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Making Every Word Count: Keys to a Strong Research Abstract

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Story, Not Study: 30 Brief Lessons to Inspire Health Researchers as Writers

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Strong research abstracts are simultaneously informative and persuasive. In this chapter, we consider the contexts abstracts function within, the purposes they serve, and the audiences they must reach. We adapt the Problem/Gap/Hook heuristic to enable writers to make the most of the limited word count that an abstract allows. We outline strategies for writing abstracts that are accessible, economic, and convincing. And we offer tips for crafting each section of an abstract for maximum impact. These approaches will ensure that abstracts can fulfil their role as ambassadors of our work.

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Lingard, L., Watling, C. (2021). Making Every Word Count: Keys to a Strong Research Abstract. In: Story, Not Study: 30 Brief Lessons to Inspire Health Researchers as Writers. Innovation and Change in Professional Education, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71362-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71363-8

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