Abstract Guidelines

Project Title Guidelines

• Must be in Title Case (view these APA guidelines for using title case).

• Must be 150 words or less.

• Make sure there are no extra spaces before your title.

Abstract Guidelines

Must include all criteria listed in the Abstract and Artist Statement Guidelines listed below.  

• Must be 250 words or less.

• For creative or artistic research projects, we have included specific guidelines to support the abstract writing process. 

• For the Undergraduate Research Symposium, abstracts and statements should be written for a general audience and be easily understood by someone who is not in your discipline.

Components of an Abstract

Context or Purpose

• Provide a clear statement of purpose, including background or context of the project.  

• For creative or artistic projects, provide how your background, experiences, positionality, or creative influences have formed your approach to the work.  

Questions/Hypotheses  

• Provide a clear statement of your project’s question, hypotheses or goal.

• For creative or artistic projects, provide the intention of your project.

Methodology/Approach

• Describe your research methodology including methods for data collection, analysis, study design, et cetera.

• For creative or artistic projects, describe your process of inquiry and training in the medium that you are using. Situate your work by articulating how it builds on previous work, knowledge, theories, etc. (e.g. How is it situated within a theory or school of thought? Whose work are you working in response to?). 

Expected/Preliminary Findings

• Share the findings of your research project. If your project is still in progress, speak to your anticipated findings.

• For artistic or creative research, share what your work may reveal, evoke, or communicate as a result of your creative process.  

Implications

• Share why your findings matter, for example, speak to the impact of the work in your field, for the public, etc. 

• For creative or artistic projects, describe the impact or the significance of the work. What significance does this have on the world, your discipline, and/or on you?