1. How to Prepare Your Abstract Lunch and Learn July 28, 2016 Presented by Dr. Sandra Wiebe

2. Welcome Welcome & Reminder Welcome to this WCHRI Lunch and Learn!
For those of you who have received WCHRI support, please note that your participation at WCHRI Research Day (November 16, 2016) is required.
Please refer to the program guidelines.

3. Outline The purpose of an abstract The components of an abstract
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
First steps to writing your abstract

4. What is the purpose of your abstract?
To engage the reader
To convey your research question, process and outcomes
To highlight the importance of your work
Conference abstracts: will conference attendees benefit from learning about your research?
Publications: should a potential reader invest the time in downloading and reading your paper?

5. Standard components of an abstract
Title
Introduction (purpose)
Methods
Results
Conclusions

6. The Title
Your title might be the only thing that people read—use this as an opportunity to “hook” the reader’s interest.
Avoid making your title too broad, vague, or dense.
Include key words for your topic.
Include a verb if possible – easier for the reader to process.

7. The Introduction (Purpose)
Why did you do this study? (e.g., gap in previous research, response to major health issue)
What is your study about? (the topic – be specific)
What was your research question and/or study objective?
Keep this part of your abstract short

8. Methods How did you carry out your study? Study design
Population/sample
Tools (e.g., experimental manipulations, cognitive tests, assays…)
Statistical methods
Make sure this is understandable
to someone outside your area.

9. What were your study findings? Stick to the facts (no ‘fish stories’)
Results
What were your study findings?
Stick to the facts (no ‘fish stories’)

10. Conclusions
What is the main point you want your audience to take home?
Use your research questions or hypotheses as a guide
Present your results in
a meaningful context
(e.g., the problem that motivated your study)

11. Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

12. Consider your audience!
Know whether you’re writing for colleagues in your area or field vs. health researchers more broadly vs. knowledge users/decision makers vs. general public
Different levels of background information
Jargon
Avoid abbreviations (introduce if necessary)

13. Writing issues Be clear and concise – get straight to the point!
Include all required elements – avoid writing a research plan or drowning the reader in data without a “story”
Aim for an objective tone – don’t try to sway the reader with enthusiasm or bias
Proofread carefully for
Typographical and grammatical errors
Jargon
Before submitting, get feedback from your supervisor, lab mates, friends…

14. Specific requirements
Different conferences have different requirements – be sure to follow all instructions carefully to avoid having your abstract rejected on a technicality.
Be aware of requirements for length, authorship, formatting, inclusion of figures, etc.
Where you are expected to select a review panel or category, select the most appropriate one
If you are not sure, ask –
start with your supervisor!

15. Authorship Discuss authorship with your supervisor
– different fields have different norms and expectations
Refer to: “Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journal”:
For example at WHCRI research day a maximum of 10 authors can be listed and you are restricted to one abstract submission per registrant.

16. Authorship Conferences may limit:
The number of authors that may be listed on an abstract
The number of abstracts you may submit and/or co-author
For example at WHCRI research day a maximum of 10 authors can be listed and you are restricted to one abstract submission per registrant.

17. More considerations…
Consider using the chemical or generic name of drugs where trademark names may not be appropriate
Do not include references (unless instructions specify otherwise)

18. WCHRI Research Day
WCHRI Research Day 2016 will be held on November 16th at the Westin Hotel.
Access the registration & abstract submission site at:
Submission deadline: October 7

19. Abstract Requirements Specific to WCHRI
There are four required sections: Introduction, Methods, Results and Conclusions
You can use symbols and special formatting
Copy and paste from a source document.
You may not exceed 400 words.

20. Abstract Requirements Specific to WCHRI
The presenter does not need to be the first author.
You may include up to 15 authors.
You may only submit 1 abstract per registrant.
Please make sure you (and your supervisor) proofread your abstract before submission to avoid typos—your submission is final!

21. Reader Checklist Title Introduction Methods Results Conclusion
Is the title dynamic and informative? Did it draw you in and make you want to read the whole abstract?
Introduction
Why was this study done? What is the specific topic? What were the objectives/research questions/hypotheses?
Methods
How did you do your study? What methods/tools did you use?
Results
What did you find?
Conclusion
What is the take home message? Does it address the objectives and research question proposed in the introduction? How does this relate back to the study purpose?

22. Thank you! Thank you for your attendance at this Lunch and Learn.
We look forward to seeing you at WCHRI Research Day!!