

Informative style.

34
Q

What format is often used in high-impact journals like Nature?

A

Descriptive abstract style for some papers.

35
Q

What does an informative abstract allow for?

A

To substitute for reading the entire paper.

36
Q

What might happen if an abstract is written too early?

A

It may contain errors or outdated information.

37
Q

What are common mistakes in abstracts?

A

Using unnecessary abbreviations, including unsupported conclusions.

38
Q

What is an example of a concise visual for a graphical abstract?

A

A specially designed figure that captures the main findings.

39
Q

What verbs are recommended in abstracts?

A

Strong, active verbs to clearly convey actions.

40
Q

What is the primary purpose of using active voice?

A

To make it clear who is responsible for each action.

41
Q

Why are keywords used by journals?

A

To classify articles and assist in peer reviewer selection.

42
Q

What should be avoided in selecting keywords?

A

General terms that are too broad and unhelpful.

43
Q

What is a graphical abstract typically used for?

A

To provide a one-glance summary of findings online.

44
Q

What type of sentence structure is often clearer in abstracts?

A

Subject-verb-object format in the active voice.

45
Q

What is a key benefit of structured abstracts?

A

They are easy to read and peer-review.

46
Q

What section often uses the passive voice?

A

Methods section.

47
Q

What should authors consider when selecting keywords?

A

What terms a potential reader would use to find the article.

48
Q

What does IMRAD stand for?

A

Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.

49
Q

How should an abstract reflect the study design?

A

By briefly summarizing the methodology and principal findings.

Scientific Writing (4 decks)

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