Difference Between Abstract and Introduction in a Research Paper
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The abstract is a brief standalone summary of the entire research paper — including results and conclusions — placed before the paper. The introduction is the opening section of the paper that provides background, identifies the research problem and gap, and states the objectives. While they both address the research problem, their purpose, content, length, and placement are fundamentally different.
Abstract vs Introduction: Quick Comparison
Abstract vs Introduction at a Glance
Introduction: Setup & Context
Introduction: First section of the paper
Introduction: No
Introduction: 300–800+ words
Introduction: No (part of the paper)
Introduction: Early in the process
Detailed Comparison: Abstract vs Introduction
| Feature | Abstract | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A brief summary of the entire paper | The opening section of the paper providing context |
| Includes background? | 1–2 sentences only | Yes, in depth (2–4 paragraphs typically) |
| Includes literature review? | No | Yes, brief (identifies gap) |
| Includes methods? | 1 sentence (what was done) | May mention approach briefly |
| Includes results? | Yes (key findings) | No |
| Includes conclusions? | Yes (implications) | No |
| States research objective? | Yes (1 sentence) | Yes (clearly and in detail) |
| Citations in text? | Usually none | Yes (relevant prior work cited) |
What Goes in Each Section: Content Breakdown
Abstract Contents
- Background/Problem: 1–2 sentences on the research problem
- Objective/Aim: 1 sentence stating the paper's purpose
- Methods: 1–2 sentences on data and method used
- Key Results: 2–3 sentences on the main findings
- Conclusions/Implications: 1–2 sentences on what the results mean
Introduction Contents
- Broad context: What is the field/topic about?
- Narrowing focus: What is the specific issue being studied?
- Research gap: What has not been studied or what remains unknown?
- Justification: Why does this gap matter?
- Research objective/question: What does this paper aim to do?
- Paper structure: (Optional in journal articles) A brief guide to the paper's sections
Writing Tip: Write Your Abstract Last
Always draft your introduction first (or early), but write your abstract last. The abstract summarises the complete paper — including results and conclusions — so you cannot write it accurately until the paper is finished. A common mistake is writing the abstract before the paper is complete, resulting in an abstract that does not match the actual findings. Write the abstract after you have written your discussion and conclusion sections.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
The abstract is a standalone summary of the entire paper — covering the problem, method, results, and conclusions — placed before the paper. Readers use it to decide whether to read the full paper. The introduction is the opening section of the paper itself — it provides background, establishes the research problem, reviews the gap in existing literature, and states the paper's aim/objectives. The abstract summarises; the introduction sets up the paper.
Yes. An abstract includes a brief mention of the key results and conclusions — because it is a summary of the complete paper. The introduction, by contrast, does not include results or conclusions; it only sets the context, identifies the problem, and states the research objectives.
An abstract is typically 150–300 words (or per journal guidelines, often 250 words). An introduction is significantly longer — usually 300–800 words for a journal article, or 1,000–2,000 words for a thesis chapter, covering background, literature context, research gap, and objectives in depth.
Some overlap is natural — both mention the research problem and objectives. However, the abstract also includes results and conclusions (which introduction does not), while the introduction includes detailed background, literature context, and a justification of the research approach (which the abstract does not). They should not be copies of each other.
The introduction is written first (or early in the writing process) because it sets up the paper's structure. The abstract is written last, after the paper is complete, because it summarises the full paper including the results and conclusions that you only know once the paper is written. Even though the abstract appears first in the final document, it is the last section to be drafted.