1 Titles and Abstracts Roxanne Hiltz (with input/materials from Marilyn Tremaine) IS seminar, Spring 2007 Copyright 2007

2 Titles and Abstracts These are what any referee sees first Most importantly: they are all that appear in many “abstract services” and printed programs for conferences. If the title and/or abstract are poor, you will have many fewer readers and it will adversely affect acceptance

3 Abstracts Abstracts are usually written last, after you know what is in the paper If you write it first for conference submission, rewrite it after the paper is done The abstract must stand on its own The abstract must be both succinct and complete!!

4 What should be in an Abstract? (overview) Establish the topic of the research State the research problem or main objective of the paper Indicate the methods used Present the main findings Summarize the paper’s conclusions (All in about 150 words!!)

5 Abstract: What to include 1.Opening sentence or two describe the problem or problem domain- perhaps its importance- and your objectives. 2.Next few sentences explain your concepts/ theories/ approach, perhaps research questions 3.Your method should be described in 1-2 sentences

6 (contents of abstract) 4. Your major findings need to be summarized (related to your research questions) 5. Conclusions/ contributions need to be summarized in 1-2 sentences 6. Write the whole thing for the non-expert in your domain.

7 Abstracts: what not to include Subjective words such as “I” or “we” or “my” Anywhere in an article: slang Reference citations, since they cannot be included in the abstract Do NOT repeat exactly the wording that is also in the opening paragraphs. Body should be less succinct.

8 Example of a good abstract (from M. Tremaine) (TOPIC of research) The long term performance of various systems was determined and the economic aspects of solar hot water production were investigated in this work. The effect of the collector inclination angle, collector area and storage volume was examined for all systems, and various climatic conditions and their payback period was investigated. It was found that…

9 (good abstract- methods_ …Period was investigated. The effect of the collector inclination angle, collector area and storage volume was examined for all systems, and various climatic conditions and their payback period was investigated. It was found that the collector inclination angle does not have a significant effect on the system’s overall efficiency. …Large daily load volumes and large collector areas are in general associated with shorter payback periods. Overall, the systems are oversized and are economically suitable for large daily hot water load volumes.

10 (abstract- conclusion) The effect of the collector inclination angle, collector area and storage volume was examined for all systems, and various climatic conditions and their payback period was investigated. It was found that the collector inclination angle does not have a significant effect on the system’s overall efficiency. …Large daily load volumes and large collector areas are in general associated with shorter payback periods. Overall, the systems are oversized and are economically suitable for large daily hot water load volumes.

11 TITLES!! As for books and movies, the title either intrigues and “sells” or bores and confuses… Titles should describe exactly what the paper is about. Initial part of title should be relatively short, for a “running head” on top of journal papers Frequently, there is a title, then a colon and a subtitle

12 Titles: empirical studies For an experimental or other empirical study with a few independent variables: “The effects of variables a and b on Y” For a theoretical review or paper: something that indicates that it is not an empirical study, such as “meta-analysis” or “theory” in the title

13 Subtitling: Try to think of something catchy or even witty; in any case, succinct Frequent form = A well known idiom: real title that translates it in a new way and describes the study BUT: it should not be too “cute” and irrelevant

14 Bad titles To Have and To Hold: Exploring personal archives (source= a novel title by Hemingway; but it is not clear WHAT the paper is really about)

15 Bad title: too long Knowledge Acquisition Through Computer Mediated Discussions: Potential of Semantic Network Representations and Effect of Conceptual Facilitation Restrictiveness Rewrite: –Semantic Network Representations for Knowledge Acquisition in Computer-Mediated Discussions

16 Some of my favorite titles Alan Dennis, master of titling- classic empirical studies: A.R. Dennis, A. Pinsonneault K. M. Hilmer H. Barki, R.B. Gallupe, M. Huber, and F. Bellavance, “Patterns in Electronic Brainstorming : The Effects of Synergy and Social Loafing on group Idea Generation,” International Journal of e- Collaboration, 1:4, 2005,

17 Other examples of empirical study titling by Alan Dennis M.L. Williams, A.R. Dennis, A. Stam, and J.E. Aronson, “The impact of DSS use and information load on errors and decision quality,” European Journal of Operations Research A.R. Dennis and N. J. Taylor, “Information Foraging on the Web: The Effects of “Acceptable” Internet Delays on Multi-page Information Search Behavior,” Decision Support Systems

18 (reverse subtitling) Dennis, A.R. Information exchange and use in group decision making: you can lead a group to information but you can’t make it think. MIS Quarterly, 20, ,

19 Titling of theoretical or review papers- examples A. R. Dennis, T. A. Carte, and G. Kelly, “Breaking the Rules: Success and Failure in Groupware-Supported Business Process Engineering,” Decision Support Systems, 36:1, 2003, pp A.R. Dennis and M. L. Williams, “A Meta Analysis of Group Size Effects in Electronic Brainstorming: More Heads are Better than One,” International Journal of e- Collaboration, 1:1, 2005, pp

20 Workshop next week Please post, and bring to project 1. Your draft title 2. your draft abstract 3. An outline of what will be in the paper/ what it is about