what is the abstract of a scholarly article

An abstract is a brief summary of a scholarly article that provides an overview of the articles main points, including the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions. It is usually located at the beginning of the article and is either labeled "abstract" or set apart from the rest of the article by a different font or margins. The abstract should be concise and informative, providing the reader with a clear understanding of the research study or course paper. It should avoid unnecessary wordiness and focus on quickly and concisely summarizing the major points of the work. An abstract is not an introduction, and it should be intelligible on its own, without a reader having to read the entire paper. When submitting work for publication, an abstract is often the first piece of writing a reviewer will encounter, and it can help readers decide whether to read the full paper. The abstract should be a single paragraph preceded by the heading "Abstract," centered and in bold font. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends that abstracts should generally be less than 250 words, though many journals have their own word limits. It is always a good idea to check journal-specific requirements before submitting.