Definition:
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary:a brief written statement of the main points or facts in a longer report, speech, etc.
Explanation:
An abstract is a brief summary of an article or report that highlights its major contents such as the purpose, methods, scope, results, conclusions, and recommendations.
While many library databases provide links to the full text of articles and other documents, some index-only databases contain only the citation and abstract of the document but not the full text. These databases are still useful because you can read the abstract to determine if the document is relevant to your research topic and use the citation to track down the full text.
Related Videos and Guides:
- Video: Sample Search Limiting to the "Abstract" FieldTip: The "abstract" field within a database record can be a useful limiter to help make your search more precise. If you specify that the database only look for your search terms within the abstract, you will often find more relevant results.
- Video: How to Use Find It to Find the Full TextTip: If the full text is not available in one database, use the Find It tool to see if it is available in another database. If not, you can try ordering it through Document Delivery / Interlibrary Loan using ILLiad.