What is an abstract?

An abstract must describe the 'who, what, where, why, how' of the data, making reference to relevant legislation, programmes, as well as the spatial and temporal parameters of the data.

Abstract style guide

A metadata abstract should be complete in and of itself; that is, it should be able to serve as a stand-alone description which provides a complete picture of the resource.

The following structure is recommended when creating a dataset or dataset collection activity abstract:

• What: A description of what has been recorded and what form the data takes. This should immediately convey to the reader precisely what the resource is. The abstract should describe the dataset rather than describing your project as a whole
• Where: A description of the spatial coverage
• When: The period over which data were collected
• How: A brief description of methodology, detailed methodology and quality information should be entered into the Lineage element
• Why: For what purpose was the data collected? And who is likely to find the data useful?
• Who: The party/parties responsible for the collection and interpretation of data.
• Completeness: Are any data absent from the dataset? Explain which data are included or excluded and why. What there any processing of the data, or is it the raw format?

Helpful tips

• If you can't easily summarise or describe the resource then it won't be understood by others.
• Avoid the use of abbreviations or acronyms.
• Describe the dataset rather than describing your project as a whole.
• Expand on the elements of your title with one sentence for each: location, data type, and time period.

Below are some examples of abstracts:

Example of a Dataset Abstract:

This dataset contains data from a marine multibeam and geophysical survey which took place in June 2011 in the Ardmucknish Bay area on board the BGS survey vessel RV White Ribbon. The survey was carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS) in collaboration with Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and National Oceanography Centre (NOC). QICS (Quantifying and monitoring potential ecosystem impacts of geological carbon storage) was a scientific research project funded by National Environmental Research Council (NERC). The purpose was to collect the data necessary to identify a potential directional drilling route from shore to a submerged gas release point. Sea floor bathymetry data were collected using an EM3002D. Sub bottom seismic profiling data were collected using a surface tow boomer. Technical details of the survey are contained in the BGS Report of Survey. Webpage www.bgs.ac.uk/QICS/

Example of incomplete abstract:

ROV / CTD survey in the North Atlantic Ocean

Example of complete abstract for a collection activity/survey:

This three week research survey led by National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) took place on board the Marine Institute's R.V. Celtic Explorer in June/July 2013 in the North East Atlantic Ocean.

The Biodiscovery and Ecosystem Function of Canyons Survey investigated a wide diversity of habitats and underwater communities in the Whittard Canyon system on the Irish Atlantic margin. Whittard Canyon is one of many subsea canyons that incise the eastern margin of the North Atlantic. The research team used the Marine Institute’s Deepwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Holland 1, to collect to specimens of coral, sponges, sediment samples and other marine organisms.

This research survey was carried out under the Sea Change strategy with the support of the Marine Institute and the Marine Research Sub-programme of the National Development Plan 2007–2013 to investigate submarine canyons as potential hotspots for biodiversity.