To draft an abstract for a literature review, you must write a concise 150 to 250-word summary that outlines the research background, the specific gap in existing studies, your review methodology, and the main conclusions drawn from your synthesis.
Unlike a standard empirical paper, a literature review does not report on original lab results or field data. Instead, your data consists of previously published scholarly articles. Therefore, your abstract needs to reflect how you gathered, analyzed, and synthesized this existing knowledge to create new insights.
Key Components of a Literature Review Abstract
1. Establish the Background
Start with one or two sentences that introduce the broader topic. Provide enough context so that a reader unfamiliar with your specific niche understands why this area of study is important and relevant right now.
2. Define the Problem or Research Gap
Clearly state the issue, controversy, or missing information in the current academic landscape that your review aims to resolve. If you are struggling to pinpoint exactly what is missing in the current scholarship, WisPaper's Idea Discovery can automatically identify research gaps from your literature to help you clearly state the problem your review addresses.
3. Explain Your Methodology
Briefly describe how you conducted your literature search. Mention whether it is a systematic literature review, a scoping review, or a narrative review. It is often helpful to highlight the primary academic databases you searched, the timeframe of the literature, and the inclusion criteria used to select papers.
4. Summarize Key Findings
Dedicate the bulk of your abstract to the synthesis of your research. What are the major themes, trends, or conflicts you discovered across the literature? Avoid listing individual papers or authors; instead, focus on the overarching patterns and what the collective evidence suggests.
5. State the Implications and Conclusion
End with a strong concluding sentence that explains the value of your findings. Address how your review advances the field, informs future research directions, or impacts practical applications in your industry.
Quick Tips for a Strong Draft
- Write it last: Always draft your abstract after you have finished writing the full literature review. It is much easier to summarize a completed synthesis than to predict what you will write.
- Check formatting guidelines: Always adhere to the specific word count and formatting rules (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) required by your target journal or university department.
- Select strong keywords: Include 4 to 6 relevant keywords at the bottom of your abstract. Think about the exact terms a fellow researcher would type into a search engine to find your paper, as this drastically improves your work's discoverability.
