The research findings are summarized in a lay summary, which, in an understandable simple writing fashion, allows the wider audience to understand the work easily. In bringing the gap between not-so-simple research work and non-specialist readers, it allows them to have a preview of the purpose of the research is, key findings, and real-world implications. Researchers can foster inclusion, promote wider engagement, and influence public policy by making the published study open to a broader audience. Writing a lay summary in simple, compelling ways goes a long way in not only ensuring that it becomes visible but also more comprehensible and usable for journalists, policymakers, and people around the world.
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10 Essential tips for writing an effective lay summary
A lay summary of a scientific paper does not have to be difficult to write. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when writing a lay summary.
1. Identify your audience
Before you start crafting your lay summary, think about your audience and use their vocabulary. The result will be that your lay summary will be more appealing and relevant to the reader whether they are policymakers, patients, or members of the public.
2. Keep it simple but informative
Simplicity is key to an effective lay summary, so avoid jargon and technical terms that may confuse your audience. Consider telling a story rather than presenting scientific data, and focus on conveying your research’s core message straightforwardly.
3. Highlight the importance
Explain how the practical implications of your findings address relevant problems or extend knowledge in your field. The more clearly you can explain why your work matters, the more your readers will remain interested in what you are finding.
4. Logical structure
A lay summary should lead your reader through your research in a logical, step-by-step manner. Include in your lay summary: the problem you were trying to solve with your research; details about your methodology and critical findings; and any implications and potential applications of your research.
5. Provide contextual information
Do not assume that any reader is familiar with the concepts you discuss; therefore, provide as much context and background information as possible so that the readers will be able to understand your research without getting buried in technical jargon.
6. Employ interesting examples
Analogies or real-life scenarios help your readers understand complex concepts and appreciate the relevance of your research. Thus, include relatable examples when composing a lay summary.
7. Highlight the benefits
Highlight what your study will bring about in terms of benefits, improving life or helping to advance society, and how it will impact practical applications for readers to connect with.
8. Putting it all together
Use subheads, bullet points and illustrations, tables, or graphs to present data quickly. Use the most compelling headline or opening and use a conversational tone in composing the lay summary.
9. Seek peer review
Ask a colleague or friend in another discipline to read your lay summary. Their responses can give you an idea of whether your summary is able to communicate the ‘so what’ of your research to broader audiences.
10. Proofread and edit
Lastly, ensure there is proofreading and editing to strengthen the phrase, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Writing should, therefore be very clear and free from errors so that the research would be taken credibly.
Abstract vs. Lay Summaries
Abstracts and lay summaries are often confused with each other even by. While both are meant to convey research findings, they exist for entirely different purposes and audiences.
Abstracts are an overview of a research project written for a group of scholars and experts interested in that specific field of study. When trying to explain the relevance of the research topic, an abstract usually comprises complex concepts and technical terms. Researchers use an abstract to outline and highlight their objectives, approach, and findings. Researchers outline and highlight what they aim for, how they propose to do it, and in what way results would emanate from an abstract. Abstracts provide an overview of the research paper that enables readers to grasp its ideas quickly and decide whether it is relevant to their areas of interest. An abstract typically is more detailed and lengthy than a lay summary.
On the other hand, lay summaries present an explanation of a research project in layman’s terms. It is written generally for a bigger audience, thereby including nonacademics and experts from other fields. First and foremost, the key aim of a lay summary is to make the research findings accessible to those who are not experts in the subject matter by using analogies to clarify concepts. They impress with the practical relevance of the research findings in a concise, striking manner.
Although lay summaries and abstracts have differences, when written in a well way, they are indeed fantastic tools to be used to attract readership for your work and make it more visible.
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Final Words
Lay summaries are an essential component in the publication process of many journals, particularly when targeted to select audiences; for example, they could include the teacher for journals focused on education research or the clinician for journals focused on medical research. In this way, the results of the most recent research could be communicated to stakeholders who need to understand the latest research on the topic even though they are not experts in the research community.
