What should my abstract include?

Please take care when writing your abstract for Sage Open. Potential peer reviewers will use your abstract to decide whether they want to work on your article. A strong abstract helps us recruit relevant reviewers in a timely manner. Then, once your article is published, your abstract will help readers find your article and decide whether and how to incorporate it in their own research. Consider the following:

Length: Your abstract should be concise. The 7th Edition of the APA Publication Manual recommends a 250-word limit for abstracts. While Sage Open does not currently enforce this limit, we encourage our authors to keep it in mind as a benchmark.

Content: Your abstract should offer a clear and comprehensive summary of your article. Please specify the problem under investigation, how your study builds upon similar research, what methods or theoretical framework guided your research, and what your findings, conclusions, and limitations are. Please specify how your findings can inform future research and be careful not to overstate the significance of your research. Be as specific and accurate as possible.

Language: Use shorter sentences and active voice where possible. Use relevant keywords throughout your abstract, especially words that indicate the location, methods, and themes of your research. Here are examples of how to use keywords in your abstract. At the same time, be mindful of how you use jargon. Sage Open is a global and interdisciplinary journal. If your abstract is only written for specialists in your field, you may limit the impact of your research.

For more information, please see our in-depth Author Guidelines: https://journals.sagepub.com/page/sgo/help/authorguide