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19.5 How can I differentiate my Conclusions from my
Abstract?
These two sections have completely different purposes. The Abstract is like an
advertisement for your paper – it has to attract the reader’s attention. On the other
hand, the Conclusions section is designed to remind readers of the most salient
points of your paper. However, the Conclusions also have to add value. This added
value is typically contained in the recommendations, implications and areas for
future research.

In any case, it is a good idea to revise the Abstract and Conclusions together, and
even shift information from one to the other.

There will be some overlap between the two sections, but this is both accepted prac-
tice and inevitable.

The example below shows you how to avoid a 'cut&paste' from your Abstract. It
comes from a fictitious paper entitled: Six key strategies to a meaningful life: the

non-believer's worldview

As you read, compare the structure and the information given.

abstract conclusions
With no hope of an afterlife, atheists may We found that six strategies are key to

have difficulty rationalizing their purpose atheists having a satisfying life: simplicity,
on earth. With the aim of understanding fun, community, a love of nature, and the
the coping mechanisms of non-believers, importance of creativity and of helping
we interviewed 150 UK-born couples others. An additional but not unexpected
(125 mixed, 25 same sex; average age 46) finding, not considered in the original

who had happily cohabited for more than research aim, was that an unbridled respect
15 years. Interviewees were asked ten for one's partner is fundamental for a long-
simple questions regarding their attitudes lasting relationship. In the light of the
to the meaning of life. Our results vacuous and aimless nature of Western

revealed that there are six key strategies in society, our findings suggest that the six
an atheist's pursuit of a happy and strategies should be taught in schools as part
meaningful existence: (1) keep everything of children's philosophy or religious
simple, (2) have fun, (3) cultivate a sense education lessons. Comparisons with
of community, (4) delight in the wonder traditional religions revealed no substantial
of nature, (5) find time for creativity, (6) differences in approach, apart from a

help other people through frequent acts of believer's blind faith in a benevolent
kindness. Atheists that implement a omniscient overlord and the promise of an
combination of these six strategies were afterlife (or reincarnation). These
found to be more equipped than other commonalities indicate that traditional
non-believers to deal with the death of religions should attempt to be more
close ones, health problems, fi nancial sympathetic to atheists, and vice versa.
difficulties, and bad luck. Future work will investigate how the promise

of an afterlife may undermine the fulfi llment
of one's true potential on earth.