how to prepare title and abstract for research articles

HOW TO PREPARE TITLE

AND ABSTRACT FOR

RESEARCH ARTICLES

CSC 364 1.5 Seminar 2

Department of Computer Science and Statistics , USJPAS2010377

M.K.H. GUNASEKARA

Overview

Title

Characteristics of Good title

Abstract

Characteristics of Good abstract

Summary

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Title

The title summarizes the main idea or ideas of

your study. A good title contains the fewest

possible words that adequately describe the

contents and purpose of your research paper.

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Importance of Title

The title forms an important part of your

communication with your readers, both with the

editor and referees who will evaluate the

paper, and with the members of your discipline

community whom you want to read the paper

after its publication.

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Strategies

Provide as much relevant information as

possible, but be concise

Use keywords prominently

Choose noun phrase, statement, or question?

Avoid ambiguity in noun phrases

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Trick 01:Provide as much relevant

information as possible, but be

concise To attract busy readers

Potential readers can judge your article easily

E.g.: Hybrid Approach to Optimize Cut Order

Plan Solutions in Apparel Manufacturing[1]

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Trick 01 - Example7

Trick 02:Use keywords

prominently

effective way to ensure your keyword(s) are at

the front of your title is to use a colon (:) or a

dash (–) to separate the first, keyword-

containing part of the title from a

second, explanatory section.

E.g.:

1. Clustering: A neural network approach[2]

2. Wireless mesh network security: A traffic

engineering management approach[3]

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Trick 02 – Example19

Trick 02 - Example 210

Trick 03:Choose strategically:

noun phrase, statement, or

question? Statement titles are only suitable for papers

that address a specific question and present a

non-complex answer.

When there is no simple answer better to write

title as question.

E.g. : Computer games created by middle school

girls: Can they be used to measure

understanding of computer science concepts?[4]

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Trick 03 - Example12

Trick 04:Avoid ambiguity in noun

phrases

Use prepositions to avoid ambiguity

E.g.: soybean seedling growth suppression

suppression of soybean seedling growth

When nouns are used as adjectives in

extended noun phrases, they are always used

in the singular

E.g.: nodules on soybean roots soybean root

nodules

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Several characteristics of Effective

titles Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the study.

Avoid using abbreviations.

Use words that create a positive impression and stimulate reader interest.

Use current nomenclature from the field of study.

Identify key variables, both dependent and independent.

May reveal how the paper will be organized.

Suggest a relationship between variables which supports the major hypothesis.

Is limited to 10 to 15 substantive words.

Do not include "study of," "analysis of" or similar constructions.

Titles are usually in the form of a phrase, but can also be in the form of a question.

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Tip !

Write down a few possible titles, and then

select the best to refine further. Ask your

colleagues their opinion. Spending the time

needed to do this will result in a better title.

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Abstract

An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper in a prescribed sequence that includes:

1) the overall purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated;

2) the basic design of the study;

3) major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis; and,

4) a brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions.

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Importance of Abstract

For busy readers the Abstract, sometimes called

the Summary, may be the only part of the paper

they read, unless it succeeds in convincing them

to take the time to read the whole paper.

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Abstract Types[5]

Critical Abstract

Descriptive Abstract

Informative Abstract

Highlight Abstract

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Abstract Models (BPMRC)

Some background information B

The principal activity (or purpose) of the study

and its scope P

Some information about the methods used in

the study M

The most important results of the study R

A statement of conclusion or recommendation

C

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Characteristics of Effective

Abstract1.Problem: What is the problem your paper addresses? Avoid describing the solution here.E.g. We address the problem of robot navigation across unmapped rough terrain.

2. Importance: How would a solution to this problem change the world? Remember that it’s not obvious to everyone else how important this problem is.E.g. A solution to this problem will enable more rapid validation of the efficacy of sleep medication.

3. New capability: What can we do now that we couldn’t do before? Quantify if possible.E.g. Our approach enables robots to climb trees five times more quickly than was possible before.

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Characteristics of Effective

Abstract

4. Challenge: Why is this problem hard? and/or What difficulty do other solutions face?E.g. In order to solve this problem a robot must know its location to within 1mm.

5. Insight: What did you discover? or How did you approach the problem differently?E.g. By framing the problem as an optimization task, we are able to leverage a linear time algorithm.

6. Solution: Provide some specific detail about the solution.E.g. Our algorithm measures the standard deviation of the quantitative features in each dimension, then sorts the result, providing an optimal solution.

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Characteristics of Effective

Abstract

7. Evidence: Summarize the evidence you have

for your approach: A proof, an

implementation, or quantitative results.

E.g. The algorithm was implemented on a monkey-based robot

and shown to perform 17% faster than a dog of similar mass.

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Example 23

[1]

Example24

[7]

Summary25

Title and Abstract are very important when we

writing research articles

There are many strategies to make title and

abstract.

There is no fixed model

References

[1] R P Abeysooriya, T G I Fernando,”Hybrid Approach to Optimize Cut Order Plan Solutions in

Apparel Manufacturing”, International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Research, volume 2,2012, pp.: 348-353

[2] K.-L. Du ,” Clustering: A neural network approach”, Neural Networks, Volume 23, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 89–107

[3] Okechukwu E. Muogilima, Kok-Keong Loob, Richard Comleyb, “Wireless mesh network security: A traffic engineering management approach”, Journal of Network and Computer Applications , Volume 34, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 478–491

[4] Jill Denner , Linda Werner, Eloy Ortiz,” Computer games created by middle school girls: Can they be used to measure understanding of computer science concepts?” , Computers & Education , Volume 58, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 240–249

[5] Dr. Robert V. Labaree, “Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper”, Oct 18, 2013, http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide ,( Oct 28,2013)

[6] Birger Andersson, Maria Bergholtz, Ananda Edirisuriya, TharakaIlayperuma, Prasad Jayaweera, Paul Johannesson, JelenaZdravkovic, “, Enterprise Sustainability through the Alignment of Goal Models and Business Models ”, Proceedings of BUSITAL 2008

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Question & Answers27

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