An abstract:

• Is a condensed version of a full research/innovation description paper. 
• Provides reviewers a brief synopsis of innovation/research purpose, design, findings to date and implications.                                                       
• Focuses on primary issues of why the work was done, how it was/is carried out, what was found, and what the potential implications are.
• Is written clearly with strict adherence to published specifications and format requirements.
• Is proofread carefully.  

Let's take a closer look at each Abstract section and how the following questions should be answered.

• Provide a context or explanation for doing the study/innovation. 
• State the aim of the study/innovation.
• Show relevance of the work to the field.  

• Introduce the design/approach of the study/innovation. 
• State the context in which it was done and who participated.
• Describe how the study/innovation was executed (including data sources and analysis).

• Include key data/outcomes that flow from previous sections and from which you will draw your conclusions.
• Do not include interpretations. 
• Report descriptive data (response rate, final pool of participants), inferential values with p values, functional significance (effect size), and/or emergent themes and sub‐themes, if applicable.
• A table or figure may be included if permitted and it conveys the findings of the study/innovations more effectively than text alone.

• Interpret results.
• State the implications/importance of the results. 
• Relate to the purpose of the study/innovation. 

• Convey as much as possible about context and aims of your study. 
• Alert readers to the overall “take‐home message.” 
• Describe what was investigated/done rather than to state results or conclusions. 
• Don’t use jargon, or unfamiliar acronyms 
• Include key aspects of study/innovation design 

• Use simple declarative sentences; active voice is preferable to passive voice.
• Spell out all but the most commonplace abbreviations or acronyms the first time they appear.
• Re‐read the instructions before printing the final onto the submission form, and to make sure they have been followed to the letter. 
• Avoid grammatical mistakes, misspelled words, or typographical errors.
• Read colleagues’ accepted abstracts and/or published abstracts from recent meetings (if they are available).

• The list of authors should be restricted to those individuals who actually did the study— conceived it, designed it, gathered the data, crunched the numbers, and wrote the abstract. 
• Author lists are rough rank orders of the relative contributions of the persons named, with the exception that the senior author (the mentor) is often listed last. 
• The author listed first is the person who conceived the study and did most of the creative work on the project. With few exceptions, this should be the person who will present the abstract, if it is accepted.

Funds for students, postdocs, and techs are allowed, but faculty salaries are not. Supplies, core services, publication costs, equipment and meeting travel are all allowed. Gift cards are allowable if used/needed as an incentive for conducting human subject research (significant restrictions apply). Projects will be funded up to $1,500 for one year.

Examples: The funds could be used for the following:

1. Supplies
   1. Computer
   2. Office (Printing, Postage, etc.)
   3. Educational (Reference Books, Simulation Supplies, etc.)
2. Publication Expenses
3. Software (for individuals associated with USF)
   1. Subscriptions
   2. Licenses
4. Travel (Fac, Staff, and Students)
   1. Conferences
   2. Registrations
   3. Membership Renewal
5. Pay Distributions
   1. Student Workers, post docs, OPS employees
   2. Staff/Admin
6. Internal USF expenses – Using a Chartfields
   1. Hall Rentals
   2. Ropes Course
   3. Hands on USF Interpreting Services
7. Food for Events