Increasingly, academic dissertations and papers require a lay summary as well as a scientific abstract. It is important to distinguish between the style and content of the scientific abstract and the lay summary. These sections serve different purposes and are intended for different audiences. In this blog, I aim to help you write both effectively, supported by examples.
Scientific Abstract
The scientific abstract is written for experts, researchers and professionals in your field. It is a concise summary of your research that includes the background, methods, key findings, and implications. The language used is technical and generally assumes the reader has a good understanding of the subject.
What to Include in the Abstract:
Background/Context: Briefly explain the problem your research addresses.
Aim: State the specific objectives of the study.
Methods: Summarise the methods used, including any important experimental techniques or data sources.
Results: Clearly outline the main findings of your study, using numerical data or statistical outcomes, supported by confidence intervals and P=values as appropriate.
Conclusions: State the significance of the findings and how they contribute to the field.
Tone & Style of the abstract:
Technical and precise: Use discipline-specific terminology.
Brevity: Keep it concise, usually within 200–300 words.
Objective: Focus on the facts without interpretation for a lay audience.
Example Scientific Abstract
Facilitators and barriers to vaccination uptake in pregnancy: A qualitative systematic review
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298407
Introduction: Vaccination during pregnancy protects both the mother and the foetus from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, uptake of the recommended vaccines (influenza, pertussis, COVID-19) by pregnant women remains low in Europe and the USA. Understanding the reasons for this is crucial to inform strategies to increase vaccination rates in pregnant women. This qualitative systematic review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to vaccination against influenza, pertussis/whooping cough and COVID-19 during pregnancy and identify possible strategies to increase vaccination rates.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, WHO database, Embase and grey literature to identify qualitative studies that explored barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake among pregnant women (PROSPERO CRD42023399488). The search was limited to studies published between 2012 and 2022 conducted in high-income countries with established vaccination programmes during pregnancy. Studies were thematically analysed and underwent quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute validated critical appraisal tool for qualitative research.
Results: Out of 2681 articles screened, 28 studies (n = 1573 participants) were eligible for inclusion. Five overarching themes emerged relating to personal, provider and systemic factors. Barriers to vaccine uptake included concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, lack of knowledge about vaccines’ benefits and necessity, fear of adverse effects on the foetus or mother and low perception of disease severity. Facilitators included recommendations from trusted healthcare providers, easy access to vaccination, clear communication on the benefits and safety of vaccination, and positive social influences from family and friends. Strategies for increasing vaccination uptake included strong and proactive vaccine recommendations by trusted healthcare professionals, provision of vaccines during routine antenatal care, and clear and consistent communication about vaccines addressing pregnant women’s concerns.
Conclusion: This review highlights the need for interventions that address the identified barriers to vaccine uptake among pregnant women. Recommendation from a healthcare provider can play a significant role in promoting vaccine uptake, as can clear risk/benefit communication and convenient access to vaccination. Addressing concerns about vaccine safety and providing accurate information about vaccines is also important.
Lay Summary
The lay summary is written for a general audience who may have little to no expertise in your research field. The aim is to communicate the key aspects of your work in simple, non-technical language, emphasizing its relevance and potential impact.
What to Include in the Lay Summary:
Context: Explain the problem or issue in simple terms, and why it matters.
Purpose: Describe the aim of your study in a way that’s easy to understand.
Approach: Summarise how the research was conducted, avoiding technical jargon.
Key Findings: Present the results in a straightforward manner, focusing on the broader implications.
Relevance: Highlight how the findings might impact society, health, policy, or future research.
Tone & Style of the Lay Summary:
Simple and clear: Use everyday language, avoiding technical terms.
Engaging: Make it relatable by emphasizing the importance of the research.
Short sentences: Aim for readability and avoid long, complex sentences.
Example Lay Summary
Facilitators and barriers to vaccination uptake in pregnancy: A qualitative systematic review
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298407
This study aimed to understand why some pregnant women choose to get vaccinated while others do not, focusing on vaccines for influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), and COVID-19. Vaccination during pregnancy is important because it helps protect both the mother and baby from serious diseases. The research project reviewed 28 studies involving 1,573 pregnant women from high-income countries to identify the factors that influence vaccination decisions. The study found that concerns about vaccine safety, lack of knowledge, and fear of side effects were common reasons for hesitancy. Conversely, recommendations from trusted healthcare professionals and easy access to vaccines were major reasons for getting vaccinated. Improving communication with pregnant women, offering vaccines during regular prenatal care in antenatal clinics and general practice, and addressing concerns about vaccine safety could increase vaccination rates among pregnant women. Implementing these steps could help shape better strategies to encourage vaccination during pregnancy, ensuring more mothers and babies are protected from potentially serious infections
Tips for Writing Both the Abstract and Lay Summary
Know your audience: Tailor your language and approach based on whether your audience is scientific experts or the general public.
Be concise: Whether it’s an abstract or a lay summary, keep it brief and to the point.
Clarity is key: Even in the scientific abstract, make sure the key points stand out clearly.
Avoid jargon in the lay summary: Make sure non-experts can easily understand your work without needing specialized knowledge.
By mastering these two formats, you can ensure that your research is communicated effectively to both academic peers and professionals and also to the general public.
Comments