An abstract is the preview of your paper — a single paragraph that tells readers what you studied, what you found, and why it matters. It's usually the first thing people read (after the title) and the last thing you write.
APA 7th edition treats the abstract as a separate page with its own formatting rules. Not every paper requires one — short essays and reflection papers typically don't — but research papers, theses, dissertations, and journal submissions almost always do. If you're unsure, check your assignment guidelines.
What Is an Abstract and When Do You Need One?
An abstract is a brief, self-contained summary of your paper. It should give readers enough information to decide whether your paper is relevant to their work — without reading the full text.
You need an abstract when:
- Your instructor explicitly requires one
- You're submitting to a journal
- You're writing a thesis or dissertation
- Your paper reports original research (empirical study, meta-analysis)
You probably don't need one when:
- You're writing a short essay (under 10 pages)
- Your instructor hasn't mentioned it
- You're writing a reflection, response, or personal paper
When in doubt, ask.Some instructors consider the abstract optional for student papers. Others require it for any paper longer than a certain page count. Don't guess — check the assignment prompt.
APA Abstract Formatting Rules
The abstract page has specific formatting that differs from the rest of your paper:
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Page position | Page 2 (immediately after the title page) |
| Heading | "Abstract" — centered, bold, not italicized, on the first line |
| Paragraph format | Single paragraph, no indentation on the first line |
| Word count | 150–250 words (check your journal or instructor for specifics) |
| Spacing | Double-spaced, like the rest of the paper |
| Font | Same as the body text |
| Page number | In the header, top-right corner |
The no-indent rule is important.The abstract is the only paragraph in an APA paper that is not indented. Every other body paragraph uses a 0.5-inch first-line indent, but the abstract starts flush left.
What to Include in Your Abstract
The content of your abstract depends on the type of paper you're writing. Here are templates for the most common types:
Empirical Study (Research Paper)
An empirical study abstract typically covers four elements in this order:
- Purpose — What did you study and why?
- Method — How did you study it? (participants, design, measures)
- Results — What did you find? (key statistics)
- Conclusion — What does it mean?
Example:
This study examined the relationship between self-reported sleep quality and GPA among 142 undergraduate students at a mid-sized public university. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and provided consent to release their cumulative GPA. A Pearson correlation revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between sleep quality and academic performance (r = −.34, p < .001), indicating that students with poorer sleep quality tended to have lower GPAs. Multiple regression analysis showed that sleep quality predicted GPA even after controlling for study hours and employment status (β = −.28, p = .003). These findings support existing literature linking sleep hygiene to cognitive functioning and suggest that universities should invest in sleep education programs. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data.
Literature Review
A literature review abstract summarizes the scope and conclusions of your review:
- Topic and scope — What body of literature did you review?
- Sources — How many and what types of studies were included?
- Key findings — What are the main patterns or conclusions?
- Implications — What gaps remain? What should future research address?
Example:
This literature review examines research on the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health, focusing on studies published between 2018 and 2025. A total of 47 peer-reviewed articles were reviewed, spanning cross-sectional surveys, longitudinal studies, and experimental designs. The majority of studies found a small but consistent association between heavy social media use and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly among girls aged 13–16. However, methodological limitations — including inconsistent definitions of "heavy use" and reliance on self-report measures — make causal claims premature. Several studies identified positive effects of social media, including social support for marginalized groups and increased civic engagement. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs with objective usage measures to clarify the direction and magnitude of these effects.
Case Study
- Subject — Who or what is the case?
- Context — What situation or problem is being examined?
- Analysis — What methods or frameworks were applied?
- Outcome — What was learned or concluded?
Example:
This case study examines the implementation of a trauma-informed care model in a Title I elementary school in Denver, Colorado, during the 2024–2025 school year. The school, serving 430 students from predominantly low-income families, adopted the Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) framework across all grade levels. Qualitative data from teacher interviews (n = 18), administrator observations, and student discipline records were analyzed using thematic coding. Results indicated a 34% reduction in office discipline referrals and a 21% decrease in suspensions compared to the previous year. Teachers reported increased confidence in responding to student behavioral challenges and a shift from punitive to supportive disciplinary practices. This case illustrates the practical benefits of school-wide trauma-informed approaches and highlights the importance of sustained professional development and administrative support for successful implementation.
Adding Keywords
Keywords help researchers find your paper in databases like PsycINFO and Google Scholar. They're optional for student papers but required for most journal submissions.
Format:
- On the line immediately below the abstract, indent 0.5 inches
- Type "Keywords:" — italicized, followed by a space
- List 3–5 keywords in lowercase, separated by commas
- No period at the end
Example:
Keywords: sleep quality, academic performance, undergraduate students, PSQI, cognitive functioning
Tips for choosing keywords:
- Use terms that someone searching for your topic would type
- Include the key variables or concepts in your study
- Include the population studied, if specific
- Use established terminology from your field (check how published articles in your area word their keywords)
- Avoid overly broad terms ("psychology," "health") that won't help narrow a search
Abstract Examples by Paper Type
Here's a quick-reference table summarizing what to include for each type of paper:
| Paper Type | Key Elements to Include |
|---|---|
| Empirical study | Purpose, method, results (with stats), conclusion |
| Literature review | Scope, sources reviewed, key findings, implications |
| Meta-analysis | Topic, number of studies, effect size, conclusions |
| Case study | Subject, context, analysis, outcome |
| Theoretical paper | Topic, thesis/argument, how the theory is developed, implications |
Regardless of paper type, keep the abstract factual and concise. Avoid:
- Citations (only cite in the abstract if absolutely necessary — e.g., you're building directly on one key study)
- Abbreviations (unless widely recognized, like PTSD)
- Jargon that wouldn't be understood outside your subfield
- New information not covered in the paper itself
- Evaluative language ("This groundbreaking study…")
Common Abstract Mistakes
These are the errors we see most often:
Indenting the first line. The abstract is the one paragraph in your entire paper that is not indented. Start it flush left.
Writing multiple paragraphs. The abstract is a single continuous paragraph. Don't break it into sections, even if it covers multiple topics.
Going over the word limit. Most APA journals set a 250-word maximum. Student papers typically follow the same guideline. If you're at 300 words, you need to cut.
Being too vague. "Results were significant" tells the reader nothing. Include the actual finding: "r = −.34, p < .001" or "a 34% reduction in disciplinary referrals."
Including information not in the paper. The abstract summarizes your paper — it shouldn't introduce new claims, data, or arguments that the paper itself doesn't address.
Skipping the Keywords line when required. If your instructor or journal requires keywords, omitting them is a formatting error. Check the submission guidelines.
Putting the abstract on the wrong page. The abstract always goes on page 2, immediately after the title page and before the body of the paper.
What's Next
Now that you know how to write and format your abstract, explore these related topics:
- APA Title Page Format — the page that comes right before the abstract
- APA Format Example Paper — see the abstract in the context of a full paper
- APA General Format — the complete guide to margins, fonts, and page layout
Writing an abstract for a thesis or dissertation? See our Thesis Abstract guide for help with word limits, content structure, and what to include for different research types.
Archivero helps you keep your paper properly structured from title page through references — so you can focus on writing a clear, compelling abstract that accurately represents your research.
