An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, review, or report. In the context of an APA paper, the abstract is a separate section that appears after the title page and before the main body of the paper. It is typically 150-200 words in length and provides a summary of the main points of the paper.
The purpose of the abstract is to give readers a quick overview of the key points and findings of the paper, without requiring them to read the entire document. This is particularly useful for readers who may not have the time or inclination to read the full paper, but are interested in learning about the research that was conducted.
An abstract should be written in plain language, avoiding technical jargon and complex sentence structures. It should clearly and concisely describe the research question being addressed, the methods used to conduct the research, the main findings, and the implications of the research.
An example of an abstract in an APA paper might look like this:
"This study examined the relationship between social media use and self-esteem in a sample of college students. Participants completed a survey measuring their social media use and self-esteem, and the data were analyzed using regression analysis. Results indicated that there was a significant negative relationship between social media use and self-esteem, such that higher levels of social media use were associated with lower levels of self-esteem. These findings suggest that there may be a negative impact of social media use on self-esteem, and further research is needed to understand the nature of this relationship."
In this example, the abstract provides a clear and concise summary of the research question being addressed, the methods used to collect data, the main findings, and the implications of the research. It also highlights the importance of further research on the topic.
Overall, the abstract is an important part of an APA paper, as it helps readers to quickly understand the key points and findings of the research, and to decide whether or not to read the full paper.