By North Essay Help Editorial Team · Reviewed by a subject specialist (master’s or PhD) · Editorial policy · · Updated
How to Write a Psychology Lab Report Abstract (APA 7 Example)
The abstract is one paragraph that summarizes the whole study: why you did it, what you did, what you found and what it means. Many readers decide from the abstract alone whether to read on, so markers expect it to stand on its own. Write it last, once every other section is finished.
APA 7 notes that abstracts are not typically required for student papers. Most psychology lab report rubrics ask for one anyway, so check your instructions.
APA 7 format rules
- Put the label "Abstract" in bold, centred, on the first line of page 2.
- Write one paragraph, not indented, double-spaced.
- Keep it to 250 words or fewer, unless your instructor sets a different limit. Most lab report rubrics ask for 150 to 250 words.
- If keywords are required, put them one line below the abstract. The label "Keywords:" is in italics and indented like a paragraph. List three to five keywords in lowercase (capitalize proper nouns), separated by commas, with no full stop at the end.
What goes in it, with a word budget
APA's reporting standards list five things an abstract should cover: the objectives and hypotheses, the participants, the method, the findings (with effect sizes and confidence intervals or significance levels) and the conclusions with their implications.
| Part | What to write | Words in a 200-word abstract |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Background and aim | One sentence of context, then the hypothesis | 30 to 40 |
| 2. Participants | How many, who and how they were assigned | 20 to 30 |
| 3. Method | Design, task and measure | 35 to 45 |
| 4. Results | The main finding with its key statistics, then any secondary result | 40 to 55 |
| 5. Conclusion | What the finding suggests, a limitation and what should come next | 30 to 40 |
Example abstract (invented data)
This abstract summarizes the same study used in our Method, Results and Discussion guides. It is about 170 words.
Physical activity has been linked to better memory in some studies. This study tested the hypothesis that undergraduates who walked for 20 minutes before learning a word list would recall more words than undergraduates who sat quietly. Forty-eight undergraduate students (34 women, 13 men, 1 non-binary; age M = 19.8 years) were randomly assigned to walk on an indoor track or to sit quietly for 20 minutes. All participants then studied a list of 20 concrete nouns, completed a 3-minute distractor task and wrote down as many words as they could remember. Participants who walked recalled more words (M = 14.2, SD = 2.8) than participants who sat (M = 12.1, SD = 3.0), t(46) = 2.51, p = .016, d = 0.72. Confidence in recall did not differ between groups. These findings suggest that a short walk before studying may improve immediate recall. Because the sample was small and recall was tested only once, future research should test longer delays and measure mood as a possible explanation.
Keywords: exercise, free recall, memory, physical activity, undergraduate students
Sentence by sentence
| Sentence | Job |
|---|---|
| "Physical activity has been linked to better memory..." | Context. In your own abstract, base this on the studies in your introduction. |
| "This study tested the hypothesis that..." | The aim and the hypothesis, with both variables named |
| "Forty-eight undergraduate students..." | Participants and how they were assigned |
| "All participants then studied a list..." | The task and the measure |
| "Participants who walked recalled more words..." | The main result, with the statistics a reader needs |
| "Confidence in recall did not differ..." | The secondary result, in a few words |
| "These findings suggest..." | The conclusion, using "suggest", not "prove" |
| "Because the sample was small..." | A limitation and the next step |
Mistakes that cost marks
- Writing it first. The abstract summarizes a finished report, so write it last.
- Going over the word limit. Cut background before you cut results.
- Leaving out the results, or writing "the results were significant" with no direction and no numbers.
- Adding anything that is not in the report itself.
- Using abbreviations without defining them.
- Citing sources. Most abstracts do not need citations.
- Writing about the study in the future tense: "this study will examine".
Frequently asked questions
How long should a psychology lab report abstract be?
APA 7 sets a limit of 250 words. Most lab report rubrics ask for 150 to 250 words. If your instructor gives a different limit, follow it.
Do student papers need an abstract in APA 7?
APA says abstracts are not typically required for student papers. Psychology lab reports are a common exception, because they follow the journal article format. Check your assignment instructions.
Should I include statistics in the abstract?
Include the main result with its direction and key statistics if your instructor expects them. APA's reporting standards ask abstracts to report findings with effect sizes and confidence intervals or significance levels.
What tense should an abstract be in?
Use the past tense for what you did and found ("participants recalled more words"), and the present tense for conclusions that still apply ("these findings suggest").
Do I need keywords?
Only if your instructor asks for them. If you include them, list three to five in lowercase on the line below the abstract.
Related guides and tools
- How to write an APA 7 psychology lab report
- How to write a hypothesis for a psychology lab report
- How to write the results section of a psychology lab report
- Word counter with page estimates
- Free APA 7 citation generator
- Psychology assignment help
Sources: APA Style, Abstract and Keywords Guide; American Psychological Association, Journal Article Reporting Standards for Quantitative Research, Table 1.
Examples in this guide are illustrative and the data are invented. Check your course instructions and rubric before you submit.
