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Abstract Submission Guidelines

Submission Guidelines:

  • Abstracts should not exceed 300 words. Abstract Submissions are due by February 28th by 5:00pm.
  • Please include the title of your paper, your name, affiliation, and contact information.
  • Undergraduates and Graduate Students will be asked to provide the name and contact information of a faculty mentor who has agreed to oversee the completion of the poster.
  • All Faculty, Research Scientists, Staff, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Students planning to present a poster must submit abstracts through the submission portal by February 28th by 5:00pm.
  • Instructions for creating your abstract.
  • Template to use for the poster submission.
  • When you are ready to submit your abstract please submit to the submission portal.
  • For further information, please contact us at mjenson [at] desu.edu.

Writing an Abstract for Theory

Submit your abstract for the conference

Writing an abstract for a theory or research-based research paper in psychology involves summarizing the key elements of your study in a concise and clear manner. In Psychology publications, most abstracts are limited to 150 to 300 words. As a guideline you should have a couple of sentences for each component of your paper Here are some steps to guide you:

  1. Start with the Background:
    • Briefly introduce the theoretical framework or model your research is based on. If you are doing a paper on a historical figure, make sure to include biographical information.
  2. State the Research Problem:
    • Clearly articulate the research question or hypothesis. For theoretical papers What is the theme or the central argument of your paper?
    • Explain why this problem is important and worth investigating. This would entail the effects of this work or person on the history of psychology.
  3. Describe the Methods:
    • Summarize the research design and methodology. If theoretical how did you find your information, what data bases did you look in or??
    • Include information about the participants, data collection techniques, and analysis methods. In a theory paper how did you go about finding the information and reduce personal bias in your research?
  4. Present the Key Findings:
    • Highlight the main results of your study or contributions to the knowledge in this area. What is new about what you are arguing.
    • With numerical data, focus on findings that directly relate to your research question or hypothesis. The paper will have additional data.
  5. Discuss the Implications:
    • Explain the theoretical and practical implications of your findings.
    • Mention how your study contributes to the existing body of knowledge or how this person changed the course of psychology.
  6. Conclude with a Summary:
    • Provide a brief conclusion that encapsulates the essence of your research.
    • Ensure it ties back to the theoretical framework and research problem.