Conducting research is among the single most valuable endeavors in the scientific community and academia. It is via research, sometimes spanning over decades, that meaningful inventions have been accomplished for humankind. Although beginner researchers may believe that their work is only meager in the large scale of academia, documenting your work can open up opportunities bigger than you may have imagined. And a key part of successfully putting your research out in the world is submitting your abstract.
Your research abstract is among the first few things in your scholarly journey that help get you noticed. And it is, therefore, imperative to make a good impression with it. Your research abstract must be able to convey your research proposition and draw in the reader at once.
In this article, we’re taking you through everything that you need to know about submitting a conference abstract.
What Is a Conference Abstract?
First things first, it is important to know what essentially a conference abstract entails. It is common knowledge that full-blown research papers are large documents with a wealth of information, facts and statistics, critical analysis and more. A research abstract is a piece of text, often placed at the very beginning of a research paper, that contains a very brief and concise summary of your research. This is the text that peer reviewers or even the general public will read before getting into your research paper. Sometimes, this text is what may determine if one will read further into your research or not.
Acceptance and Rejection of Conference Abstracts
If your abstract submission is accepted, you will then be guided on the next steps by your organizer. You may perhaps be invited to present your work, should it be an offline event. Your research abstract gives peer reviewers a very quick and yet effective idea of what your study is about, how you conducted it and why it must matter to them. Keeping this in mind, give your abstract submission as much effort as you did working on the research paper. It could be one of the last things you work on in your research journey, but make sure it counts.
Finding the Right Conference For Your Abstract Submission
Even before working on your research paper, it helps to determine which conferences you will be submitting to. The reason why it is important for abstract submitters to clarify this beforehand is that one may leave out a certain pre-specified submission guidelines. Scientific papers, for instance, have several different citation styles, such as the ACS, IEEE, or APA. It helps to go through your preferred publication’s submission guidelines before working on the core part of your research and your abstract. This saves you from countless reworks, frustration and the dreaded, “Why did I even begin to do this in the first place?”
Understanding Your Submission Guidelines
Every conference has its own specific rules and ignoring them can lead to automatic rejection even before a peer reviewer opens your content. Pay close attention to the following details found in the submission guidelines:
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- Word and character limits: Most conference abstracts fall between 250 and 500 words, with many in the 300 to 350 range. Some guidelines count spaces and others do not. Always verify this distinction beforehand.
- Formatting requirements: Common specifications include Times New Roman or Arial font in 11 or 12 point size. The abstract may need to be submitted as a single unbroken paragraph or divided into labeled sections.
If the conference provides a downloadable submission template, be sure to use it. These templates are calibrated to the conference’s exact requirements and remove much of the guesswork around formatting.
Writing a Strong Conference Abstract
A well-written abstract conveys a brief idea about your research. It should include a clear title, the background and motivation for your study, your research objectives, your methodology, your key results as well as your conclusions.
Title: The title is what readers see first, so make it count. Compose a title that is specific, descriptive, and, where possible, inclusive of your study design.
Background and Objectives: Start out with some context for your work. If you are attempting to close in on a gap in existing knowledge, then mention that. Also, state your research question or main objective clearly and directly.
Methodology: Briefly describe your research design. Did you conduct a survey, a clinical trial, a qualitative interview study, a statistical analysis, or field observations? Reviewers need enough detail to assess the soundness of your approach, but they do not need a full methods section. Aim for two to four sentences that convey the most important features of your design.
Results: This section is where many early-career researchers make the biggest mistake. They omit results because the study is incomplete or they fear presenting preliminary findings. But never skip this section. Even early or partial findings belong here.
Post Research Abstract Submission
Once you submit, you will typically receive a confirmation email. Save this for your records. The review timeline varies widely by conference, from a few weeks to several months. Some conferences notify all submitting authors simultaneously and others send rolling decisions. If your abstract is accepted, you will receive an invitation specifying the type of presentation assigned. In larger or more competitive conferences, the quality of your abstract can also influence whether or not you get an oral slot or a poster presentation.
If your abstract is rejected, do not beat yourself up. Soak in the experience as useful feedback. It helps to go over any reviewer comments and revise accordingly. With time, you should also perhaps consider submitting to another conference. Writing abstracts is a skill like any other that you can improve markedly with practice, patience and a whole lot of repetition.
The Bottom Line On Submitting Your Next Conference Abstract
If you are an aspiring researcher that is still stuck on doubting your capabilities, we’d tell you, just hit that send button. Just start writing that abstract. And importantly, just start submitting. Even the best of researchers started out somewhere. Make sure to know the guidelines of the publication you are submitting to and always check each conference’s policy and, if ever in doubt, err on the side of transparency.
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