The thesis defence is a long process that involves passing through several stages. In addition to the fact that the candidate of scientific degree must conduct the research and formalise its results, he/she must also prepare a number of accompanying documents, among which is the abstract. In this article, we will discuss what requirements for writing a dissertation abstract exist in Moldova, and give recommendations that will help you avoid common mistakes.
What is a dissertation abstract, and why is it needed?
Dissertation abstract – is a special document that contains key information about the thesis. In fact, it can be called a ‘business card’ of the research, as it helps the dissertation committee to understand what your research paper is about.
It is worth noting that in Moldova, the abstract is a mandatory document, without which you may not be admitted to the defence. As in the case of dissertations for the degree of Doctor of Habilitat and Doctor of Sciences, the abstract must also comply with a number of requirements prescribed in the Regulation No. 239 on the functioning of specialised academic councils and the awarding of academic degrees, as well as scientific and scientific-pedagogical titles in the Republic of Moldova. In the following, we will examine them in detail.
Requirements for the dissertation abstract of a doctoral dissertation
Volume:
- should not exceed 1 author's sheet (an author's sheet is a unit of text volume measurement that is used in scientific papers. 1 author's page = 22-25 A4 pages );
- includes a summary of the thesis in three languages: Romanian, Russian and English (up to one page in each language).
Content:
The main task of the abstract is to present clearly and concisely the main ideas, results and conclusions of the thesis. The abstract should necessarily reflect the author's contribution to the research, including the formulation of objectives, choice of methods, analysis of data and interpretation of results.
Particular attention should be paid to the scientific novelty of the study - that is, those data that were not previously known in science. In addition, it is necessary to indicate the practical significance of the obtained conclusions and developments, as well as to designate the place of the study in the context of national and international science.
Publication:
- About 40 copies are published by decision of the specialised scientific council.
Requirements for the dissertation abstract of the habilitated doctor dissertation
Volume:
- should not exceed 2 author's sheets;
- includes a summary of the thesis in three languages: Romanian, Russian and English (up to one page in each language).
Content:
As far as the content is concerned, it is absolutely the same as the abstract for a PhD thesis. It also needs to indicate:
- main ideas, results and conclusions of the thesis;
- scientific contribution of the author, including the creation of new directions in science;
- scientific novelty and applied value;
- place of the work in the national and world scientific context.
Publication:
- about 40 copies are published by decision of the specialised academic council.
How to write a thesis abstract: recommendations for authors
Despite the fact that the National Accreditation and Attestation Council clearly regulates the requirements for writing an abstract, quite often researchers make common mistakes. In the writing process, it is necessary to avoid:
- Vague formulations of the goal and objectives: the goal of your work should be specific, and the tasks you set for yourself - logically related to it and reflect the stages of the research. For example, instead of the phrase ‘to study the problem’ you can use the wording ‘to develop a model to solve a specific problem’.
- Overloaded text or insufficient informativeness: excessive amount of information, or, conversely, too brief presentation of the material negatively affect the quality of the abstract. To avoid this, add only the information that helps to reveal the essence of your work.
- Vaguely formulated scientific novelty: this aspect is one of the key aspects, because it is scientific novelty that demonstrates how your dissertation differs from other studies in your scientific discipline.
- Formal practical relevance: it is necessary to indicate specific applications of the results obtained.
- Violations of structure and logic: the abstract should follow the established structure (relevance, content, results) with an even distribution of text volume on all key elements. For example, the research methodology cannot take up half of the abstract, and the results - only one paragraph.
We also advise you to read our articles, in the requirements for writing a dissertation for the degree of doctor of sciences and habilitated doctor in Moldova.
The dissertation abstract is one of the key documents, without which the applicant will not be allowed to defend the dissertation. In order to avoid common mistakes, it is necessary to follow our recommendations, as well as to adhere to the regulated structure.
However, it also should be considered that another mandatory condition for admission to the thesis defence is the availability of publications on the relevant subject in the Scopus or Web of Science databases. If you have difficulties with this process, the company "Scientific Publications" is ready to help you with it. Our experts will give you a free consultation and will accompany you at all stages of work up to the direct publication in the journal. To learn more, fill out the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Together to new scientific achievements!
