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Research Summary – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

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Research Summary

Definition:

A research summary is a brief and concise overview of a research project or study that highlights its key findings, main points, and conclusions. It typically includes a description of the research problem, the research methods used, the results obtained, and the implications or significance of the findings. It is often used as a tool to quickly communicate the main findings of a study to other researchers, stakeholders, or decision-makers.

Structure of Research Summary

The Structure of a Research Summary typically include:

Introduction : This section provides a brief background of the research problem or question, explains the purpose of the study, and outlines the research objectives.
Methodology : This section explains the research design, methods, and procedures used to conduct the study. It describes the sample size, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
Results : This section presents the main findings of the study, including statistical analysis if applicable. It may include tables, charts, or graphs to visually represent the data.
Discussion : This section interprets the results and explains their implications. It discusses the significance of the findings, compares them to previous research, and identifies any limitations or future directions for research.
Conclusion : This section summarizes the main points of the research and provides a conclusion based on the findings. It may also suggest implications for future research or practical applications of the results.
References : This section lists the sources cited in the research summary, following the appropriate citation style.

How to Write Research Summary

Here are the steps you can follow to write a research summary:

Read the research article or study thoroughly: To write a summary, you must understand the research article or study you are summarizing. Therefore, read the article or study carefully to understand its purpose, research design, methodology, results, and conclusions.
Identify the main points : Once you have read the research article or study, identify the main points, key findings, and research question. You can highlight or take notes of the essential points and findings to use as a reference when writing your summary.
Write the introduction: Start your summary by introducing the research problem, research question, and purpose of the study. Briefly explain why the research is important and its significance.
Summarize the methodology : In this section, summarize the research design, methods, and procedures used to conduct the study. Explain the sample size, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
Present the results: Summarize the main findings of the study. Use tables, charts, or graphs to visually represent the data if necessary.
Interpret the results: In this section, interpret the results and explain their implications. Discuss the significance of the findings, compare them to previous research, and identify any limitations or future directions for research.
Conclude the summary : Summarize the main points of the research and provide a conclusion based on the findings. Suggest implications for future research or practical applications of the results.
Revise and edit : Once you have written the summary, revise and edit it to ensure that it is clear, concise, and free of errors. Make sure that your summary accurately represents the research article or study.
Add references: Include a list of references cited in the research summary, following the appropriate citation style.

Example of Research Summary

Here is an example of a research summary:

Title: The Effects of Yoga on Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction: This meta-analysis examines the effects of yoga on mental health. The study aimed to investigate whether yoga practice can improve mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life.

Methodology : The study analyzed data from 14 randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of yoga on mental health outcomes. The sample included a total of 862 participants. The yoga interventions varied in length and frequency, ranging from four to twelve weeks, with sessions lasting from 45 to 90 minutes.

Results : The meta-analysis found that yoga practice significantly improved mental health outcomes. Participants who practiced yoga showed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as stress levels. Quality of life also improved in those who practiced yoga.

Discussion : The findings of this study suggest that yoga can be an effective intervention for improving mental health outcomes. The study supports the growing body of evidence that suggests that yoga can have a positive impact on mental health. Limitations of the study include the variability of the yoga interventions, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusion : Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis support the use of yoga as an effective intervention for improving mental health outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the optimal length and frequency of yoga interventions for different populations.

References :

Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Langhorst, J., Dobos, G., & Berger, B. (2013). Yoga for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Depression and anxiety, 30(11), 1068-1083.
Khalsa, S. B. (2004). Yoga as a therapeutic intervention: a bibliometric analysis of published research studies. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology, 48(3), 269-285.
Ross, A., & Thomas, S. (2010). The health benefits of yoga and exercise: a review of comparison studies. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(1), 3-12.

Purpose of Research Summary

The purpose of a research summary is to provide a brief overview of a research project or study, including its main points, findings, and conclusions. The summary allows readers to quickly understand the essential aspects of the research without having to read the entire article or study.

Research summaries serve several purposes, including:

Facilitating comprehension: A research summary allows readers to quickly understand the main points and findings of a research project or study without having to read the entire article or study. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the research and its significance.
Communicating research findings: Research summaries are often used to communicate research findings to a wider audience, such as policymakers, practitioners, or the general public. The summary presents the essential aspects of the research in a clear and concise manner, making it easier for non-experts to understand.
Supporting decision-making: Research summaries can be used to support decision-making processes by providing a summary of the research evidence on a particular topic. This information can be used by policymakers or practitioners to make informed decisions about interventions, programs, or policies.
Saving time: Research summaries save time for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders who need to review multiple research studies. Rather than having to read the entire article or study, they can quickly review the summary to determine whether the research is relevant to their needs.

Characteristics of Research Summary

The following are some of the key characteristics of a research summary:

Concise : A research summary should be brief and to the point, providing a clear and concise overview of the main points of the research.
Objective : A research summary should be written in an objective tone, presenting the research findings without bias or personal opinion.
Comprehensive : A research summary should cover all the essential aspects of the research, including the research question, methodology, results, and conclusions.
Accurate : A research summary should accurately reflect the key findings and conclusions of the research.
Clear and well-organized: A research summary should be easy to read and understand, with a clear structure and logical flow.
Relevant : A research summary should focus on the most important and relevant aspects of the research, highlighting the key findings and their implications.
Audience-specific: A research summary should be tailored to the intended audience, using language and terminology that is appropriate and accessible to the reader.
Citations : A research summary should include citations to the original research articles or studies, allowing readers to access the full text of the research if desired.

When to write Research Summary

Here are some situations when it may be appropriate to write a research summary:

Proposal stage: A research summary can be included in a research proposal to provide a brief overview of the research aims, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.
Conference presentation: A research summary can be prepared for a conference presentation to summarize the main findings of a study or research project.
Journal submission: Many academic journals require authors to submit a research summary along with their research article or study. The summary provides a brief overview of the study’s main points, findings, and conclusions and helps readers quickly understand the research.
Funding application: A research summary can be included in a funding application to provide a brief summary of the research aims, objectives, and expected outcomes.
Policy brief: A research summary can be prepared as a policy brief to communicate research findings to policymakers or stakeholders in a concise and accessible manner.

Advantages of Research Summary

Research summaries offer several advantages, including:

Time-saving: A research summary saves time for readers who need to understand the key findings and conclusions of a research project quickly. Rather than reading the entire research article or study, readers can quickly review the summary to determine whether the research is relevant to their needs.
Clarity and accessibility: A research summary provides a clear and accessible overview of the research project’s main points, making it easier for readers to understand the research without having to be experts in the field.
Improved comprehension: A research summary helps readers comprehend the research by providing a brief and focused overview of the key findings and conclusions, making it easier to understand the research and its significance.
Enhanced communication: Research summaries can be used to communicate research findings to a wider audience, such as policymakers, practitioners, or the general public, in a concise and accessible manner.
Facilitated decision-making: Research summaries can support decision-making processes by providing a summary of the research evidence on a particular topic. Policymakers or practitioners can use this information to make informed decisions about interventions, programs, or policies.
Increased dissemination: Research summaries can be easily shared and disseminated, allowing research findings to reach a wider audience.

Limitations of Research Summary

Limitations of the Research Summary are as follows:

Limited scope: Research summaries provide a brief overview of the research project’s main points, findings, and conclusions, which can be limiting. They may not include all the details, nuances, and complexities of the research that readers may need to fully understand the study’s implications.
Risk of oversimplification: Research summaries can be oversimplified, reducing the complexity of the research and potentially distorting the findings or conclusions.
Lack of context: Research summaries may not provide sufficient context to fully understand the research findings, such as the research background, methodology, or limitations. This may lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the research.
Possible bias: Research summaries may be biased if they selectively emphasize certain findings or conclusions over others, potentially distorting the overall picture of the research.
Format limitations: Research summaries may be constrained by the format or length requirements, making it challenging to fully convey the research’s main points, findings, and conclusions.
Accessibility: Research summaries may not be accessible to all readers, particularly those with limited literacy skills, visual impairments, or language barriers.

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How To Write A Research Summary

It’s a common perception that writing a research summary is a quick and easy task. After all, how hard can jotting down 300 words be? But when you consider the weight those 300 words carry, writing a research summary as a part of your dissertation, essay or compelling draft for your paper instantly becomes daunting task.

A research summary requires you to synthesize a complex research paper into an informative, self-explanatory snapshot. It needs to portray what your article contains. Thus, writing it often comes at the end of the task list.

Regardless of when you’re planning to write, it is no less of a challenge, particularly if you’re doing it for the first time. This blog will take you through everything you need to know about research summary so that you have an easier time with it.

What is a Research Summary?

A research summary is the part of your research paper that describes its findings to the audience in a brief yet concise manner. A well-curated research summary represents you and your knowledge about the information written in the research paper.

While writing a quality research summary, you need to discover and identify the significant points in the research and condense it in a more straightforward form. A research summary is like a doorway that provides access to the structure of a research paper's sections.

Since the purpose of a summary is to give an overview of the topic, methodology, and conclusions employed in a paper, it requires an objective approach. No analysis or criticism.

Research summary or Abstract. What’s the Difference?

They’re both brief, concise, and give an overview of an aspect of the research paper. So, it’s easy to understand why many new researchers get the two confused. However, a research summary and abstract are two very different things with individual purpose. To start with, a research summary is written at the end while the abstract comes at the beginning of a research paper.

A research summary captures the essence of the paper at the end of your document. It focuses on your topic, methods, and findings. More like a TL;DR, if you will. An abstract, on the other hand, is a description of what your research paper is about. It tells your reader what your topic or hypothesis is, and sets a context around why you have embarked on your research.

Getting Started with a Research Summary

Before you start writing, you need to get insights into your research’s content, style, and organization. There are three fundamental areas of a research summary that you should focus on.

While deciding the contents of your research summary, you must include a section on its importance as a whole, the techniques, and the tools that were used to formulate the conclusion. Additionally, there needs to be a short but thorough explanation of how the findings of the research paper have a significance.
To keep the summary well-organized, try to cover the various sections of the research paper in separate paragraphs. Besides, how the idea of particular factual research came up first must be explained in a separate paragraph.
As a general practice worldwide, research summaries are restricted to 300-400 words. However, if you have chosen a lengthy research paper, try not to exceed the word limit of 10% of the entire research paper.

How to Structure Your Research Summary

The research summary is nothing but a concise form of the entire research paper. Therefore, the structure of a summary stays the same as the paper. So, include all the section titles and write a little about them. The structural elements that a research summary must consist of are:

It represents the topic of the research. Try to phrase it so that it includes the key findings or conclusion of the task.

The abstract gives a context of the research paper. Unlike the abstract at the beginning of a paper, the abstract here, should be very short since you’ll be working with a limited word count.

Introduction

This is the most crucial section of a research summary as it helps readers get familiarized with the topic. You should include the definition of your topic, the current state of the investigation, and practical relevance in this part. Additionally, you should present the problem statement, investigative measures, and any hypothesis in this section.

Methodology

This section provides details about the methodology and the methods adopted to conduct the study. You should write a brief description of the surveys, sampling, type of experiments, statistical analysis, and the rationality behind choosing those particular methods.

Create a list of evidence obtained from the various experiments with a primary analysis, conclusions, and interpretations made upon that. In the paper research paper, you will find the results section as the most detailed and lengthy part. Therefore, you must pick up the key elements and wisely decide which elements are worth including and which are worth skipping.

This is where you present the interpretation of results in the context of their application. Discussion usually covers results, inferences, and theoretical models explaining the obtained values, key strengths, and limitations. All of these are vital elements that you must include in the summary.

Most research papers merge conclusion with discussions. However, depending upon the instructions, you may have to prepare this as a separate section in your research summary. Usually, conclusion revisits the hypothesis and provides the details about the validation or denial about the arguments made in the research paper, based upon how convincing the results were obtained.

The structure of a research summary closely resembles the anatomy of a scholarly article . Additionally, you should keep your research and references limited to authentic and scholarly sources only.

Tips for Writing a Research Summary

The core concept behind undertaking a research summary is to present a simple and clear understanding of your research paper to the reader. The biggest hurdle while doing that is the number of words you have at your disposal. So, follow the steps below to write a research summary that sticks.

1. Read the parent paper thoroughly

You should go through the research paper thoroughly multiple times to ensure that you have a complete understanding of its contents. A 3-stage reading process helps.

a. Scan: In the first read, go through it to get an understanding of its basic concept and methodologies.

b. Read: For the second step, read the article attentively by going through each section, highlighting the key elements, and subsequently listing the topics that you will include in your research summary.

c. Skim: Flip through the article a few more times to study the interpretation of various experimental results, statistical analysis, and application in different contexts.

Sincerely go through different headings and subheadings as it will allow you to understand the underlying concept of each section. You can try reading the introduction and conclusion simultaneously to understand the motive of the task and how obtained results stay fit to the expected outcome.

2. Identify the key elements in different sections

While exploring different sections of an article, you can try finding answers to simple what, why, and how. Below are a few pointers to give you an idea:

What is the research question and how is it addressed?
Is there a hypothesis in the introductory part?
What type of methods are being adopted?
What is the sample size for data collection and how is it being analyzed?
What are the most vital findings?
Do the results support the hypothesis?

Discussion/Conclusion

What is the final solution to the problem statement?
What is the explanation for the obtained results?
What is the drawn inference?
What are the various limitations of the study?

3. Prepare the first draft

Now that you’ve listed the key points that the paper tries to demonstrate, you can start writing the summary following the standard structure of a research summary. Just make sure you’re not writing statements from the parent research paper verbatim.

Instead, try writing down each section in your own words. This will not only help in avoiding plagiarism but will also show your complete understanding of the subject. Alternatively, you can use a summarizing tool (AI-based summary generators) to shorten the content or summarize the content without disrupting the actual meaning of the article.

SciSpace Copilot is one such helpful feature! You can easily upload your research paper and ask Copilot to summarize it. You will get an AI-generated, condensed research summary. SciSpace Copilot also enables you to highlight text, clip math and tables, and ask any question relevant to the research paper; it will give you instant answers with deeper context of the article..

4. Include visuals

One of the best ways to summarize and consolidate a research paper is to provide visuals like graphs, charts, pie diagrams, etc.. Visuals make getting across the facts, the past trends, and the probabilistic figures around a concept much more engaging.

5. Double check for plagiarism

It can be very tempting to copy-paste a few statements or the entire paragraphs depending upon the clarity of those sections. But it’s best to stay away from the practice. Even paraphrasing should be done with utmost care and attention.

Also: QuillBot vs SciSpace: Choose the best AI-paraphrasing tool

6. Religiously follow the word count limit

You need to have strict control while writing different sections of a research summary. In many cases, it has been observed that the research summary and the parent research paper become the same length. If that happens, it can lead to discrediting of your efforts and research summary itself. Whatever the standard word limit has been imposed, you must observe that carefully.

7. Proofread your research summary multiple times

The process of writing the research summary can be exhausting and tiring. However, you shouldn’t allow this to become a reason to skip checking your academic writing several times for mistakes like misspellings, grammar, wordiness, and formatting issues. Proofread and edit until you think your research summary can stand out from the others, provided it is drafted perfectly on both technicality and comprehension parameters. You can also seek assistance from editing and proofreading services , and other free tools that help you keep these annoying grammatical errors at bay.

8. Watch while you write

Keep a keen observation of your writing style. You should use the words very precisely, and in any situation, it should not represent your personal opinions on the topic. You should write the entire research summary in utmost impersonal, precise, factually correct, and evidence-based writing.

9. Ask a friend/colleague to help

Once you are done with the final copy of your research summary, you must ask a friend or colleague to read it. You must test whether your friend or colleague could grasp everything without referring to the parent paper. This will help you in ensuring the clarity of the article.

Once you become familiar with the research paper summary concept and understand how to apply the tips discussed above in your current task, summarizing a research summary won’t be that challenging. While traversing the different stages of your academic career, you will face different scenarios where you may have to create several research summaries.

In such cases, you just need to look for answers to simple questions like “Why this study is necessary,” “what were the methods,” “who were the participants,” “what conclusions were drawn from the research,” and “how it is relevant to the wider world.” Once you find out the answers to these questions, you can easily create a good research summary following the standard structure and a precise writing style.

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How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples

Published on November 23, 2020 by Shona McCombes . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Summarizing , or writing a summary, means giving a concise overview of a text’s main points in your own words. A summary is always much shorter than the original text.

There are five key steps that can help you to write a summary:

Read the text
Break it down into sections
Identify the key points in each section
Write the summary
Check the summary against the article

Writing a summary does not involve critiquing or evaluating the source . You should simply provide an accurate account of the most important information and ideas (without copying any text from the original).

When to write a summary, step 1: read the text, step 2: break the text down into sections, step 3: identify the key points in each section, step 4: write the summary, step 5: check the summary against the article, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about summarizing.

There are many situations in which you might have to summarize an article or other source:

As a stand-alone assignment to show you’ve understood the material
To keep notes that will help you remember what you’ve read
To give an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review

When you’re writing an academic text like an essay , research paper , or dissertation , you’ll integrate sources in a variety of ways. You might use a brief quote to support your point, or paraphrase a few sentences or paragraphs.

But it’s often appropriate to summarize a whole article or chapter if it is especially relevant to your own research, or to provide an overview of a source before you analyze or critique it.

In any case, the goal of summarizing is to give your reader a clear understanding of the original source. Follow the five steps outlined below to write a good summary.

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The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

Missing commas and periods
Incorrect usage of “et al.”
Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
Missing reference entries

You should read the article more than once to make sure you’ve thoroughly understood it. It’s often effective to read in three stages:

Scan the article quickly to get a sense of its topic and overall shape.
Read the article carefully, highlighting important points and taking notes as you read.
Skim the article again to confirm you’ve understood the key points, and reread any particularly important or difficult passages.

There are some tricks you can use to identify the key points as you read:

Start by reading the abstract . This already contains the author’s own summary of their work, and it tells you what to expect from the article.
Pay attention to headings and subheadings . These should give you a good sense of what each part is about.
Read the introduction and the conclusion together and compare them: What did the author set out to do, and what was the outcome?

To make the text more manageable and understand its sub-points, break it down into smaller sections.

If the text is a scientific paper that follows a standard empirical structure, it is probably already organized into clearly marked sections, usually including an introduction , methods , results , and discussion .

Other types of articles may not be explicitly divided into sections. But most articles and essays will be structured around a series of sub-points or themes.

Now it’s time go through each section and pick out its most important points. What does your reader need to know to understand the overall argument or conclusion of the article?

Keep in mind that a summary does not involve paraphrasing every single paragraph of the article. Your goal is to extract the essential points, leaving out anything that can be considered background information or supplementary detail.

In a scientific article, there are some easy questions you can ask to identify the key points in each part.

Key points of a scientific article
Introduction	or problem was addressed?
Methods
Results	supported?
Discussion/conclusion

If the article takes a different form, you might have to think more carefully about what points are most important for the reader to understand its argument.

In that case, pay particular attention to the thesis statement —the central claim that the author wants us to accept, which usually appears in the introduction—and the topic sentences that signal the main idea of each paragraph.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Now that you know the key points that the article aims to communicate, you need to put them in your own words.

To avoid plagiarism and show you’ve understood the article, it’s essential to properly paraphrase the author’s ideas. Do not copy and paste parts of the article, not even just a sentence or two.

The best way to do this is to put the article aside and write out your own understanding of the author’s key points.

Examples of article summaries

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, we summarize this article , which scientifically investigates the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Davis et al. (2015) set out to empirically test the popular saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are often used to represent a healthy lifestyle, and research has shown their nutritional properties could be beneficial for various aspects of health. The authors’ unique approach is to take the saying literally and ask: do people who eat apples use healthcare services less frequently? If there is indeed such a relationship, they suggest, promoting apple consumption could help reduce healthcare costs.

The study used publicly available cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were categorized as either apple eaters or non-apple eaters based on their self-reported apple consumption in an average 24-hour period. They were also categorized as either avoiding or not avoiding the use of healthcare services in the past year. The data was statistically analyzed to test whether there was an association between apple consumption and several dependent variables: physician visits, hospital stays, use of mental health services, and use of prescription medication.

Although apple eaters were slightly more likely to have avoided physician visits, this relationship was not statistically significant after adjusting for various relevant factors. No association was found between apple consumption and hospital stays or mental health service use. However, apple eaters were found to be slightly more likely to have avoided using prescription medication. Based on these results, the authors conclude that an apple a day does not keep the doctor away, but it may keep the pharmacist away. They suggest that this finding could have implications for reducing healthcare costs, considering the high annual costs of prescription medication and the inexpensiveness of apples.

However, the authors also note several limitations of the study: most importantly, that apple eaters are likely to differ from non-apple eaters in ways that may have confounded the results (for example, apple eaters may be more likely to be health-conscious). To establish any causal relationship between apple consumption and avoidance of medication, they recommend experimental research.

An article summary like the above would be appropriate for a stand-alone summary assignment. However, you’ll often want to give an even more concise summary of an article.

For example, in a literature review or meta analysis you may want to briefly summarize this study as part of a wider discussion of various sources. In this case, we can boil our summary down even further to include only the most relevant information.

Using national survey data, Davis et al. (2015) tested the assertion that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and did not find statistically significant evidence to support this hypothesis. While people who consumed apples were slightly less likely to use prescription medications, the study was unable to demonstrate a causal relationship between these variables.

Citing the source you’re summarizing

When including a summary as part of a larger text, it’s essential to properly cite the source you’re summarizing. The exact format depends on your citation style , but it usually includes an in-text citation and a full reference at the end of your paper.

You can easily create your citations and references in APA or MLA using our free citation generators.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

Finally, read through the article once more to ensure that:

You’ve accurately represented the author’s work
You haven’t missed any essential information
The phrasing is not too similar to any sentences in the original.

If you’re summarizing many articles as part of your own work, it may be a good idea to use a plagiarism checker to double-check that your text is completely original and properly cited. Just be sure to use one that’s safe and reliable.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words. Want to make your life super easy? Try our free text summarizer today!

A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depends on the length of the article you’re summarizing, and on the purpose of the summary.

You might have to write a summary of a source:

As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material
For your own use, to keep notes on your reading
To provide an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review
In a paper , to summarize or introduce a relevant study

To avoid plagiarism when summarizing an article or other source, follow these two rules:

Write the summary entirely in your own words by paraphrasing the author’s ideas.
Cite the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarize the whole text, not just introduce it.

An abstract is a type of summary , but summaries are also written elsewhere in academic writing . For example, you might summarize a source in a paper , in a literature review , or as a standalone assignment.

All can be done within seconds with our free text summarizer .

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, May 31). How to Write a Summary | Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 25, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-summarize/

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Research Summary Structure, Samples, Writing Steps, and Useful Suggestions

Updated 28 Aug 2024

What is a Research Summary and Why Is It Important?

A research summary is a type of paper designed to provide a brief overview of a given study - typically, an article from a peer-reviewed academic journal. It is a frequent type of task encountered in US colleges and universities, both in humanitarian and exact sciences, which is due to how important it is to teach students to properly interact with and interpret scientific literature and in particular, academic papers, which are the key way through which new ideas, theories, and evidence are presented to experts in many fields of knowledge. A research summary typically preserves the structure/sections of the article it focuses on. Get the grades you want with our professional research paper helper .

How to Write a Research Summary – Typical Steps

Follow these clear steps to help avoid typical mistakes and productivity bottlenecks, allowing for a more efficient through your writing process:

Skim the article in order to get a rough idea of the content covered in each section and to understand the relative importance of content, for instance, how important different lines of evidence are (this helps you understand which sections you should focus on more when reading in detail). Make sure you understand the task and your professor's requirements before reading the article. In this step, you can also decide whether to write a summary by yourself or ask for a cheap research paper writing service instead.
Analyze and understand the topic and article. Writing a summary of a research paper involves becoming very familiar with the topic – sometimes, it is impossible to understand the content without learning about the current state of knowledge, as well as key definitions, concepts, models. This is often performed while reading the literature review. As for the paper itself, understanding it means understanding analysis questions, hypotheses, listed evidence, how strongly this evidence supports the hypotheses, as well as analysis implications. Keep in mind that only a deep understanding allows one to efficiently and accurately summarize the content.
Make notes as you read. You could highlight or summarize each paragraph with a brief sentence that would record the key idea delivered in it (obviously, some paragraphs deserve more attention than others). However, be careful not to engage in extensive writing while still reading. This is important because, while reading, you might realize that some sections you initially considered important might actually be less important compared to information that follows. As for underlining or highlighting – do these only with the most important evidence, otherwise, there is little use in “coloring” everything without distinction.
Assemble a draft by bringing together key evidence and notes from each paragraph/ section. Make sure that all elements characteristic of a research summary are covered (as detailed below).
Find additional literature for forming or supporting your critical view (this is if your critical view/position is required), for instance, judgments about limitations of the study or contradictory evidence.

Read Also: Criminal Justice Research Topics To Impress Your Teacher

Research Summary Structure

The research summary format resembles that found in the original paper (just a concise version of it). Content from all sections should be covered and reflected upon, regardless of whether corresponding headings are present or not. Key structural elements of any research summary are as follows:

Title – it announces the exact topic/area of analysis and can even be formulated to briefly announce key finding(s) or argument(s) delivered.
Abstract – this is a very concise and comprehensive description of the study, present virtually in any academic article (the length varies greatly, typically within 100-500 words). Unlike an academic article, your research summary is expected to have a much shorter abstract.
Introduction – this is an essential part of any research summary which provides necessary context (the literature review) that helps introduce readers to the subject by presenting the current state of the investigation, an important concept or definition, etc. This section might also describe the subject’s importance (or might not, for instance, when it is self-evident). Finally, an introduction typically lists investigation questions and hypotheses advanced by authors, which are normally mentioned in detail in any research summary (obviously, doing this is only possible after identifying these elements in the original paper).
Methodology – regardless of its location, this section details experimental methods or data analysis methods used (e.g. types of experiments, surveys, sampling, or statistical analysis). In a research summary, many of these details would have to be omitted; hence, it is important to understand what is most important to mention.
Results section – this section lists in detail evidence obtained from all experiments with some primary data analysis, conclusions, observations, and primary interpretations being made. It is typically the largest section of any analysis paper, so, it has to be concisely rewritten, which implies understanding which content is worth omitting and worth keeping.
Discussion – this is where results are being discussed in the context of current knowledge among experts. This section contains interpretations of results, theoretical models explaining the observed results, study strengths and especially limitations, complementary future exploration to be undertaken, conclusions, etc. All these are important elements that need to be conveyed in a summary.
Conclusion – in the original article, this section could be absent or merged with “Discussion”. Specific research summary instructions might require this to be a standalone section. In a conclusion, hypotheses are revisited and validated or denied, based on how convincing the evidence is (key lines of evidence could be highlighted).
References – this section is for mentioning those cited works directly in your summary – obviously, one has to provide appropriate citations at least for the original article (this often suffices). Mentioning other works might be relevant when your critical opinion is also required (supported with new unrelated evidence).

Note that if you need some model research summary papers done before you start writing yourself (this will help familiarize you with essay structure and various sections), you could simply recruit our company by following the link provided below.

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Research Summary Writing Tips

Below is a checklist of useful research paper tips worth considering when writing research summaries:

Make sure you are always aware of the bigger picture/ direction. You need to keep in mind a complete and coherent picture of the story delivered by the original article. It might be helpful to reread or scan it quickly to remind yourself of the declared goals, hypotheses, key evidence, and conclusions – this awareness offers a constant sense of direction, which ensures that no written sentence is out of context. It is useful doing this even after you have written a fourth, a third, or half of the paper (to make sure no deviation occurs).
Consider writing a detailed research outline before writing the draft – it might be of great use when structuring your paper. A research summary template is also very likely to help you structure your paper.
Sketch the main elements of the conclusion before writing it. Do this for a number of reasons: validate/invalidate hypotheses; enumerate key evidence supporting or invalidating them, list potential implications; mention the subject’s importance; mention study limitations and future directions for research. In order to include them all, it is useful having them written down and handy.
Consider writing the introduction and discussion last. It makes sense to first list hypotheses, goals, questions, and key results. Latter, information contained in the introduction and discussion can be adapted as needed (for instance, to match a preset word count limit). Also, on the basis of already written paragraphs, you can easily generate your discussion with the help of a conclusion tool ; it works online and is absolutely free of charge. Apart from this, follow a natural order.
Include visuals – you could summarize a lot of text using graphs or charts while simultaneously improving readability.
Be very careful not to plagiarize. It is very tempting to “borrow” or quote entire phrases from an article, provided how well-written these are, but you need to summarize your paper without plagiarizing at all (forget entirely about copy-paste – it is only allowed to paraphrase and even this should be done carefully). The best way to stay safe is by formulating your own thoughts from scratch.
Keep your word count in check. You don’t want your summary to be as long as the original paper (just reformulated). In addition, you might need to respect an imposed word count limit, which requires being careful about how much you write for each section.
Proofread your work for grammar, spelling, wordiness, and formatting issues (feel free to use our convert case tool for titles, headings, subheadings, etc.).
Watch your writing style – when summarizing content, it should be impersonal, precise, and purely evidence-based. A personal view/attitude should be provided only in the critical section (if required).
Ask a colleague to read your summary and test whether he/she could understand everything without reading the article – this will help ensure that you haven’t skipped some important content, explanations, concepts, etc.

For additional information on formatting, structure, and for more writing tips, check out these research paper guidelines on our website. Remember that we cover most research papers writing services you can imagine and can offer help at various stages of your writing project, including proofreading, editing, rewriting for plagiarism elimination, and style adjustment.

Research Summary Example 1

Below are some defining elements of a sample research summary written from an imaginary article.

Title – “The probability of an unexpected volcanic eruption in Yellowstone” Introduction – this section would list those catastrophic consequences hitting our country in case of a massive eruption and the importance of analyzing this matter. Hypothesis – An eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano would be preceded by intense precursory activity manifesting a few weeks up to a few years in advance. Results – these could contain a report of statistical data from multiple volcanic eruptions happening worldwide looking specifically at activity that preceded these events (in particular, how early each type of activity was detected). Discussion and conclusion – Given that Yellowstone is continuously monitored by scientists and that signs of an eruption are normally detected much in advance and at least a few days in advance, the hypothesis is confirmed. This could find application in creating emergency plans detailing an organized evacuation campaign and other response measures.

Research Summary Example 2

Below is another sample sketch, also from an imaginary article.

Title – “The frequency of extreme weather events in US in 2000-2008 as compared to the ‘50s” Introduction – Weather events bring immense material damage and cause human victims. Hypothesis – Extreme weather events are significantly more frequent nowadays than in the ‘50s Results – these could list the frequency of several categories of extreme events now and then: droughts and associated fires, massive rainfall/snowfall and associated floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, arctic cold waves, etc. Discussion and conclusion – Several types of extreme events indeed became significantly more frequent recently, confirming this hypothesis. This increasing frequency correlates reliably with rising CO2 levels in atmosphere and growing temperatures worldwide and in the absence of another recent major global change that could explain a higher frequency of disasters but also knowing how growing temperature disturbs weather patterns, it is natural to assume that global warming (CO2) causes this increase in frequency. This, in turn, suggests that this increased frequency of disasters is not a short-term phenomenon but is here to stay until we address CO2 levels.

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Let Professionals Help With Your Research Summary

Writing a research summary has its challenges, but becoming familiar with its structure (i.e. the structure of an article), understanding well the article that needs to be summarized, and adhering to recommended guidelines will help the process go smoothly.

Simply create your account in a few clicks, place an order by uploading your instructions, and upload or indicate the article requiring a summary and choose a preferred writer for this task (according to experience, rating, bidding price). Our transparent system puts you in control, allowing you to set priorities as you wish (to our knowledge, few competitors have something equivalent in place). Obviously, we can help with many other essay types such as critical thinking essay, argumentative essay, etc. In particular, the research paper definition article on our website highlights a few popular paper types we work with.

Another unique advantage is that we allow and encourage you to communicate directly with your writer (if you wish) guiding his or her work – feel free to request partial drafts, to clarify potential issues you worry about, or even to revise papers as often as needed (for free) until you achieve a satisfactory result. We’ve implemented a system where money is released to writers only after students are fully satisfied with what they get. If you feel like giving it a try, it’s easy and worry-free! Just follow the link below.

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Writing a Summary – Explanation & Examples

Published by Alvin Nicolas at October 17th, 2023 , Revised On October 17, 2023

In a world bombarded with vast amounts of information, condensing and presenting data in a digestible format becomes invaluable. Enter summaries.

A summary is a brief and concise account of the main points of a larger body of work. It distils complex ideas, narratives, or data into a version that is quicker to read and easier to understand yet still retains the essence of the original content.

Importance of Summaries

The importance of summarising extends far beyond just making reading more manageable. In academic settings, summaries aid students in understanding and retaining complex materials, from textbook chapters to research articles. They also serve as tools to showcase one’s grasp of the subject in essays and reports.

In professional arenas, summaries are pivotal in business reports, executive briefings, and even emails where key points need to be conveyed quickly to decision-makers. Meanwhile, summarising skills come into play in our personal lives when we relay news stories to friends, recap a movie plot, or even scroll through condensed news or app notifications on our smartphones.

Why Do We Write Summaries?

In our modern information age, the sheer volume of content available can be overwhelming. From detailed research papers to comprehensive news articles, the quest for knowledge is often met with lengthy and complex resources. This is where the power of a well-crafted summary comes into play. But what drives us to create or seek out summaries? Let’s discuss.

Makes Important Things Easy to Remember

At the heart of summarisation is the goal to understand. A well-written summary aids in digesting complex material. By distilling larger works into their core points, we reinforce the primary messages, making them easier to remember. This is especially crucial for students who need to retain knowledge for exams or professionals prepping for a meeting based on a lengthy report.

Simplification of Complex Topics

Not everyone is an expert in every field. Often, topics come laden with jargon, intricate details, and nuanced arguments. Summaries act as a bridge, translating this complexity into accessible and straightforward content. This is especially beneficial for individuals new to a topic or those who need just the highlights without the intricacies.

Aid in Researching and Understanding Diverse Sources

Researchers, writers, and academics often wade through many sources when working on a project. This involves finding sources of different types, such as primary or secondary sources , and then understanding their content. Sifting through each source in its entirety can be time-consuming. Summaries offer a streamlined way to understand each source’s main arguments or findings, making synthesising information from diverse materials more efficient.

Condensing Information for Presentation or Sharing

In professional settings, there is often a need to present findings, updates, or recommendations to stakeholders. An executive might not have the time to go through a 50-page report, but they would certainly appreciate a concise summary highlighting the key points. Similarly, in our personal lives, we often summarise movie plots, book stories, or news events when sharing with friends or family.

Characteristics of a Good Summary

Crafting an effective summary is an art. It’s more than just shortening a piece of content; it is about capturing the essence of the original work in a manner that is both accessible and true to its intent. Let’s explore the primary characteristics that distinguish a good summary from a mediocre one:

Conciseness

At the core of a summary is the concept of brevity. But being concise doesn’t mean leaving out vital information. A good summary will:

Eliminate superfluous details or repetitive points.
Focus on the primary arguments, events, or findings.
Use succinct language without compromising the message.

Objectivity

Summarising is not about infusing personal opinions or interpretations. A quality summary will:

Stick to the facts as presented in the original content.
Avoid introducing personal biases or perspectives.
Represent the original author’s intent faithfully.

A summary is meant to simplify and make content accessible. This is only possible if the summary itself is easy to understand. Ensuring clarity involves:

Avoiding jargon or technical terms unless they are essential to the content. If they are used, they should be clearly defined.
Structuring sentences in a straightforward manner.
Making sure ideas are presented in a way that even someone unfamiliar with the topic can grasp the primary points.

A jumble of ideas, no matter how concise, will not make for a good summary. Coherence ensures that there’s a logical flow to the summarised content. A coherent summary will:

Maintain a logical sequence, often following the structure of the original content.
Use transition words or phrases to connect ideas and ensure smooth progression.
Group related ideas together to provide structure and avoid confusion.

Steps of Writing a Summary

The process of creating a compelling summary is not merely about cutting down content. It involves understanding, discerning, and crafting. Here is a step-by-step guide to writing a summary that encapsulates the essence of the original work:

Reading Actively

Engage deeply with the content to ensure a thorough understanding.

Read the entire document or work first to grasp its overall intent and structure.
On the second read, underline or highlight the standout points or pivotal moments.
Make brief notes in the margins or on a separate sheet, capturing the core ideas in your own words.

Identifying the Main Idea

Determine the backbone of the content, around which all other details revolve.

Ask yourself: “What is the primary message or theme the author wants to convey?”
This can often be found in the title, introduction, or conclusion of a piece.
Frame the main idea in a clear and concise statement to guide your summary.

List Key Supporting Points

Understand the pillars that uphold the main idea, providing evidence or depth to the primary message.

Refer back to the points you underlined or highlighted during your active reading.
Note major arguments, evidence, or examples that the author uses to back up the main idea.
Prioritise these points based on their significance to the main idea.

Draft the Summary

Convert your understanding into a condensed, coherent version of the original.

Start with a statement of the main idea.
Follow with the key supporting points, maintaining logical order.
Avoid including trivial details or examples unless they’re crucial to the primary message.
Use your own words, ensuring you are not plagiarising the original content.

Fine-tune your draft to ensure clarity, accuracy, and brevity.

Read your draft aloud to check for flow and coherence.
Ensure that your summary remains objective, avoiding any personal interpretations or biases.
Check the length. See if any non-essential details can be removed without sacrificing understanding if it is too lengthy.
Ensure clarity by ensuring the language is straightforward, and the main ideas are easily grasped.

The research done by our experts have:

Precision and Clarity
Zero Plagiarism
Authentic Sources

Dos and Don’ts of Summarising Key Points

Summarising, while seemingly straightforward, comes with its nuances. Properly condensing content demands a balance between brevity and fidelity to the original work. To aid in crafting exemplary summaries, here is a guide on the essential dos and don’ts:

Use your Own Words

This ensures that you have truly understood the content and are not merely parroting it. It also prevents issues of plagiarism.

Tip: After reading the original content, take a moment to reflect on it. Then, without looking at the source, write down the main points in your own words.

Attribute Sources Properly

Giving credit is both ethical and provides context to readers, helping them trace back to the original work if needed. How to cite sources correctly is a skill every writer should master.

Tip: Use signal phrases like “According to [Author/Source]…” or “As [Author/Source] points out…” to seamlessly incorporate attributions.

Ensure Accuracy of the Summarised Content

A summary should be a reliable reflection of the original content. Distorting or misrepresenting the original ideas compromises the integrity of the summary.

Tip: After drafting your summary, cross-check with the original content to ensure all key points are represented accurately and ensure you are referencing credible sources .

Avoid Copy-Pasting Chunks of Original Content

This not only raises plagiarism concerns but also shows a lack of genuine engagement with the material.

Tip: If a particular phrase or sentence from the original is pivotal and cannot be reworded without losing its essence, use block quotes , quotation marks, and attribute the source.

Do not Inject your Personal Opinion

A summary should be an objective reflection of the source material. Introducing personal biases or interpretations can mislead readers.

Tip: Stick to the facts and arguments presented in the original content. If you find yourself writing “I think” or “In my opinion,” reevaluate the sentence.

Do not Omit Crucial Information

While a summary is meant to be concise, it shouldn’t be at the expense of vital details that are essential to understanding the original content’s core message.

Tip: Prioritise information. Always include the main idea and its primary supports. If you are unsure whether a detail is crucial, consider its impact on the overall message.

Examples of Summaries

Here are a few examples that will help you get a clearer view of how to write a summary.

Example 1: Summary of a News Article

Original Article: The article reports on the recent discovery of a rare species of frog in the Amazon rainforest. The frog, named the “Emerald Whisperer” due to its unique green hue and the soft chirping sounds it makes, was found by a team of researchers from the University of Texas. The discovery is significant as it offers insights into the biodiversity of the region, and the Emerald Whisperer might also play a pivotal role in understanding the ecosystem balance.

Summary: Researchers from the University of Texas have discovered a unique frog, termed the “Emerald Whisperer,” in the Amazon rainforest. This finding sheds light on the region’s biodiversity and underscores the importance of the frog in ecological studies.

Example 2: Summary of a Research Paper

Original Paper: In a study titled “The Impact of Urbanisation on Bee Populations,” researchers conducted a year-long observation on bee colonies in three urban areas and three rural areas. Using specific metrics like colony health, bee productivity, and population size, the study found that urban environments saw a 30% decline in bee populations compared to rural settings. The research attributes this decline to factors like pollution, reduced green spaces, and increased temperatures in urban areas.

Summary: A study analysing the effects of urbanisation on bee colonies found a significant 30% decrease in bee populations in urban settings compared to rural areas. The decline is linked to urban factors such as pollution, diminished greenery, and elevated temperatures.

Example 3: Summary of a Novel

Original Story: In the novel “Winds of Fate,” protagonist Clara is trapped in a timeless city where memories dictate reality. Throughout her journey, she encounters characters from her past, present, and imagined future. Battling her own perceptions and a menacing shadow figure, Clara seeks an elusive gateway to return to her real world. In the climax, she confronts the shadow, which turns out to be her own fear, and upon overcoming it, she finds her way back, realising that reality is subjective.

Summary: “Winds of Fate” follows Clara’s adventures in a surreal city shaped by memories. Confronting figures from various phases of her life and battling a symbolic shadow of her own fear, Clara eventually discovers that reality’s perception is malleable and subjective.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a summary.

A summary condenses a larger piece of content, capturing its main points and essence. It is usually one-fourth of the original content.

What is a summary?

A summary is a concise representation of a larger text or content, highlighting its main ideas and points. It distils complex information into a shorter form, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essence of the original material without delving into extensive details. Summaries prioritise clarity, brevity, and accuracy.

When should I write a summary?

Write a summary when you need to condense lengthy content for easier comprehension and recall. It’s useful in academic settings, professional reports, presentations, and research to highlight key points. Summaries aid in comparing multiple sources, preparing for discussions, and sharing essential details of extensive materials efficiently with others.

How can I summarise a source without plagiarising?

To summarise without plagiarising: Read the source thoroughly, understand its main ideas, and then write the summary in your own words. Avoid copying phrases verbatim. Attribute the source properly. Use paraphrasing techniques and cross-check your summary against the original to ensure distinctiveness while retaining accuracy. Always prioritise understanding over direct replication.

What is the difference between a summary and an abstract?

A summary condenses a text, capturing its main points from various content types like books, articles, or movies. An abstract, typically found in research papers and scientific articles, provides a brief overview of the study’s purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions. Both offer concise versions, but abstracts are more structured and specific.

Article Summaries, Reviews & Critiques

Writing an article summary.

Writing an article REVIEW
Writing an article CRITIQUE
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When writing a summary, the goal is to compose a concise and objective overview of the original article. The summary should focus only on the article's main ideas and important details that support those ideas.

Guidelines for summarizing an article:

State the main ideas.
Identify the most important details that support the main ideas.
Summarize in your own words.
Do not copy phrases or sentences unless they are being used as direct quotations.
Express the underlying meaning of the article, but do not critique or analyze.
The summary should be about one third the length of the original article.

Your summary should include:

Give an overview of the article, including the title and the name of the author.
Provide a thesis statement that states the main idea of the article.
Use the body paragraphs to explain the supporting ideas of your thesis statement.
One-paragraph summary - one sentence per supporting detail, providing 1-2 examples for each.
Multi-paragraph summary - one paragraph per supporting detail, providing 2-3 examples for each.
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas.
Summarize your thesis statement and the underlying meaning of the article.

Adapted from "Guidelines for Using In-Text Citations in a Summary (or Research Paper)" by Christine Bauer-Ramazani, 2020

Additional Resources

All links open in a new window.

How to Write a Summary - Guide & Examples (from Scribbr.com)

Writing a Summary (from The University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center)

Next: Writing an article REVIEW >>
Last Updated: Mar 15, 2024 9:32 AM
URL: https://libguides.randolph.edu/summaries

How to Write a Research Paper Summary

Journal submission: Tips to submit better manuscripts | Paperpal

One of the most important skills you can imbibe as an academician is to know how to summarize a research paper. During your academic journey, you may need to write a summary of findings in research quite often and for varied reasons – be it to write an introduction for a peer-reviewed publication , to submit a critical review, or to simply create a useful database for future referencing.

It can be quite challenging to effectively write a research paper summary for often complex work, which is where a pre-determined workflow can help you optimize the process. Investing time in developing this skill can also help you improve your scientific acumen, increasing your efficiency and productivity at work. This article illustrates some useful advice on how to write a research summary effectively. But, what is research summary in the first place?

A research paper summary is a crisp, comprehensive overview of a research paper, which encapsulates the purpose, findings, methods, conclusions, and relevance of a study. A well-written research paper summary is an indicator of how well you have understood the author’s work.

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2. Invest enough time to understand the topic deeply

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Mistakes to avoid while writing your research paper summary

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Frequently asked questions (faq), how to write a research paper summary.

Writing a good research paper summary comes with practice and skill. Here is some useful advice on how to write a research paper summary effectively.

1. Determine the focus of your summary

Before you begin to write a summary of research papers, determine the aim of your research paper summary. This will give you more clarity on how to summarize a research paper, including what to highlight and where to find the information you need, which accelerates the entire process. If you are aiming for the summary to be a supporting document or a proof of principle for your current research findings, then you can look for elements that are relevant to your work.

On the other hand, if your research summary is intended to be a critical review of the research article, you may need to use a completely different lens while reading the paper and conduct your own research regarding the accuracy of the data presented. Then again, if the research summary is intended to be a source of information for future referencing, you will likely have a different approach. This makes determining the focus of your summary a key step in the process of writing an effective research paper summary.

2. Invest enough time to understand the topic deeply

In order to author an effective research paper summary, you need to dive into the topic of the research article. Begin by doing a quick scan for relevant information under each section of the paper. The abstract is a great starting point as it helps you to quickly identify the top highlights of the research article, speeding up the process of understanding the key findings in the paper. Be sure to do a careful read of the research paper, preparing notes that describe each section in your own words to put together a summary of research example or a first draft. This will save your time and energy in revisiting the paper to confirm relevant details and ease the entire process of writing a research paper summary.

When reading papers, be sure to acknowledge and ignore any pre-conceived notions that you might have regarding the research topic. This will not only help you understand the topic better but will also help you develop a more balanced perspective, ensuring that your research paper summary is devoid of any personal opinions or biases.

3. Keep the summary crisp, brief and engaging

A research paper summary is usually intended to highlight and explain the key points of any study, saving the time required to read through the entire article. Thus, your primary goal while compiling the summary should be to keep it as brief, crisp and readable as possible. Usually, a short introduction followed by 1-2 paragraphs is adequate for an effective research article summary. Avoid going into too much technical detail while describing the main results and conclusions of the study. Rather focus on connecting the main findings of the study to the hypothesis , which can make the summary more engaging. For example, instead of simply reporting an original finding – “the graph showed a decrease in the mortality rates…”, you can say, “there was a decline in the number of deaths, as predicted by the authors while beginning the study…” or “there was a decline in the number of deaths, which came as a surprise to the authors as this was completely unexpected…”.

Unless you are writing a critical review of the research article, the language used in your research paper summaries should revolve around reporting the findings, not assessing them. On the other hand, if you intend to submit your summary as a critical review, make sure to provide sufficient external evidence to support your final analysis. Invest sufficient time in editing and proofreading your research paper summary thoroughly to ensure you’ve captured the findings accurately. You can also get an external opinion on the preliminary draft of the research paper summary from colleagues or peers who have not worked on the research topic.

Mistakes to avoid while writing your research paper summary

Now that you’ve understood how to summarize a research paper, watch out for these red flags while writing your summary.

Not paying attention to the word limit and recommended format, especially while submitting a critical review
Evaluating the findings instead of maintaining an objective , unbiased view while reading the research paper
Skipping the essential editing step , which can help eliminate avoidable errors and ensure that the language does not misrepresent the findings
Plagiarism, it is critical to write in your own words or paraphrase appropriately when reporting the findings in your scientific article summary

We hope the recommendations listed above will help answer the question of how to summarize a research paper and enable you to tackle the process effectively.

Summarize your research paper with Paperpal

Paperpal, an AI academic writing assistant, is designed to support academics at every step of the academic writing process. Built on over two decades of experience helping researchers get published and trained on millions of published research articles, Paperpal offers human precision at machine speed. Paperpal Copilot, with advanced generative AI features, can help academics achieve 2x the writing in half the time, while transforming how they research and write.

How to summarize a research paper with Paperpal?

To generate your research paper summary, simply login to the platform and use the Paperpal Copilot Summary feature to create a flawless summary of your work. Here’s a step-by-step process to help you craft a summary in minutes:

Paste relevant research articles to be summarized into Paperpal; the AI will scan each section and extract key information.
In minutes, Paperpal will generate a comprehensive summary that showcases the main paper highlights while adhering to academic writing conventions.
Check the content to polish and refine the language, ensure your own voice, and add citations or references as needed.

The abstract and research paper summary serve similar purposes but differ in scope, length, and placement. The abstract is a concise yet detailed overview of the research, placed at the beginning of a paper, with the aim of providing readers with a quick understanding of the paper’s content and to help them decide whether to read the full article. Usually limited to a few hundred words, it highlights the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of the study. On the other hand, a research paper summary provides a crisp account of the entire research paper. Its purpose is to provide a brief recap for readers who may want to quickly grasp the main points of the research without reading the entire paper in detail.

The structure of a research summary can vary depending on the specific requirements or guidelines provided by the target publication or institution. A typical research summary includes the following key sections: introduction (including the research question or objective), methodology (briefly describing the research design and methods), results (summarizing the key findings), discussion (highlighting the implications and significance of the findings), and conclusion (providing a summary of the main points and potential future directions).

The summary of a research paper is important because it provides a condensed overview of the study’s purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. It allows you to quickly grasp the main points and relevance of the research without having to read the entire paper. Research summaries can also be an invaluable way to communicate research findings to a broader audience, such as policymakers or the general public.

When writing a research paper summary, it is crucial to avoid plagiarism by properly attributing the original authors’ work. To learn how to summarize a research paper while avoiding plagiarism, follow these critical guidelines: (1) Read the paper thoroughly to understand the main points and key findings. (2) Use your own words and sentence structures to restate the information, ensuring that the research paper summary reflects your understanding of the paper. (3) Clearly indicate when you are paraphrasing or quoting directly from the original paper by using appropriate citation styles. (4) Cite the original source for any specific ideas, concepts, or data that you include in your summary. (5) Review your summary to ensure it accurately represents the research paper while giving credit to the original authors.

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How to write a research summary

A research summary is a required task during academic research, and sometimes, you might need to prepare one during an organization's research project.

Most people find a research summary challenging. You must condense complex research material into an informative, easy-to-understand article, usually with a minimum of 300-500 words.

This blog article will guide you through all the steps required to make writing your research summary easier.

What is a Research Summary?

A research summary is a concise overview of a research paper or project. It is designed to provide the reader with essential research insights without reading the entire document. Research summaries are commonly required in academic settings and are fundamental in disseminating knowledge concisely.

The key components of a Research Summary

Objective writing.

It is crucial to maintain objectivity when writing a research summary. The summary should reflect the author's ideas and findings without including personal opinions. This requires the summarizer to convey the main points and intent of the original research accurately while remaining neutral.

Focus and Clarity

Determining the focus of the summary is a critical first step. It involves deciding whether to create a "global" summary, which covers all main ideas, or a "selective" summary, which focuses on specific aspects of the research. The summary should be clear, engaging, and concise, capturing the essence of the study in a brief format.

Essential Elements

A good summary should include the research's foundation, the theoretical framework, and a clear outline of the empirical findings. It should also identify any research gaps addressed by the study. The content should be well-organized, starting with a brief introduction to the topic and then discussing the research methods, results, and conclusions.

Tips for writing a compelling Research Summary

Below is a checklist of helpful research paper tips worth considering when writing research summaries:

Considering the target audience

The golden rule of writing is always to consider your target audience; a research summary is no exception. Why? Different people have different needs, and your paper should meet the needs and preferences of the target audience. Ask yourself, “Who am I writing for?” write down the answer, and you’ll find it easier to pinpoint research articles for the summary.

Being aware of the bigger picture

Remembering a complete and coherent picture of the story delivered by the original article is crucial. It might be helpful to reread or scan the content to remind yourself of the declared goals, hypotheses, key evidence, and conclusions—this awareness offers a constant sense of direction, which ensures that no written sentence is out of context.

Research outline

Consider writing a detailed research outline before writing a summary research draft.

Sketch the main elements of the conclusion before writing it for several reasons:

Validate/invalidate hypotheses.
Enumerate key evidence supporting or invalidating them and list potential implications.
Mention the subject's importance.
Mention study limitations and future directions for research.

Consider writing the introduction and discussion last. It makes sense first to list hypotheses, goals, questions, and results. The information in the introduction and discussion can be adapted as needed (for instance, to match a word count limit). Additionally, based on written paragraphs, you can quickly generate your discussion with the help of a conclusion tool.

Visual representation

it’s not just about writing a long text and analysis of some subject by using the information you find, both research and its summary need visuals for full effect. Sometimes, a simple diagram or graph can say much of the information you tried to convey. A common mistake students make is leaving visuals for the original file and omitting them in the summary. Feel free to include tables, figures, and other visual supplements to this paper too.

Avoiding plagiarism

It is very tempting to "borrow" or quote entire phrases from an article, provided how well-written these are. However, you need to summarize your paper without plagiarizing; only paraphrasing is allowed, and it's best to do it carefully. The best way to stay safe is by formulating your thoughts from scratch.

Keeping the word count in check

The general rule of thumb is that the summary should meet the criteria of no more than 10% of the number of pages in the original document. In most cases, it takes 2 and 4 pages.

The writing style

When summarizing content, it should be impersonal, precise, and purely evidence-based. A personal view or an attitude should be provided only in the critical section.

Ask a colleague to read your summary and test whether they can understand everything without reading the article—this will help ensure that you haven't skipped any vital content, explanations, concepts, etc.

Using dedicated AI Tools

Leveraging tools like Wiseone can help by generating a thorough summary with key takeaways to remember, ensuring it remains concise and focused on the main ideas.

How to write a Research Summary

Once the requirements of the fundamentals for starting a research summary are satisfied, you can begin to write using the following format:

Why was the research done? – A clear description of why the research was embarked on and the hypothesis being tested.
Who was surveyed? – The research study should have details of the source of your information. If it was via a survey, you should document who the survey participants were and why they were selected.
What was the methodology? – Discuss the methodology regarding what kind of survey method you adopted. Was it a face-to-face interview, a phone interview, or a focus group setting?
What were the key findings? - This is perhaps the most vital part of the process. What discoveries did you make after the testing? This part should be based on raw facts free from any personal bias.
Conclusion: What conclusions were drawn from the findings?
Takeaways and action points: This is where the views and perceptions can be reflected. Here, you can now share your recommendations or action points.
Identify the article's focal point: To grasp the content covered in the research paper, you can skim the article first to understand the essential part of the research paper.
Analyze and understand the topic and article: Writing a research paper summary involves familiarizing yourself with the current state of knowledge, key definitions, concepts, and models. This information is often gleaned while reading the literature review. Please note that only a deep understanding ensures efficient and accurate content summarization.
Make notes as you read: Highlight and summarize each paragraph as you read. You would further condense your notes to create a draft forming your research summary.

How to Structure Your Research Summary

Title

The title announces the exact topic/area of analysis and can even be formulated to briefly announce key finding(s) or argument(s) delivered.

Abstract

An abstract is a concise and comprehensive description of the study, present virtually in any academic article (the length varies greatly, typically within 100-500 words). Unlike a scholarly article, your research summary is expected to have a much shorter abstract.

Introduction

The introduction is an essential part of any research summary, which provides the necessary context (the literature review) that helps introduce readers to the subject by presenting the current state of the investigation, an important concept or definition, etc. This section describes the subject's importance (or may not, for instance, when it is self-evident). Finally, an introduction typically lists investigation questions and hypotheses advanced by authors, which are usually mentioned in detail in any research summary (obviously, doing this is only possible after identifying these elements in the original paper).

Methodology

Regardless of location, this section details experimental or data analysis methods (e.g., experiments, surveys, sampling, or statistical analysis). Many of these details would have to be omitted in a research summary; hence, it is essential to understand what is most important to mention.

Results section –

This section lists evidence obtained from all experiments with some primary data analysis, conclusions, observations, and primary interpretations being made. It is typically the most significant section of any analysis paper, so it must be concisely rewritten, which implies understanding which content is worth omitting and keeping.

Discussion

The discussion is where experts discuss results in the context of current knowledge. This section contains interpretations of results, theoretical models explaining the observed results, study strengths and limitations, complementary future exploration, conclusions, etc. All these are essential elements that need to be conveyed in summary.

Conclusion

In the conclusion, hypotheses are revisited and validated or denied, based on how convincing the evidence is (key lines of evidence could be highlighted).

References

References mention those cited works directly in your summary – obviously, one has to provide appropriate citations, at least for the original article (this often suffices). Mentioning other works might be relevant when your critical opinion is also required (supported with new unrelated evidence).

Writing a practical research summary involves a blend of comprehension, objectivity, and clarity. Focusing on the main ideas, maintaining neutrality, and organizing the summary effectively can create a valuable and insightful overview that serves the audience's needs, whether for academic purposes or general knowledge.

What is a research summary?

What are the key components of a research summaries.

Objectivity : Maintaining objectivity is crucial when writing a research summary. The summary should reflect the author's ideas and findings without including personal opinions. This requires conveying the main points and intent of the original research accurately while remaining neutral.

Clarity and focus: Determining the focus of the summary is a critical first step. It involves the decision to create either a "global" summary, which covers all main ideas, or a "selective" summary, which focuses on specific aspects of the research. The summary should be clear, engaging, and concise, capturing the essence of the study in a brief format.

Essential elements: A good research summary should include the research's foundation, the theoretical framework, and a clear outline of the empirical findings. It should also identify any research gaps addressed by the study. The content should be well-organized, starting with a brief introduction to the topic and then discussing the research methods, results, and conclusions.

What are the tips for writing a compelling research summary?

Thinking about the target audience
Keeping the writing style in check

What is the structure of a research summary?

Introduction
Results section

In the conclusion, hypotheses are revisited and validated or denied based on how convincing the evidence is (key lines of evidence could be highlighted).

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Research Summary: What is it & how to write one

The Research Summary is used to report facts about a study clearly. You will almost certainly be required to prepare a research summary during your academic research or while on a research project for your organization.

If it is the first time you have to write one, the writing requirements may confuse you. The instructors generally assign someone to write a summary of the research work. Research summaries require the writer to have a thorough understanding of the issue.

This article will discuss the definition of a research summary and how to write one.

What is a research summary?

A research summary is a piece of writing that summarizes your research on a specific topic. Its primary goal is to offer the reader a detailed overview of the study with the key findings. A research summary generally contains the article’s structure in which it is written.

You must know the goal of your analysis before you launch a project. A research overview summarizes the detailed response and highlights particular issues raised in it. Writing it might be somewhat troublesome. To write a good overview, you want to start with a structure in mind. Read on for our guide.

Why is an analysis recap so important?

Your summary or analysis is going to tell readers everything about your research project. This is the critical piece that your stakeholders will read to identify your findings and valuable insights. Having a good and concise research summary that presents facts and comes with no research biases is the critical deliverable of any research project.

We’ve put together a cheat sheet to help you write a good research summary below.

Research Summary Guide

Why was this research done? – You want to give a clear description of why this research study was done. What hypothesis was being tested?
Who was surveyed? – The what and why or your research decides who you’re going to interview/survey. Your research summary has a detailed note on who participated in the study and why they were selected.
What was the methodology? – Talk about the methodology. Did you do face-to-face interviews? Was it a short or long survey or a focus group setting? Your research methodology is key to the results you’re going to get.
What were the key findings? – This can be the most critical part of the process. What did we find out after testing the hypothesis? This section, like all others, should be just facts, facts facts. You’re not sharing how you feel about the findings. Keep it bias-free.
Conclusion – What are the conclusions that were drawn from the findings. A good example of a conclusion. Surprisingly, most people interviewed did not watch the lunar eclipse in 2022, which is unexpected given that 100% of those interviewed knew about it before it happened.
Takeaways and action points – This is where you bring in your suggestion. Given the data you now have from the research, what are the takeaways and action points? If you’re a researcher running this research project for your company, you’ll use this part to shed light on your recommended action plans for the business.

LEARN ABOUT: Action Research

If you’re doing any research, you will write a summary, which will be the most viewed and more important part of the project. So keep a guideline in mind before you start. Focus on the content first and then worry about the length. Use the cheat sheet/checklist in this article to organize your summary, and that’s all you need to write a great research summary!

But once your summary is ready, where is it stored? Most teams have multiple documents in their google drives, and it’s a nightmare to find projects that were done in the past. Your research data should be democratized and easy to use.

We at QuestionPro launched a research repository for research teams, and our clients love it. All your data is in one place, and everything is searchable, including your research summaries!

Authors: Prachi, Anas

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The Sheridan Libraries

Write a Literature Review
Sheridan Libraries
Evaluate This link opens in a new window

Not every source you found should be included in your annotated bibliography or lit review. Only include the most relevant and most important sources.

Get Organized

Lit Review Prep Use this template to help you evaluate your sources, create article summaries for an annotated bibliography, and a synthesis matrix for your lit review outline.

Summarize your Sources

Summarize each source: Determine the most important and relevant information from each source, such as the findings, methodology, theories, etc. Consider using an article summary, or study summary to help you organize and summarize your sources.

Paraphrasing

Use your own words, and do not copy and paste the abstract
The library's tutorials about plagiarism are excellent, and will help you with paraphasing correctly

Annotated Bibliographies

Annotated bibliographies can help you clearly see and understand the research before diving into organizing and writing your literature review. Although typically part of the "summarize" step of the literature review, annotations should not merely be summaries of each article - instead, they should be critical evaluations of the source, and help determine a source's usefulness for your lit review.

Definition:

A list of citations on a particular topic followed by an evaluation of the source’s argument and other relevant material including its intended audience, sources of evidence, and methodology

Explore your topic.
Appraise issues or factors associated with your professional practice and research topic.
Help you get started with the literature review.
Think critically about your topic, and the literature.

Steps to Creating an Annotated Bibliography:

Find Your Sources
Read Your Sources
Identify the Most Relevant Sources
Cite your Sources
Write Annotations

Annotated Bibliography Resources

Purdue Owl Guide
Cornell Annotated Bibliography Guide
<< Previous: Evaluate
Next: Synthesize >>
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024 1:42 PM
URL: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review

Learning Materials

How to write an effective summary of research paper.

Updated: Sep 20, 2024

Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information in a research paper? Distilling the essence of a detailed study into a succinct summary can often seem like a daunting task. A research paper summary should crisply encapsulate the purpose, findings, methods, and conclusions of a study, focusing on clarity and brevity without delving too deeply into technical details. Our upcoming blog will guide you through the foundations of writing a research paper summary, provide practical tips, highlight useful tools, and show examples to help you craft a compelling and concise summary.

Start Writing Your Free Essay!

Foundations of writing a summary in research paper.

Writing a summary for a research paper is a skill that condenses the extensive information from the study into a precise and accessible format. The purpose of a research summary is to provide a brief overview of the study's main points, including the hypothesis, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. This not only aids in quickly understanding the essence of the research but also serves as a useful tool for revisiting the study's highlights without perusing the entire document again.

A well-crafted research summary should contain certain essential elements to ensure it fulfills its role effectively. Firstly, it should begin with an introduction that presents the research topic and objectives succinctly. Following this, a section on methodology should briefly describe how the research was conducted. The main body of the summary should then highlight the key findings in a clear and concise manner. Lastly, the conclusion should encapsulate the overall implications of the research, revisiting the hypothesis and stating whether it was supported by the findings.

When writing a research paper summary, it's crucial to keep the language simple and the content organized . This ensures that the summary is accessible to a wide range of readers, from experts in the field to individuals with a general interest in the topic. Use bullet points to list key findings and avoid jargon that might obscure the main points. By adhering to these foundational principles, the summary will not only be informative but also engaging and easy to read.

Structuring Your Research Paper Summary

The structure of a research paper summary is paramount in making the information digestible and impactful. Start with an introduction that provides a brief background of the topic and outlines the research question or hypothesis. This sets the stage for the readers, giving them a context for the ensuing content.

Following the introduction, detail the main findings of the research in a logical order, which could be chronological or based on the significance of the results. Each key point should be a bullet point, making them standout and easy to remember. Conclude with a summary of the research conclusions , linking back to the hypothesis and discussing the broader implications of the findings. This structure ensures that the summary is not only thorough but also coherent and reflective of the research paper's value.

Tips for Crafting a Compelling Research Paper Summary

To craft a compelling research paper summary, focus on clarity and brevity . The summary should be concise yet complete enough to convey the essential aspects of the research without oversimplification. Start by highlighting the main points and findings, using simple language that can be understood by a broad audience. Avoid unnecessary technical details that might detract from the main message of the research.

Additionally, make your summary engaging by linking the findings to the original hypothesis or research questions, which adds coherence to the summary. Use active voice and strong verbs to convey the research actions and outcomes vividly. Remember, the goal is to make the summary informative and interesting, prompting the reader to appreciate the significance of the research without having to delve into the full paper.

Tools to Aid in Summarizing Research Papers

In the digital age, numerous tools have been developed to assist researchers in summarizing research papers efficiently. One such tool is Scholarcy , an AI-based platform that simplifies the process by breaking down articles into structured summaries. It highlights key claims, statistics, and even extracts tables and figures, linking them to their cited sources in the text. This not only saves time but also ensures that researchers can focus on the most pertinent information. Similarly, Paperpal offers a suite of tools that enhance academic writing and summarization through in-depth language checks and subject-specific recommendations.

For those who manage multiple sources, Zotero stands out as an indispensable tool for capturing high-quality publication data and managing citations directly within word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Its built-in PDF reader is particularly useful for extracting cited quotations and annotations. These tools collectively help in creating precise and concise summaries by:

Automatically generating lay summaries with Scholarcy.
Ensuring language clarity and technical accuracy with Paperpal.
Efficiently managing citations and bibliographies with Zotero.

These digital aids are designed to streamline the summarization process, making it more accessible and less time-consuming for researchers.

Examples of Effective Research Paper Summaries

To grasp how an effective research paper summary can be crafted, let's consider a few real-life examples. One notable summary succinctly encapsulates the study's hypothesis, methodology, key findings, and conclusions without delving into excessive detail. For instance, a summary might begin by stating the research question, followed by a brief description of the methodology used. This sets a clear, informative foundation without overwhelming the reader with too much preliminary information.

Moving on to the main findings, effective summaries often use bullet points to highlight critical data points and results:

Significant result one : briefly explained, linking back to the hypothesis.
Important discovery two : outlined with minimal jargon, making the information accessible.
Unexpected outcome three : presented with a short rationale. This structured approach not only keeps the summary organized but also makes it easier for the reader to follow and understand the significance of the research outcomes.

Finally, a compelling conclusion in a research summary revisits the initial hypothesis and briefly discusses the broader implications of the findings. This part of the summary serves to reinforce the research's value and encourage further consideration or study. It is crucial that this section remains concise but powerful, offering a strong closure to the summary without introducing new information. This method ensures that the summary remains an effective tool for quickly conveying the essence of the entire research paper.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Research Paper Summaries

One of the most common pitfalls in writing research paper summaries is overgeneralization , where the complexity of the research is not adequately represented. This often occurs when writers try to simplify the findings too much, losing the nuanced details that are crucial for understanding the study's implications. To avoid this, ensure that each significant result is mentioned and linked back to the research question or hypothesis. It's also important to:

Clearly state the context of the research,
Discuss the limitations and scope of the study,
Avoid making sweeping claims that go beyond what the data supports.

Another frequent mistake is omitting crucial data which can lead to a lack of clarity and misinterpretation of the research outcomes. To prevent this, make a checklist of all the critical components of the research such as the methodology, key findings, and conclusions. Ensure that these elements are succinctly covered in the summary. Additionally, maintaining a balance between brevity and completeness is vital. Remember to:

Include essential statistics or results that support the main argument,
Avoid skipping over results that might seem less significant but are crucial for a holistic understanding,
Ensure that the conclusions drawn are directly supported by the data presented.

Seeking Professional Help for Research Paper Summaries

For those who find the task of summarising research papers particularly challenging, seeking professional help can be a beneficial option. Many services, such as Samwell.ai , offer expert assistance in crafting summaries that adhere strictly to academic standards. These professionals are skilled in distilling complex information into clear, concise summaries, ensuring that the essence of the research is captured without losing critical details. Their expertise can be especially valuable in maintaining the integrity of the academic content while making it accessible to a broader audience, which is crucial for students, researchers, and academicians alike.

Utilising professional services for research paper summaries can provide several advantages. Firstly, these services often employ experts who are adept at various citation styles and academic norms, ensuring that all summaries are not only accurate but also perfectly formatted. Secondly, they can help highlight the most pertinent information, making the research more understandable and engaging. Here are a few benefits of opting for professional help:

Accuracy and adherence to academic standards are ensured, which is critical for academic writing.
Time-saving as these experts can efficiently condense extensive research, allowing researchers to focus on other important tasks.
Enhanced clarity in presenting complex data, which can significantly benefit those who may not have a strong background in the research's specific field.

These services can be a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to enhance the quality and impact of their research summaries.

Enhance Your Summaries with Samwell.ai's Expert Tools

Samwell.ai revolutionises the way you write research paper summaries by providing AI-powered writing assistance that simplifies the process, ensuring clarity and adherence to academic standards. With features tailored for academic success, Samwell.ai helps you distil complex research into concise, impactful summaries. The tool automatically generates draft summaries, highlights key findings, and suggests improvements in real-time. This not only saves valuable time but also enhances the quality of your summaries by maintaining a focus on the essential aspects of your research.

Moreover, Samwell.ai 's advanced plagiarism checks are integral to maintaining the integrity of your academic work. These checks ensure that your summaries are original and free of unintentional plagiarism, which is crucial in academic settings. By using Samwell.ai , you can:

Confidently produce summaries that are both informative and plagiarism-free.
Avoid common pitfalls such as overgeneralisation or omitting crucial data.

For a seamless and efficient summary writing experience, visit Samwell.ai and start enhancing your research paper summaries today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write a summary of a research paper.

Writing a summary of a research paper involves condensing the extensive information from the study into a precise and accessible format. Begin with an introduction that outlines the research topic and objectives. Follow this with a methodology section that briefly describes how the research was conducted. The main body should highlight key findings clearly and concisely. Conclude by encapsulating the overall implications of the research, revisiting the hypothesis and stating whether it was supported by the findings. Keep the language simple and the content organised to ensure the summary is accessible to a broad audience.

What is summary of the study research paper?

The summary of a study in a research paper is a brief overview that includes the study's main points such as the hypothesis, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. It serves to provide a quick understanding of the research's essence and is a useful tool for revisiting the study's highlights without needing to read the entire document again.

What is the summary page of a research paper?

The summary page of a research paper typically presents a concise overview of the research, including the main objectives, methodology, significant findings, and conclusions. It is structured to give readers a quick snapshot of what the research entails and its overall implications, often helping them decide whether to delve into the full document.

How do you write a summary for a research plan?

Writing a summary for a research plan involves outlining the main objectives and methods of the planned research. Start by stating the research question or hypothesis. Describe the methodology briefly, including how data will be collected and analysed. Highlight expected outcomes or what the research aims to prove or disprove. This summary should provide a clear and concise preview of what the research intends to achieve and how.

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How to Write a Summary of a Research Paper

Last Updated: July 10, 2020 References

This article was reviewed by Annaliese Dunne and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Annaliese Dunne is a Middle School English Teacher. With over 10 years of teaching experience, her areas of expertise include writing and grammar instruction, as well as teaching reading comprehension. She is also an experienced freelance writer. She received her Bachelor's degree in English. This article has been viewed 28,901 times.

Writing a summary of an academic research paper is an important skill, and it shows that you understand all of the relevant information presented to you. However, writing a summary can be tough, since it requires you to be completely objective and keep any analysis or criticisms to yourself. By keeping your goal in mind as you read the paper and focusing on the key points, you can write a succinct, accurate summary of a research paper to prove that you understood the overall conclusion.

Reading the Research Paper

Step 1 Figure out the focus of your summary.

For instance, if you’re supporting an argument in your own research paper, focus on the elements that are similar to yours.
Or, if you’re comparing and contrasting methodology, focus on the methods and the significance of the results.

Step 2 Scan through the article to pick out important information.

You can also read the abstract of the paper as a good example of what the authors find to be important in their article.

Step 3 Read the article fully 1 to 2 times.

Depending on how long and dense the paper is, your initial reading could take you up to an hour or more.

Step 4 Underline or highlight important information.

The important information will usually be toward the end of the paper as the authors explain their findings and conclusions.

Step 5 Take notes summarizing sections in your own words.

Writing a summary without plagiarizing, or copying the paper, is really important. Writing notes in your own words will help you get into the mindset of relaying information in your own way.

Including Relevant Information

Step 1 Aim to report the findings, not evaluate them.

For example, “The methods used in this paper are not up to standards and require more testing to be conclusive.” is an analysis.
”The methods used in this paper include an in-depth survey and interview session with each candidate.” is a summary.

If you’re writing a summary for class, your professor may specify how long your summary should be.
Some summaries can even be as short as one sentence.

Step 3 State the research question and hypothesis.

”Environmental conditions in North Carolina pose a threat to frogs and toads.”

Step 4 Describe the testing and analyzation methods.

For example: “According to the climate model, frog and toad populations have been decreasing at a rapid rate over the past 10 years, and are on track to decrease even further in the coming years.”

Step 5 Talk about the results and how significant they were.

For example: “Smith and Herman (2008) argue that by decreasing greenhouse gases, frog and toad populations could reach historical levels within 20 years, and the climate model projections support that statement.”
You can add in the authors and year of publication at any time during your summary.

Step 6 Edit your summary for accuracy and flow.

If you have time, try reading your summary to someone who hasn’t read the original paper and see if they understand the key points of the article.

Expert Q&A

Make sure you fully understand the paper before you start writing the summary. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Plagiarism can have serious consequences in the academic world, so make sure you’re writing your summary in your own words. [12] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://writingcenter.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/593/2014/06/How_to_Summarize_a_Research_Article1.pdf
↑ https://www.ufv.ca/media/assets/academic-success-centre/handouts/Summarizing-a-Scholarly-Journal-Article-rev2018.pdf
↑ https://integrity.mit.edu/handbook/academic-writing/summarizing
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
↑ https://davidson.libguides.com/c.php?g=349327&p=2361763

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In a nutshell: how to write a lay summary

November 26, 2018 | 5 min read

By Christopher Tancock

Why “translating” your research for a general audience can bring many benefits – and how to do so

With thanks to Kristina Killgrove

Elsevier Authors' Update is pleased to present this article in support of PHD2Published Academic Writing Month. opens in new tab/window

You must be rather pleased with that newly-published article. After many long months, your hard work has paid off and that paper has now taken its place in the library of academic literature. Unfortunately, so have another 2.5 million articles just this year. How do you stand out amongst that enormous crowd and get attention? One way of doing this is to make your article as accessible as possible and a good way of achieving that aim is to prepare a lay summary.

What is a lay summary?

Though your colleagues and peers are probably able to get to grips with your article, the chances are that its content will be unintelligible to the average man or woman in the street. What’s more, researchers are increasingly tasked by their institutions and funders to outline the impact of their research for the general public and beyond their specific area of interest. If you can transform your article into something that the wider public can understand, you’ve got yourself another readership - and one who is more likely to share what it is that you’ve discovered/hypothesized/confirmed further. The key to doing this is in producing a lay summary.

A lay summary, or impact statement, is a very efficient way of conveying the essence of your article briefly and clearly. Fundamentally, what you’re aiming to produce is a short paragraph outlining the article content, aimed at non-specialists in the field and written in a way that they can easily understand. This element differentiates it from the abstract, which is designed with your subject peers in mind. The structure of a lay summary should answer the main questions of “who/what/where/when/how many/why?” (in essence, you’re trying to justify why someone should spend time in reading what you’ve produced). Answering these questions in a concise manner will deliver all the details the reader needs. The most important part of it is a “summary within a summary”: one final sentence which explains why the research is important, and what the article has concluded.

What’s the big deal?

Lay summaries are already commonly used by researchers in many subject areas, as they encourage and increase the possibility of collaboration, and some funding bodies even require them as part of their application procedure. Writing such summaries – distilling your work into a “portable” and maximally-accessible form can bring many benefits for your wider interactions with society at large. Among other things, they’re great for use in press releases or when communicating with journalists. In short: this is a communications skill worth learning.

Here are some pointers on how to write a useful lay summary:

Predict and cover the “so what?” factor – justify your research.

Give some background and context to the research. What prompted you to do it?

Follow a logical order. This may not always coincide with a temporal order.

Explain the impact of the work – what is going to change (especially in relation to wider society)?

Use succinct, short sentences – and write in plain English. Imagine you’re talking to an undergraduate who’s just stepped into your introductory class. Or, better still, pretend you’re trying to explain your article to a distant family member who works in retail/fashion/hospitality.

Avoid jargon unless absolutely necessary and explain it if you do have to keep it in.

Use first person and active voice (“we agreed” rather than “it was agreed”).

Use positives not negative sentences: “You will have repeat appointments at least once a fortnight”, rather than “The usual practice is not to schedule repeat appointments more frequently than once a fortnight”

Images are very important – try to include one if you can.

When you think you’re ready with your summary, ask a friendly non-academic to read it. Ask them if they understood it: the number of questions you get might dictate that further revision is needed!

Supporting lay summaries at Elsevier

Here at Elsevier we’ve been exploring how we can support authors with writing, hosting and promoting lay summaries. Several of the journals we publish including: Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports opens in new tab/window , International Journal of Paleopathology , Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports opens in new tab/window and Journal of Hepatology opens in new tab/window now provide lay summaries for selected papers on their homepages. These are made freely available to readers. Note that different journals and subject areas might approach the same basic idea in various ways. For example, the Materials Today group of journals has recently launched its “Contributor” project whereby early and mid-career researchers are encouraged to write “news summaries” of recent articles (which are then checked with the original author(s) for accuracy and published on the Materials Today news page opens in new tab/window ). There might be similar initiatives in your community, so make sure you keep your ear to the ground and get involved if you can.

Looking to the future, we’re also in the process of experimenting with facilitating the submission of lay summaries during the submission process – and aggregating them on a grander scale for authors to aid their discoverability. Stay tuned to hear more on our efforts in this regard.

Lay summaries can be a powerful tool to extend and broaden the impact of your research. Don’t forget that there are a number of other tools available to you as author – check out our guide to “getting noticed” opens in new tab/window , for example. Have a go at writing a summary for your next article and ask your editor if the journal in question is interested in participating in the lay summaries project. Enjoy making a splash with your next article!

Contributor

Christopher Tancock

Authors' update - keeping journal authors in touch with industry developments, support and training.

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An executive summary is a thorough overview of a research report or other type of document that synthesizes key points for its readers, saving them time and preparing them to understand the study's overall content. It is a separate, stand-alone document of sufficient detail and clarity to ensure that the reader can completely understand the contents of the main research study. An executive summary can be anywhere from 1-10 pages long depending on the length of the report, or it can be the summary of more than one document [e.g., papers submitted for a group project].

Bailey, Edward, P. The Plain English Approach to Business Writing . (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 73-80 Todorovic, Zelimir William and Marietta Wolczacka Frye. “Writing Effective Executive Summaries: An Interdisciplinary Examination.” In United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Conference Proceedings . (Decatur, IL: United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 2009): pp. 662-691.

Importance of a Good Executive Summary

Although an executive summary is similar to an abstract in that they both summarize the contents of a research study, there are several key differences. With research abstracts, the author's recommendations are rarely included, or if they are, they are implicit rather than explicit. Recommendations are generally not stated in academic abstracts because scholars operate in a discursive environment, where debates, discussions, and dialogs are meant to precede the implementation of any new research findings. The conceptual nature of much academic writing also means that recommendations arising from the findings are distributed widely and not easily or usefully encapsulated. Executive summaries are used mainly when a research study has been developed for an organizational partner, funding entity, or other external group that participated in the research . In such cases, the research report and executive summary are often written for policy makers outside of academe, while abstracts are written for the academic community. Professors, therefore, assign the writing of executive summaries so students can practice synthesizing and writing about the contents of comprehensive research studies for external stakeholder groups.

When preparing to write, keep in mind that:

An executive summary is not an abstract.
An executive summary is not an introduction.
An executive summary is not a preface.
An executive summary is not a random collection of highlights.

Christensen, Jay. Executive Summaries Complete The Report. California State University Northridge; Clayton, John. "Writing an Executive Summary that Means Business." Harvard Management Communication Letter (July 2003): 2-4; Keller, Chuck. "Stay Healthy with a Winning Executive Summary." Technical Communication 41 (1994): 511-517; Murphy, Herta A., Herbert W. Hildebrandt, and Jane P. Thomas. Effective Business Communications . New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997; Vassallo, Philip. "Executive Summaries: Where Less Really is More." ETC.: A Review of General Semantics 60 (Spring 2003): 83-90 .

Structure and Writing Style

Writing an Executive Summary

Read the Entire Document This may go without saying, but it is critically important that you read the entire research study thoroughly from start to finish before you begin to write the executive summary. Take notes as you go along, highlighting important statements of fact, key findings, and recommended courses of action. This will better prepare you for how to organize and summarize the study. Remember this is not a brief abstract of 300 words or less but, essentially, a mini-paper of your paper, with a focus on recommendations.

Isolate the Major Points Within the Original Document Choose which parts of the document are the most important to those who will read it. These points must be included within the executive summary in order to provide a thorough and complete explanation of what the document is trying to convey.

Separate the Main Sections Closely examine each section of the original document and discern the main differences in each. After you have a firm understanding about what each section offers in respect to the other sections, write a few sentences for each section describing the main ideas. Although the format may vary, the main sections of an executive summary likely will include the following:

An opening statement, with brief background information,
The purpose of research study,
Method of data gathering and analysis,
Overview of findings, and,
A description of each recommendation, accompanied by a justification. Note that the recommendations are sometimes quoted verbatim from the research study.

Combine the Information Use the information gathered to combine them into an executive summary that is no longer than 10% of the original document. Be concise! The purpose is to provide a brief explanation of the entire document with a focus on the recommendations that have emerged from your research. How you word this will likely differ depending on your audience and what they care about most. If necessary, selectively incorporate bullet points for emphasis and brevity. Re-read your Executive Summary After you've completed your executive summary, let it sit for a while before coming back to re-read it. Check to make sure that the summary will make sense as a separate document from the full research study. By taking some time before re-reading it, you allow yourself to see the summary with fresh, unbiased eyes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Length of the Executive Summary As a general rule, the correct length of an executive summary is that it meets the criteria of no more pages than 10% of the number of pages in the original document, with an upper limit of no more than ten pages [i.e., ten pages for a 100 page document]. This requirement keeps the document short enough to be read by your audience, but long enough to allow it to be a complete, stand-alone synopsis. Cutting and Pasting With the exception of specific recommendations made in the study, do not simply cut and paste whole sections of the original document into the executive summary. You should paraphrase information from the longer document. Avoid taking up space with excessive subtitles and lists, unless they are absolutely necessary for the reader to have a complete understanding of the original document. Consider the Audience Although unlikely to be required by your professor, there is the possibility that more than one executive summary will have to be written for a given document [e.g., one for policy-makers, one for private industry, one for philanthropists]. This may only necessitate the rewriting of the introduction and conclusion, but it could require rewriting the entire summary in order to fit the needs of the reader. If necessary, be sure to consider the types of audiences who may benefit from your study and make adjustments accordingly. Clarity in Writing One of the biggest mistakes you can make is related to the clarity of your executive summary. Always note that your audience [or audiences] are likely seeing your research study for the first time. The best way to avoid a disorganized or cluttered executive summary is to write it after the study is completed. Always follow the same strategies for proofreading that you would for any research paper. Use Strong and Positive Language Don’t weaken your executive summary with passive, imprecise language. The executive summary is a stand-alone document intended to convince the reader to make a decision concerning whether to implement the recommendations you make. Once convinced, it is assumed that the full document will provide the details needed to implement the recommendations. Although you should resist the temptation to pad your summary with pleas or biased statements, do pay particular attention to ensuring that a sense of urgency is created in the implications, recommendations, and conclusions presented in the executive summary. Be sure to target readers who are likely to implement the recommendations.

Bailey, Edward, P. The Plain English Approach to Business Writing . (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 73-80; Christensen, Jay. Executive Summaries Complete The Report. California State University Northridge; Executive Summaries. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Clayton, John. "Writing an Executive Summary That Means Business." Harvard Management Communication Letter , 2003; Executive Summary. University Writing Center. Texas A&M University; Green, Duncan. Writing an Executive Summary. Oxfam’s Research Guidelines series ; Guidelines for Writing an Executive Summary. Astia.org; Markowitz, Eric. How to Write an Executive Summary. Inc. Magazine, September, 15, 2010; Kawaski, Guy. The Art of the Executive Summary. "How to Change the World" blog; Keller, Chuck. "Stay Healthy with a Winning Executive Summary." Technical Communication 41 (1994): 511-517; The Report Abstract and Executive Summary. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Writing Executive Summaries. Effective Writing Center. University of Maryland; Kolin, Philip. Successful Writing at Work . 10th edition. (Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2013), p. 435-437; Moral, Mary. "Writing Recommendations and Executive Summaries." Keeping Good Companies 64 (June 2012): 274-278; Todorovic, Zelimir William and Marietta Wolczacka Frye. “Writing Effective Executive Summaries: An Interdisciplinary Examination.” In United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Conference Proceedings . (Decatur, IL: United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 2009): pp. 662-691.

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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

How to Write a Lay Summary: 10 Tips for Researchers

Once you know what a lay summary is, the next question you’ll probably be asking yourself is ‘how to write a lay summary?’ But why is this important for researchers? For one, there has been a surge in research output. The past decade has seen a 4% annual increase in peer-reviewed science and engineering (S&E) journal articles and conference papers being published. 1 However, it’s not just the increasing number of published articles but the visibility your work receives that indicates a researcher’s productivity and success. While researchers often come up with ground-breaking and crucial findings, it can be challenging for non-academics and even specialists from other disciplines to understand its importance. Communicating research findings to a broader audience is a crucial aspect of any scholarly work. So in this article, we will explore the importance of writing a lay summary, explaining how to write a lay summary to ensure your research reaches and resonates with a wider audience.

Table of Contents

What is a lay summary in research?

Lay summaries are condensed descriptions of research findings that are written in a simple way so that wider audience can understand the work presented with ease. Writing a lay summary also aids in bridging the gap between often complex research work and non-specialist readers, providing them with a clear overview of the research’s purpose, key findings, and real-world implications. By making the published study more widely available, researchers can foster inclusivity, promote wider engagement, and spark new research, and influence public policy. Writing a lay summary in a simple, compelling manner goes a long way in not only ensuring visibility, it also makes it more comprehensible and usable for journalists, policymakers, and people around the world.

4 Reasons you need to write an effective lay summary

Create greater visibility: An impactful lay summary is a great way of describing and communicating details of the research done to the general public and can help those who don’t have an academic background to better understand your work.
Enhance transparency: A well-crafted lay summary can boost transparency, adding to the reliability and credibility of your research. A lay summary that describes and communicates your research findings in a clear, simple way leaves little room for misrepresentation.
Improve engagement: A succinct lay summary makes research findings easier to understand and highlights its significance. This means that audiences can engage more actively with your work, leading to an increase in the number of citations.
Widen research impact: Writing a lay summary that is engaging and compelling helps researchers effectively convey their research findings, emphasize their work’s applicability and potential, and drive real-world impact.

How to write a lay summary of scientific papers

A lay summary of a scientific paper doesn’t have to be challenging to write. Here are some simple steps to keep in mind when writing a lay summary.

1. Identify your audience

Before you start crafting your lay summary, consider who your target audience is and tailor your language accordingly. This will make your lay summary more engaging and relevant to your readers, whether they’re policymakers, patients, or the general public.

2. Keep it simple, yet informative

Simplicity is the key to an effective lay summary, so avoid jargon and technical terms that might confuse your readers. Think of it as telling a story rather than presenting scientific data and focus on conveying the core message of your research in straightforward manner.

3. Highlight the importance

Describe the real-world impact of your findings and how they contribute to solving relevant issues or advancing knowledge in your field. Clearly articulating the significance of your work can keep your readers interested and invested in your research.

4. Follow a logical structure

A well-structured lay summary guides the reader through your research logically, step by step. When writing a lay summary, cover the problem you aimed to address, your methodology and key findings, and the implications and potential applications of your research.

5. Provide relevant context

Avoid assuming prior knowledge from your audience, provide enough context and background information to help readers understand your research without overwhelming them with technical details.

6. Use engaging examples

Analogies or real-life scenarios can help your audience grasp complex concepts and appreciate the relevance of your research. So integrate relatable examples when writing a lay summary.

7. Emphasize the benefits

Highlight the benefits of your research, how it can improve lives or contribute to societal advancements, and the practical implications of your work to resonate with readers.

8. Add the final touches

Employ formatting styles like subheads and bullet points and add visual elements like illustrations, tables, or graphs, to easily present data. Write a catchy headline or introduction and use a conversational tone when writing the lay summary.

9. Seek peer feedback

Get colleagues or friends outside your field to review your lay summary. Their feedback will help you gauge whether your summary successfully conveys the essence of your research to a broader audience.

10. Proofread and edit

As the last step, proofread and edit your work to polish language, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Clear, error-free writing lends credibility to your research, ensuring it’s taken seriously and leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

Lay Summaries vs. Abstracts

It is common for to get confused between research paper abstracts and lay summaries. While both are used to convey research findings, they have vastly different purposes and audiences.

Abstracts provide a synopsis of a research project that is written for an audience of scholars and experts interested in a particular field of study. An abstract usually includes complex concepts and technical terms when trying to explain the relevance of the research topic. Researchers use an abstract to outline and highlight their objectives, approach, and finding. Abstracts provide a summary of the research paper so that readers may quickly grasp its ideas and decide whether it is pertinent to their areas of interest. An abstract requires usually is more detailed and longer than a lay summary.

Lay summaries on the other hand offer non-technical explanations of a research project. It is typically written for a wider audience, including non-academics and experts from other fields. A lay summary’s main objective is to make the study findings accessible to those who are not subject-matter experts by using analogies to simplify concepts. They highlight the practical relevance of the research in a succinct, impactful way.

Though both lay summaries and abstracts are different, if written in a compelling way, they can be powerful tools to engage readers and help you garner greater visibility for your work.

References:

1. India is world’s third largest producer of scientific articles, following China and US: Report. India Today, Jan 2, 2020. Available online at https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/latest-studies/story/india-is-world-s-third-largest-producer-of-scientific-articles-following-china-and-us-report-1633351-2020-01-02

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How to Write a Research Synopsis: Template, Examples, & More

Last Updated: May 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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Writing Your Synopsis
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Research Synopsis Template

This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 281,506 times.

A research synopsis describes the plan for your research project and is typically submitted to professors or department heads so they can approve your project. Most synopses are between 3,000 and 4,000 words and provide your research objectives and methods. While the specific types of information you need to include in your synopsis may vary depending on your department guidelines, most synopses include the same basic sections. In this article, we’ll walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know to write a synopsis for research.

Things You Should Know

Begin your research synopsis by introducing the question your research will answer and its importance to your field.
List 2 or 3 specific objectives you hope to achieve and how they will advance your field.
Discuss your methodology to demonstrate why the study design you chose is appropriate for your research question.

Organizing Your Research Synopsis

Step 1 Follow the formatting guidelines provided by your instructor.

Find out what citation format you’re supposed to use, as well as whether you’re expected to use parenthetical references or footnotes in the body of your synopsis.
If you have questions about anything in your guidelines, ask your instructor or advisor to ensure you follow them correctly.

Step 2 Set up the headings for your sections.

Title: the title of your study
Abstract: a summary of your research synopsis
Introduction: identifies and describes your research question
Literature Review: a review of existing relevant research
Objectives: goals you hope to accomplish through your study
Hypotheses: results you expect to find through your research
Methodology and methods: explains the methods you’ll use to complete your study
References: a list of any references used in citations

Tip: Your synopsis might have additional sections, depending on your discipline and the type of research you're conducting. Talk to your instructor or advisor about which sections are required for your department.

Keep in mind that you might not end up using all the sources you initially found. After you've finished your synopsis, go back and delete the ones you didn't use.

Writing Your Research Synopsis

Step 1 Format your title page following your instructor’s guidelines.

Your title should be a brief and specific reflection of the main objectives of your study. In general, it should be under 50 words and should avoid unneeded phrases like “an investigation into.”
On the other hand, avoid a title that’s too short, as well. For example, a title like “A Study of Urban Heating” is too short and doesn’t provide any insight into the specifics of your research.

Step 2 Identify your research problem with the introduction.

The introduction allows you to explain to your reader exactly why the question you’re trying to answer is vital and how your knowledge and experience make you the best researcher to tackle it.
Support most of the statements in your introduction with other studies in the area that support the importance of your question. For example, you might cite a previous study that mentions your problem as an area where further research needs to be done.
The length of your introduction will vary depending on the overall length of your synopsis as well as the ultimate length of your eventual paper after you’ve finished your research. Generally, it will cover the first page or two of your synopsis.

Step 3 In your literature review, describe the work done by other researchers.

For example, try finding relevant literature through educational journals or bulletins from organizations like WHO and CDC.
Typically, a thorough literature review discusses 8 to 10 previous studies related to your research problem.
As with the introduction, the length of your literature review will vary depending on the overall length of your synopsis. Generally, it will be about the same length as your introduction.
Try to use the most current research available and avoid sources over 5 years old.

Step 4 Set forth the goals or objectives for your research project.

For example, an objective for research on urban heating could be “to compare urban heat modification caused by vegetation of mixed species considering the 5 most common urban trees in an area.”
Generally, the overall objective doesn’t relate to solving a specific problem or answering a specific question. Rather, it describes how your particular project will advance your field.
For specific objectives, think in terms of action verbs like “quantify” or “compare.” Here, you’re hoping to gain a better understanding of associations between particular variables.

Step 5 List your hypotheses for your research project.

Specify the sources you used and the reasons you have arrived at your hypotheses. Typically, these will come from prior studies that have shown similar relationships.
For example, suppose a prior study showed that children who were home-schooled were less likely to be in fraternities or sororities in college. You might use that study to back up a hypothesis that home-schooled children are more independent and less likely to need strong friendship support networks.

Step 6 Discuss the methodology and methods you’ll use in your research.

Expect your methodology to be at least as long as either your introduction or your literature review, if not longer. Include enough detail that your reader can fully understand how you’re going to carry out your study.
This section of your synopsis may include information about how you plan to collect and analyze your data, the overall design of your study, and your sampling methods, if necessary. Include information about the study setting, like the facilities and equipment that are available to you to carry out your study.
For example, your research work may take place in a hospital, and you may use cluster sampling to gather data.

Use between 100 and 200 words to give your readers a basic understanding of your research project.
Include a clear statement of the problem, the main goals or objectives of your study, the theories or conceptual framework your research relies upon, and the methods you’ll use to reach your goals or objectives.

Tip: Jot down a few notes as you draft your other sections that you can compile for your abstract to keep your writing more efficient.

Reviewing and Editing Your Research Synopsis

Step 1 Take a break before you start editing.

If you don’t have that kind of time because you’re up against a deadline, at least take a few hours away from your synopsis before you go back to edit it. Do something entirely unrelated to your research, like taking a walk or going to a movie.

Eliminate sentences that don’t add any new information. Even the longest synopsis is a brief document—make sure every word needs to be there and counts for something.
Get rid of jargon and terms of art in your field that could be better explained in plain language. Even though your likely readers are people who are well-versed in your field, providing plain language descriptions shows you know what you’re talking about. Using jargon can seem like you’re trying to sound like you know more than you actually do.

Tip: Free apps, such as Grammarly and Hemingway App, can help you identify grammatical errors as well as areas where your writing could be clearer. However, you shouldn't rely solely on apps since they can miss things.

Step 3 Check the format of your references.

Reference list formatting is very particular. Read your references out loud, with the punctuation and spacing, to pick up on errors you wouldn’t have noticed if you’d just read over them.
Compare your format to the one in the stylebook you’re using and make sure all of your entries are correct.

Step 4 Proofread your synopsis carefully.

Read your synopsis backward by starting on the last word and reading each word separately from the last to the first. This helps isolate spelling errors. Reading backward sentence by sentence helps you isolate grammatical errors without being distracted by the content.
Print your synopsis and circle every punctuation mark with a red pen. Then, go through them and focus on whether they’re correct.
Read your synopsis out loud, including the punctuation, as though you were dictating the synopsis.

Step 5 Share your paper with classmates and friends for review.

Have at least one person who isn’t familiar with your area of study look over your synopsis. If they can understand your project, you know your writing is clear. If any parts confuse them, then that’s an area where you can improve the clarity of your writing.

Step 6 Do a second round of editing and proofreading.

Expert Q&A

If you make significant changes to your synopsis after your first or second round of editing, you may need to proofread it again to make sure you didn’t introduce any new errors. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://admin.umt.edu.pk/Media/Site/iib1/FileManager/FORMAT%20OF%20SYNOPSIS%2012-10-2018.pdf
↑ https://www.scientificstyleandformat.org/Tools/SSF-Citation-Quick-Guide.html
↑ https://numspak.edu.pk/upload/media/Guidelines%20for%20Synopsis%20Writing1531455748.pdf
↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279917593_Research_synopsis_guidelines
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

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How to Write A Lay Summary for Your Research

How-to-write-a-lay-summary-for-your-research.

Samantha Green

April 24, 2019

A lay summary presents a concise snapshot of your research in approximately 200 words, using plain language to make it understandable for non-specialists. For people outside the research community, lay summaries make it quick and easy to understand why your work matters. Whether they’re science journalists, practitioners or professionals, policymakers, science-based content creators, or the public, they need to understand and engage with your research for it to make a significant impact.

Lay summaries can be crafted before your article publishes and used for grant applications, or after the publishing journey to promote your research. Here are a few ways that lay summaries can expand the impact of your research:

- Better accessibility : Removing words and terminology non-specialists won’t understand increases the readability of your work to a wider audience.

- Broadens your audience : Explains research in an understandable manner that can be easily understood and shared among non-experts

- Easier conversations and sharing: Explaining scientific work without jargon is challenging, but a lay summary can serve as a template for informal discussions on the work or sharing on social media.

- Improved visibility and transparency : By explaining why this work is important to you, you acknowledge the biases in your work while contextualizing the reasons behind it

Since lay summaries add time to your process, they can often feel like just another box to tick on the publishing checklist. But their value is clearer when you consider the significant impact they can have on your readers and your research itself.

Many journals view lay summaries as a key part of the publication process. Many of these journals focus on a specific audience, like teachers for education research journals or clinicians for medical research journals. Offering lay summaries helps these publications connect with stakeholders that need to understand the latest research on the topic even though they’re not experts in the research community.

Regardless of journal policy, lay summaries are a useful tool for any author looking to share their work in a way that connects with everyone, everywhere.

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Use of AI is fraught with complications involving accuracy, bias, academic integrity, and intellectual property and may not be appropriate in all academic settings. This guide is meant more for academic researchers looking to utilize AI tools in their research.

Students are strongly advised to consult with their instructor before using AI-generated content in their research or coursework. For information on Generative AI take a look at the guide.

There are many AI tools coming out, this is just an example list of the types of tools available. These lists are a mix of free, trials, and premium. We do not endorse the use of one tool over another, instead researchers should evaluate tools to see if they fit their needs.

AI Summarizing & Q&A

Adobe AI Assistant Adobe Acrobat Pro has a beta AI Assistant rolling out in a phased manner.
ChatPDF Allows you to “talk to” an individual PDF file or group of files. Free tier allows 2 PDF uploads per day.
Explainpaper Free tier generates a one sentence PDF summaries and allows unlimited "highlight explanations" (rephrasing passages you highlight) and follow up questions.
Glasp Summarizes YouTube videos using ChatGPT and Claude.
Quivr Tool for uploading files and data to a collection (a "brain") that then answers questions based on its LLM and documents in the collection. Quivr can be pulled from Github and set up to run completely locally on a computer with an OpenAI API account (paid, for computation used).
Scholarcy Creates article summaries in the form of AI-generated flashcards with several sections. Free tier allows creating 3 flashcards per day, web browser extension, and exporting to Word.
Summarify Distill lengthy content into concise summaries, including text, PDF, URL, blog, Youtube, and audio
Summarize.tech Generate an AI summary of any YouTube video.
TLDR this Free tier can summarize, query, and extract information from PDFs and .doc files.
Wordtune Read AI summarizer and notetaking tool oriented towards writing and content professionals. Free tier offers a limited number of summaries and writing outputs per day. Ask questions of your entire library, but not of individual documents. Includes writing templates for common outputs like social media posts, co-worker communications, and others. Has a browser extension for using on particular webpages.
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The Basics of Grant Writing: Becoming Grant Ready

To take the mystery out of the task of grant writing, this fact sheet provides an overview of the basic processes necessary for a typical grant. Funding is available through grants from various sources, including public and private local, regional, state, and federal sources.

A grant is funding that does not need to be repaid. Often, grant funders may also require local matching funds to show that the entity or community applying has local buy-in to the programs or services.

Effective grant writing requires an understanding of the applying organization, its mission, and its vision. The program’s goals, a plan for activities, staffing, timelines, a budget, and a plan for measuring outcomes are needed. Then, the grant writer can search for funding options that best align with the organization, the program/service, and the targeted outcomes. A good rule of thumb to remember is that grant writing is 80% planning and 20% writing.

Before Writing a Grant

Once you have completed a strategic plan with a clear mission and objectives, and your organization’s leadership is ready for grant writing, you will need to research funders. Grants or other funding opportunities are typically announced in a “call for funding availability.”

FINDING FUNDING

Where do I find a funder that matches my goals and funds projects like mine?

This is the million-dollar question. Finding the right funder requires research, relationship-building skills, and diligence in reporting and maintaining ongoing communication with the funder.

First do a gut check. Do I need grant dollars, or could a fundraiser or sponsorship cover the project costs? Could I ask donors to crowdfund the project? Would a local service organization like Rotary or Kiwanis provide the needed funds?

If grant funding isn’t necessary, you’ll save the time and resources needed to find the funder, assemble the information, and write the grant. Before you look for a grant, seek a solution that provides the funding without the time investment required for grant writing and reporting. Grant funding turnaround is not usually quick to provide a fast solution to a funding challenge. But, if grant funding is needed, it is important to know where to start looking for a funder.

FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING

“Federal funding opportunities published on grants.gov are for organizations and entities supporting the development and management of government-funded programs and projects" (fsd.gov, n.d.). The grants.gov portal is a clearinghouse for discretionary funds offered by federal agencies.

State funding options are available through many state agency websites. Often, state, or federal funding agencies post the results of previous grant rounds, which is an excellent source of information to show who and what has been funded. Government funds are often competitive, formula, block, or pass-through grants.

Project grants are typically competitive in nature and have a guided application and scoring process.
“Formula grants are based on a set amount for each participant and are paid after services have been provided" (Payne, 2011). They are reimbursed, so the grantee will have to have the financial ability to provide funding in advance. Formula grants are, “awarded based on a set formula with criteria like population or need and can be toward areas such as transportation or public safety, for example" (Grantcycle, 2023).
Block grants are most often awarded to state or local governments. The most common is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) which provides flexibility with the program guidelines at the local level.
Pass-through grants are awarded to a lead organization that oversees the application process, allocates the funds, and acts as the administrator of the grant.
Congressionally directed spending requests or “earmarks” are another form of federal funding that may come and go depending on the administration or what party controls Congress. They may be applied for through processes determined by Congress through the individual members’ offices. These funding sources often have eligibility and transparency requirements.

FOUNDATION FUNDING

Begin your search locally by asking the following questions. Do you have a local foundation that funds local projects? Do you know anyone there? If the answer is yes to these questions, research the foundation online or talk to them about your project to see if it is a good fit. Ask about their funding cycle and amounts to see if the local foundation is a match.

Use online foundation directory resources. Several of these resources exist. One example is Candid (formerly known as the Foundation Directory), which allows you to research funders by using a keyword search related to the purpose of the funding you are requesting (Candid, n.d.).

Candid has paid and unpaid subscriptions with full or limited access to their resources, respectively. If you do not want to pay for a subscription, some local libraries offer computers with access to a library-paid subscription. Use this link to find one in your area: candid.org/find-us . Candid also offers many additional resources including online training for new and seasoned grant writers and training to utilize the resources on their website.

MEETING WITH FUNDERS

There are many opportunities to meet with funders through annual meetings, government program webinars, community gatherings, and more. Take time to invest in learning more about the funder’s mission, getting to know key staff, and preparing your program story or pitch.

Prepare a few key phrases to inform potential funders about your project and the funding necessary to bring it to fruition. A pitch, also known as an “elevator speech" should be short, to the point, and demonstrate the value of the project in terms that relate to the funder’s goals and mission.

An example of an effective pitch: "We have applied for funding to construct a school-based community health clinic because our county does not currently have a hospital or emergency room. The facility funder does not provide equipment. We would like to discuss the potential for an equipment grant with you." If a favorable response is given, set up an appointment.

COMMON APPLICATION TERMS

When you have identified a funder (or two or more) with missions, project goals, impacts, and outputs aligned with your project, and you are considering applying, you are ready to target funding opportunities.

Applications for funding considerations can be called a variety of things (see terms below). This list is not static, so funders may have their own naming structure for their grant.

It is important to understand what the funder is seeking in the funding cycle and familiarize yourself with previously funded projects which are often available on the funder’s website.

NOFO: Notice of Funding Opportunity
NOFA: Notice of Funding Availability
RFP: Request for Proposal
RFQ: Request for Qualifications
LOI: Letter of Interest

Read the request from your selected funder. There are different types of “calls” for funding such as an RFP, RFQ, NOFO, NOFA, LOI, or a specific grantor may have a different name for their request. In the end, it is a blanket invitation to apply for funding that aligns with the organization’s mission, vision, and goals, as well as an announcement of a specific funding source. Read the funding request application completely, and then read it a second time, highlighting key words that need to be addressed in your proposal.

Review the funder’s website. Learn about their goals, mission, vision, and desired impacts.

Is a “letter of inquiry” mentioned in the funding request or the website?

The purpose of this letter of inquiry is to summarize your proposal in three pages or less. This is your first impression, so make it a good one. In the letter, follow the funder’s instructions if provided. Usually, letters of inquiry include the organization name, the requested funding amount, and a brief description of your project. Be sure to include the qualifications of the staff who will implement the grant, a timeline for the project, and your plans to evaluate the project outcomes.

Some funders use a variety of approaches to support projects aligned to their mission.

For example, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (n.d.) states, “We use one of three approaches to identify applicants—direct solicitation, a letter of inquiry (LOI), or a request for proposal (RFP).” Once funders review the LOIs, some organizations are then invited to submit a full grant program proposal.

When submitting a full grant proposal, capitalize on the opportunities by becoming knowledgeable of the funder’s requirements. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions for the construction and format of the proposal. For example, the RFP may require a certain margin or font and font size. “Not following directions is a sure-fire way of losing your chances at getting any funds. Ultimately, not following directions indicates carelessness—which is not a characteristic of a promising proposal" (Purdue University, 2024).

GRANT SCORING

It is common for funders to utilize a scoring grid or rubric to objectively measure the alignment of a proposal with the organizational goals and organizational funding request.

Some funders include the scoring guidelines in their proposal requests. Scoring grids may indicate the weight or importance of a specific detail requested in the grant.

Make sure to emphasize the areas in your proposal that are covered in the scoring grid. To maximize the likelihood of funding, address each category on the scoring grid in your proposal.

ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Grant writing requires attention to detail and organizational knowledge. What type of organization is requesting funding (who are you writing for)?

a government entity
not-for-profit
an individual

Does your organization have a written, formal mission statement? If not, create one. The same goes for the vision statement. If aligned, the mission and vision create a bond with the funder that could begin a relationship. Know where you are going, and your organizational goals.

Details about your organizational leadership, including resumes for the leaders and the qualifications of board members, should also be available. It is common for funders to request this kind of information to validate the organization. Often funders want to see diversity not only culturally, but experientially. You will want to demonstrate the independence of the leadership and board, meaning that all are not related directly or tangentially.

ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIERS

You will need government identifiers (IDs) to use in your applications. Examples are:

Employer Identification Number (EIN) used to file taxes, for loans, and for grants.
Social Security Number (SSN) if you are an individual seeking grant funding.
SAMS UEI#: The System for Awards Management (SAMS) is for federal grants. If you are seeking federal funding, you will need to complete an online application to receive a SAMS Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI has replaced the DUNS # (a unique nine-digit number created by Dun and Bradstreet).

The process is free, so if the online resource you have accessed requires payment, you are not on the federal website. There are many imposter sites, and it can get confusing. The website should end in .gov (e.g., sam.gov ). The sam.gov website provides a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is needed to access federal funds. The application process can take a few days so factor this time into your grant completion timeline. Learn more at Doing Business with the Federal Government .

Knowing the Numbers

Grant applications may require the organization applying for funds to provide a variety of organizational numbers:

EIN. “ A nonprofit Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal nine-digit tax ID number that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns to nonprofits, charities, organizations, and businesses in the following format: XX-XXXXXXX.” ( A Complete Guide to Start a Nonprofit, n.d. ). The EIN represents an organization's eligibility for tax-exempt status.
501(c)(3). The IRS is “the federal agency with responsibility for regulating foundations and nonprofit organizations and their financial activities. 501(c)(3) is the section of the Internal Revenue Code that designates an organization as charitable and tax-exempt” (Smith & Works, 2006).
UEI. “Unique Entity Identification , also known as a UEI, is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity by the sam.gov website (sam.gov, n.d.). It replaces the previous governmental use of the Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS) as an identifier in the system” (Stewart, G., 2024).

Knowing the Numbers Grant applications may require the organization applying for funds to provide a variety of organizational numbers: EIN. “ A nonprofit Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal nine-digit tax ID number that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns to nonprofits, charities, organizations, and businesses in the following format: XX-XXXXXXX.” ( A Complete Guide to Start a Nonprofit, n.d. ). The EIN represents an organization's eligibility for tax-exempt status. 501(c)(3). The IRS is “the federal agency with responsibility for regulating foundations and nonprofit organizations and their financial activities. 501(c)(3) is the section of the Internal Revenue Code that designates an organization as charitable and tax-exempt” (Smith & Works, 2006). UEI. “Unique Entity Identification , also known as a UEI, is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity by the sam.gov website (sam.gov, n.d.). It replaces the previous governmental use of the Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS) as an identifier in the system” (Stewart, G., 2024). Ohio Supplier ID. This state-specific identifier in Ohio allows access to the OhioPays portal for an entity wanting to do business with the state.

NEED STATEMENT

The “need statement” section of the proposal describes the applicant, the audience or target population to be served, and other key data that provides a solution to an issue or problem the community program or service addresses.

Be sure to utilize the most current data available from expert sources. Do not overdo the amount of data—find a good balance between enough and too much. If using “sources outside your organization for data, you must cite those sources either with footnotes or within the narrative" (Smith & Works, 2006). Using a wide range of excellent local, state, and federal data sources improves the quality of grant writing efforts.

PROGRAM PLANNING

Program planning is essential to good grant writing. To frame the work, have a solid understanding of the need, the current services, and the gaps. This forms the grant narrative, the program, or services to be delivered, and the methods, staffing, and timelines.

Ensure that key leaders and stakeholders, partners, community members, and customers to be served are involved in the planning. It is often helpful to develop a logic model, which is “a process that visually depicts assumptions and elements of a specific program” (Payne, 2011). If you develop a replicable program, provide the program’s framework, and explain it in the application. In addition, if you plan to implement evidence-based strategies or programs, be sure to delineate that in the narrative.

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP

“Both government and foundation grantors hold collaboration and partnership in high esteem” (Smith & Tremore, 2008). Coordinating partnership opportunities to deliver programs or services in the proposal or in other ways is important. This shows greater community buy-in to the funder. If partnerships are present, one entity should coordinate the application and implementation of the grant.

Formalized partnerships may be required through a more structured memorandum of understanding, also commonly referred to as an MOU. This type of document puts in writing the details of the collaboration. It may include who will do what, when items are due, and who will cover matching funds, equipment, and staffing. It may also include what the partner will not do. Be sure to “outline the scope of work for both partners and that they understand, and agree to the division of responsibilities, their roles in the partnership, and the dispersal of grant funds” (Smith & Tremore, 2008).

Some grants may require or recommend letters of support from key partners. These may come from community organizations, educational partners, and/or public legislators if funding is state or federal in nature. Letters should outline the support the partner is providing to the program or service for which funds are being requested. Ensure that the partners have adequate time to develop and submit letters to you for the grant proposal process.

Writing the Grant

The grant proposal.

The portion of the proposal you write to explain the programs or services you seek funding for is perhaps most critical. “Many funding sources are highly competitive and only fund a small percentage of applications" (Marshall, Johnson, & Fulton, 2006).
This section presents an overview of the program, its description of need and impact, and the methodology you plan to use for implementation. This portion of the proposal should include your unique selling points to the funder and how your proposal best aligns with their mission for allocation of limited resources.
In creating a competitive proposal, “aim for clear and concise: less is more" (Gemayal & Martin, 2017). Take care to review “how” your proposal will be submitted before you begin to write. In some cases, due to the large number of expected respondents and to assist the reviewers, grant applications are online and limit responders not only to word counts but sometimes even character counts.
Detail the collaborative nature of the work, including partnerships (formal and informal), staffing, volunteers, equipment, education, other tools, in-kind support, and more.
Spell out the timelines necessary for the program’s implementation. Ensure that timelines are presented in a logical order with key tasks noted. Take care to review what project benchmarks are required in the grant guidance so that your timelines align with the grantor’s.

If your proposed program or service has a model for replication, be sure to explain the model carefully. Funders typically provide seed grants to support ideas that can easily be transferred to other communities or organizations. In addition, if the options that you wish to implement have evidence-based outcomes or support, be sure to explain and note that as well.

As you write, keep the grant reviewer top of mind. “Remember that reviewers are human and that you want them to be able to easily grasp what you plan to do and why" (Gemayal & Martin, 2017). The staff or even volunteers who will review multiple proposals for funding should be able to quickly review and understand your plan. “When possible, ensure that your headings and sub-headings correspond to the sections identified in the call for proposals" (Marshall, Johnson & Fulton, 2006).

Also, be sure to build in time to have the proposal reviewed by others. Engage someone to review from the programmatic side of the project as well as someone astute with style and grammar. You will also need a review of the financials and budgets.

As you develop the deliverables, carefully review and match them to the grant guidance, evaluation criteria, and/or any scoring provided. Clearly address these areas within the proposal to ensure that the reviewer can easily score your request against the criteria in the grant notice.

GOALS AND OUTCOMES

Writing your program’s goals carefully is important. These goals tell the funder what you propose to accomplish with their resources. Present broad purposes and support those with more detailed, measurable objectives.

Goals should be written with the SMARTIE outline in mind: Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, as well as Inclusive and Equitable. Many know of the SMART approach to goal writing; the I and E add-ons are important in working toward inclusive and equitable communities.

Inclusion is “an opportunity to bring traditionally excluded individuals and groups into processes, activities, decisions and policy making in a way that shares power."
Equity means “including an element of fairness or justice to address systemic injustice, inequity, or oppression" (Bibbs, 2021).

SMARTIE objective example: “Decrease the rate of breast cancer mortality from 50% to 45% among African American women by June 2024" (CDC, 2022).

It is wise to think through objectives with short, medium, and long-term approaches in mind. These are the things you will accomplish to deliver outcomes, also known as planned change over time. All of this work should be realistic and appropriate for the funding timeline as well as the budget within the grant application.

A budget will include costs, expenses, income, or revenue. Follow the budget requirements set out in the grant guidance, utilizing any provided budget templates. Review the figures carefully and have someone else also review them. Round all figures to the nearest dollar. Provide supporting narratives when asked to better describe the program’s overall financial picture.

Some grants may require matching funds or support. To the funder, this may demonstrate local buy-in. The inclusion of local monies may satisfy the grant’s requirements, but some will also allow an in-kind match in the form of donations of products, time spent by staff or volunteers, or space. Some grants may also be eligible to match other grants but take care to know the details of the allowable options. For instance, most federal funds cannot be used to match other federal monies, although there can be exceptions.

Many funders require the matching funds be used first or at least be available up front, so budget timing can also be important. Government funders also may have preferences on the order in which their funding will be used, which can be noted in verbiage such as ‘first-in’ or ‘last-in.’

Carefully review the grant guidance for budget items that may not be allowed by the funder. Examples are typically noted.

Typical budget expense line items may include salaries, payroll taxes and benefits

(if allowable), professional fees (if allowable), travel, equipment, supplies, marketing, evaluation, and other (with details provided). Income line items may include grants or contracts, earned income (such as events, program fees, or fundraising), membership dues, in-kind contributions, or matching cash contributions. Other items may include the value of volunteer time or the donation of applicable services or products.

Budgets may also need to show a plan for sustainability following the end of the grant’s funding timeline. Be aware of the funder’s guidance for the need to present a sustainability plan if necessary.

Ensure that your budget carefully aligns with the project’s overall need statement, goals, and objectives. It is wise to ask, “Is the scope of the budget both reasonable and sufficient?” (Smith & Works, 2006). Simply put, “Ask for what you need and spend everything you receive” (Payne, 2011).

MEASURING OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS

It has been said that if something is worth doing, it is worth measuring. In the world of grant writing, you will be asked to provide a process for evaluating the proposed program or service. This might include the methods, activities, or outputs (things you will do). It may also include the outcomes or impacts (the difference you propose to make over time).

Evaluation may take the form of measurements (e.g., the number of participants, the number of linear feet of waterline you will add, or the number of businesses or households you will serve with broadband services). Take care to read the grant guidance carefully, as the granting agency may provide specifics in the grant materials as to information that is required on what is being measured.

The grant proposal should detail the process for evaluation, including what is to be accomplished (i.e., program activities, things to be produced, things to be learned) and who was involved, such as staff, participants, and volunteers/volunteer hours, especially if they are being used as “in-kind” matching resources.

If you are asked for impacts, think about the who, what, when, where, and why. The Writing Impact Statements resource (Land Grant Impacts, 2021) asks the following questions to guide impact development:

Who was impacted?
What kind of impact?
When was the program completed to yield the impact?
Where did the impact occur (service area of programs or services)?
Why do the program impacts matter?

As Stephen R. Covey reminds us, it is important to “begin with the end in mind.” As you develop the program or service for which you are seeking funding, think carefully through the process of measurement and evaluation at the beginning, know where you are going, and put the right capture tools and processes in place.

“ To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction (Covey, 2004).”

SUPPORTING MATERIALS

Depending on the funder and the specific grant guidance, you may be asked to include supporting materials in a grant application. These “documents provide additional information and support for your request" (Greater Public, 2024).

Examples of these resources may include your board or governance structure, or an annual report from the organization showing the previous year’s budget or results. If the grant requires 501(c)(3) status, provide a copy of the IRS determination letter of that nonprofit status. If you are not a nonprofit but are using a 501(c)(3) as a fiscal agent, you may have to share that organization’s IRS letter and perhaps a letter or a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the fiscal agent approval.

Larger state or federal public grants may also sometimes ask for resumes or curriculum vitae of key staff who will be responsible for coordinating the programs or services funded by the grant.

Some grantors may also require attachments related to the program budget or the organization’s financials, such as an audited financial statement. Also, add the letters of support from partners or collaborators, as outlined earlier in this fact sheet.

Take care to read the grant guidelines carefully and make a list of what attachments need to be included with the grant proposal. Also, carefully look at the instructions on how the grantor wants attachments organized. You may need to combine them into an Adobe PDF, or they may need to be uploaded into a web-based grant portal.

Before you include attachments, carefully review them to eliminate jargon or abbreviations that a reader outside of your organization may not have familiarity with or understand. If acronyms are necessary, spell them out on first use, followed by the acronym in parentheses [e.g., Employer Identification Number (EIN)].

Writing Well Having a great program or service and presenting the need, budget, timeline, and other items required from a funding agency in an application are important, but the quality of writing is just as important. Make every effort to align with the funder’s grant offering requirements, and always keep the grant reviewer audience in mind. Share the overview of the grant request early, succinctly, and with creativity. Remember to present any innovative or evidence-based concepts. Pay close attention to word count or character limits within the grant. Utilize good writing style, keeping things succinct and clear. Use active voice construction and good grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Have someone who was not involved with the writing proof the grant proposal carefully. Build time in the grant writing timeline for proofing and corrections. Remember to view feedback as constructive and not critical. This results in a stronger proposal in the end.

WHEN GRANTS ARE AWARDED

If you are awarded funding for the grant, thank the funder! As you proceed through the life of the project, acknowledge the support of the funder frequently. Make sure you publicize their help and support, so they receive the recognition they deserve.

You have the grant funding—now the real work begins. In your proposal, you defined how you will use the funding, how you will measure your work’s impact, and perhaps what data measures you will use. When you receive the grant funds, it is your responsibility to fulfill the tenets of the grant, including collecting all the required data and reporting the results by the date required by the funder.

Another important part of measurement data with grant work is the back-end process of grant reporting. The grant reporting will contain whatever data you promised in the proposal, whether or not the data matches the impact you expected.

Pay close attention to the details of the granting source or agency, including how and when they report on the grant. This may include tracking outcomes and impacts but could also include careful handling of documentation related to the grant, especially if you are receiving public funding.

If you need to adjust the use of funds during the execution of the grant for any reason, such as having identified something necessary that was overlooked in the original proposal, confer with the funder first. Receive permission before you proceed with any variations from the proposal. Use every interaction to learn about the funder and establish a solid relationship.

Some grant programs may also be audited after the fact, so be sure to understand what audit documentation may be needed, as well as how long the granting and recipient organization’s policies require documentation and files to be retained before their destruction.

WHEN GRANTS ARE NOT AWARDED

One grant writing author reminds us, “Most foundations receive 10–15 times as many requests for funds as they can meet. Government dollars are even more competitive in certain fields” (Payne, 2011).

So, if your proposal is not accepted, don’t feel defeated. You learned a lot in the grant writing process, and you will use that knowledge in future grant writing endeavors. But what about right now? Don’t miss the opportunity to learn how the grant could have been better. If the funder allows, give them a call, or send an email to ask for feedback on your proposal. Ask what you could do differently next time to win funding. If the funder says the proposal was good but they ran out of funding this cycle, ask if you can apply the next cycle. Be considerate, appreciative, and begin to build a relationship that hopefully extends into the future and into future projects. An excellent outcome is a budding relationship with a new funder.

If the funding source is state or federal, you can request the reviewer’s comments. Often, government funders will “send a summary sheet with the section scores and an overview of strengths and weaknesses for each application section” (Browning, 2016). If the funder was a foundation or corporate entity, chances are you will not receive written feedback. You can, however, request input through staff. Depending on the entity, they may share more information, but they are not required to.

This fact sheet attempts to provide overviews of a wide variety of grant writing topics. Continuous learning is encouraged because no program or funder is static. Once a grant application is submitted, be sure to take time to reflect on what went well and the process for improvement next time. The grant writing is just the beginning if you are awarded funding; grant administration and monitoring are also necessary. Learning from the losses is another important part of the story. The bottom line is you can’t win if you don’t try.

A Complete Guide to Start a Nonprofit. (n.d.). What is a nonprofit EIN & how to get EIN for a 501c3 organization . form1023.org/what-is-an-ein-and-how-to-get-one

Bibbs, M. (2021). Be a SMARTIE: An equity-forward approach to goal setting: The Alford Group . alford.com/be-a-smartie-an-equity-forward-approach-to-goal-setting

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.). How we work; How we develop grants to fund; phase 2 . gatesfoundation.org/about/how-we-work

Browning, B. (2016). Grant Writing for Dummies . John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Candid. (n.d.). Essential nonprofit data, tools, and resources . candid.org

CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. (2022). From SMART to SMARTIE objectives . cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp/pdf/smartie-objectives-508.pdf

fsd.gov. (n.d.). “Federal service desk.” fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp

Gemayel, R., & Martin, S.J. (2017). Writing a successful fellowship or grant application . The FEBS Journal. doi.org/10.1111/febs.14318

Grantcycle. (2023). The 4 types of federal grants, explained . grantcycle.com/article/4-types-of-federal-grants-explained

Grants.gov. (n.d.). Your team. Your workspace . grants.gov

Greater Public. (2024). Grant seekers toolkit checklist: Proposal attachments. greaterpublic.org/resources/major-planned-giving/grant-seekers-toolkit-checklist-proposal-attachments

Land Grant Impacts. (2021). Writing Impact Statements. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board on Agriculture Assembly. landgrantimpacts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/NIDB-Impact-Writing-Worksheet_202137.pdf

Marshall, M.I., Johson, A. & Fulton, J. (2006). Writing a successful grant proposal. Purdue Extension. extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/EC/EC-737.pdf

Payne, M. (2011). Grant writing demystified . McGraw Hill.

Purdue University. (2024). Introduction to Grant Writing . owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/grant_writing/index.html

Sam.gov. (n.d.) Register your entity or get a unique entity ID . sam.gov/content/home

Smith, N.B. & Tremore, J. (2008). The everything grant writing book 2nd edition. Adams Media.

Smith, N.B., & Works, G. (2006). The complete book of grant writing: learn to write grants like a professional . Sourcebooks, Inc.

Stephen R. Covey (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Simon and Schuster. azquotes.com/quote/695619

Stewart, G. (2024). Doing business with the federal government tip sheet. energizeohio.osu.edu/sites/energizeohio/files/imce/2024%20Extension%20 UEI%20SAMS%20Handout.pdf

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.

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How to apply – application guide.

Use the application instructions found on this page along with the guidance in the funding opportunity to submit grant applications to NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Policy Quick Links

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		(Due dates ON/AFTER Jan. 25, 2023)
General Instructions	Comprehensive guidance for research, training, fellowship, career development, multi-project, and small business applications	/

Research Instructions	Guidance for research only Activity Codes: Research (R), including Research Education (R25), and equivalent Cooperative Agreements (U)
Career Development Instructions	Guidance for career development only Activity Codes: Individual Career Development (K), excluding Institutional Career Development (K12, KL2, KM1)
Training Instructions	Guidance for training only Activity Codes: Institutional Training (T), including International Training (D43, D71, U2R) and Institutional Career Development (K12, KL2, KM1)
Fellowship Instructions	Guidance for fellowship only Activity codes: Fellowship (F)
Multi-Project Instructions	Guidance for multi-project only Activity Codes: Program Project Grants and Center Grants (P) and equivalent Cooperative Agreements (U)
SBIR/STTR Instructions	Guidance for small business only Activity Codes: R41-R44, SB1, U43, U44, UB1, UT1, UT2

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Annotated Form Sets —visual reference of application forms annotated with tips to avoid common errors
NIH Grants Policy Statement — outlines the policy requirements that serve as the terms and conditions of NIH grant awards
Application Form Instruction Archive —past versions of instructions

General Quick Links

Standard Due Dates —describes standard application submission, review, and award cycles
Submission Options —applications must be prepared and submitted using an online system
Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions, and Samples
Data Tables
ASSIST —NIH system used to access, prepare, and submit application forms
eRA Commons —NIH system used to securely exchange information between agency staff and applicants/recipients
Grants.gov — central portal used by all federal grant-making agencies and their applicants to find and apply for federal grant funding
eRA News —announcements of system features and system health

Section VII. Agency Contacts in each funding opportunity provides application submission, scientific/research, peer review, and financial/grants management contacts.

Check online guidance and direct your questions to staff in your organization's sponsored programs office. If you still need assistance, find NIH contacts at Need Help?

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FREE 10+ Research Executive Summary Templates in PDF
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Research Summary
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Research Summary
Research Summary. Definition: A research summary is a brief and concise overview of a research project or study that highlights its key findings, main points, and conclusions. It typically includes a description of the research problem, the research methods used, the results obtained, and the implications or significance of the findings.
How To Write A Research Summary
Tips for Writing a Research Summary. The core concept behind undertaking a research summary is to present a simple and clear understanding of your research paper to the reader. The biggest hurdle while doing that is the number of words you have at your disposal. So, follow the steps below to write a research summary that sticks. 1.
How to Write a Summary
Table of contents. When to write a summary. Step 1: Read the text. Step 2: Break the text down into sections. Step 3: Identify the key points in each section. Step 4: Write the summary. Step 5: Check the summary against the article. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about summarizing.
PDF Summary and Analysis of Scientific Research Articles
The summary section of your paper shows that you understood the basic facts of the research. The analysis shows that you can evaluate the evidence presented in the research and explain why the research could be important. Summary. The summary portion of the paper should be written with enough detail so that a reader would not have to look at ...
Research Summary- Structure, Examples, and Writing tips
Research Summary Writing Tips Below is a checklist of useful research paper tips worth considering when writing research summaries: Make sure you are always aware of the bigger picture/ direction. You need to keep in mind a complete and coherent picture of the story delivered by the original article. It might be helpful to reread or scan it ...
How to Summarize a Paper: Step-by-Step Guide
A research paper summary is a short overview of a research paper. Generally, a research paper summary is about 300-400 words long, though with longer papers, they're usually no more than 10 percent the length of the original paper. Research paper summaries play an important role in academia.
Research Paper Summary: How to Write a Summary of a Research ...
A summary must be coherent and cogent and should make sense as a stand-alone piece of writing. It is typically 5% to 10% of the length of the original paper; however, the length depends on the length and complexity of the article and the purpose of the summary. Accordingly, a summary can be several paragraphs or pages, a single paragraph, or ...
PDF How to Summarize a Research Article
A research article usually has seven major sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, and References. The first thing you should do is to decide why you need to summarize the article. If the purpose of the summary is to take notes to later remind yourself about the article you may want to write a longer summary ...
Writing a Summary
Here are a few examples that will help you get a clearer view of how to write a summary. Example 1: Summary of a News Article. Original Article: The article reports on the recent discovery of a rare species of frog in the Amazon rainforest. The frog, named the "Emerald Whisperer" due to its unique green hue and the soft chirping sounds it ...
Writing an article SUMMARY
When writing a summary, the goal is to compose a concise and objective overview of the original article. The summary should focus only on the article's main ideas and important details that support those ideas. Guidelines for summarizing an article: State the main ideas. Identify the most important details that support the main ideas.
Finding and Summarizing Research Articles
Introduction. Writing a summary or abstract teaches you how to condense information and how to read an article more effectively and with better understanding. Research articles usually contain these parts: Title/Author Information, Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Result or Findings, Discussion or Conclusion, and References.
How to Write a Research Paper Summary
A research paper summary is a crisp, comprehensive overview of a research paper, which encapsulates the purpose, findings, methods, conclusions, and relevance of a study. A well-written research paper summary is an indicator of how well you have understood the author's work. Table of Contents. How to write a research paper summary. 1.
How to write a research summary
Determining the focus of the summary is a critical first step. It involves deciding whether to create a "global" summary, which covers all main ideas, or a "selective" summary, which focuses on specific aspects of the research. The summary should be clear, engaging, and concise, capturing the essence of the study in a brief format.
Research Summary: What is it & how to write one
A research summary is a piece of writing that summarizes your research on a specific topic. Its primary goal is to offer the reader a detailed overview of the study with the key findings. A research summary generally contains the article's structure in which it is written. You must know the goal of your analysis before you launch a project.
Write a Literature Review
Annotated Bibliographies. Annotated bibliographies can help you clearly see and understand the research before diving into organizing and writing your literature review. Although typically part of the "summarize" step of the literature review, annotations should not merely be summaries of each article - instead, they should be critical ...
How to Write an Effective Summary of Research Paper
Writing a summary for a research plan involves outlining the main objectives and methods of the planned research. Start by stating the research question or hypothesis. Describe the methodology briefly, including how data will be collected and analysed. Highlight expected outcomes or what the research aims to prove or disprove.
Easy Ways to Write a Summary of a Research Paper: 11 Steps
Some summaries can even be as short as one sentence. 3. State the research question and hypothesis. To begin your summary, start by summarizing what the authors aim to answer and what their hypothesis was. You can combine both the question and the hypothesis into one short sentence to open up your summary.
In a nutshell: how to write a lay summary
A lay summary, or impact statement, is a very efficient way of conveying the essence of your article briefly and clearly. Fundamentally, what you're aiming to produce is a short paragraph outlining the article content, aimed at non-specialists in the field and written in a way that they can easily understand. This element differentiates it ...
How to Write a Research Paper Summary [Infographic]
Creating an effective research paper summary requires finesse, precision, and the art of distilling complex information into bite-sized pieces of knowledge. Here's an infographic explaining the 3 key things you must keep in mind as you write a research paper summary. Paperpal is an AI academic writing assistant that can help researchers ...
Executive Summary
In such cases, the research report and executive summary are often written for policy makers outside of academe, while abstracts are written for the academic community. Professors, therefore, assign the writing of executive summaries so students can practice synthesizing and writing about the contents of comprehensive research studies for ...
How to Write a Lay Summary: 10 Tips for Researchers
2. Keep it simple, yet informative. Simplicity is the key to an effective lay summary, so avoid jargon and technical terms that might confuse your readers. Think of it as telling a story rather than presenting scientific data and focus on conveying the core message of your research in straightforward manner. 3.
How to Write a Synopsis for Research: A Step-By-Step Guide
1. Format your title page following your instructor's guidelines. In general, the title page of a research synopsis includes the title of the research project, your name, the degree and discipline for which you're writing the synopsis, and the names of your supervisor, department, institution, and university.
How To Write A Lay Summary For Your Research
Here are a few ways that lay summaries can expand the impact of your research: - Better accessibility: Removing words and terminology non-specialists won't understand increases the readability of your work to a wider audience. - Broadens your audience: Explains research in an understandable manner that can be easily understood and shared ...
Research Guides: AI in Research: Summarizing Literature
DSS fosters the use of digital content and transformative technology in scholarship and academic activities. We provide consultative and technical support for a wide range of tools and platforms. We work with the campus community to publish, promote, and preserve the digital products of research through consultation, teaching, and systems administration.
The Basics of Grant Writing: Becoming Grant Ready
To take the mystery out of the task of grant writing, this fact sheet provides an overview of the basic processes necessary for a typical grant. Funding is available through grants from various sources, including public and private local, regional, state, and federal sources. A grant is funding that does not need to be repaid. Often, grant funders may also require local matching funds to show ...
How to Apply
Use the application instructions found on this page along with the guidance in the funding opportunity to submit grant applications to NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Research Summary – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

Research Summary

Structure of Research Summary

How to Write Research Summary

Example of Research Summary

Purpose of Research Summary

Characteristics of Research Summary

When to write Research Summary

Advantages of Research Summary

Limitations of Research Summary

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Muhammad Hassan

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2. Identify the key elements in different sections

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3. Prepare the first draft

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5. Double check for plagiarism

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9. Ask a friend/colleague to help

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Why Do We Write Summaries?

Makes Important Things Easy to Remember

Simplification of Complex Topics

Aid in Researching and Understanding Diverse Sources

Condensing Information for Presentation or Sharing

Characteristics of a Good Summary

Conciseness

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Steps of Writing a Summary

Reading Actively

Identifying the Main Idea