What Is A Lay Summary?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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‘A lay summary is

a brief summary of a research project or a research proposal that has been written for members of the public

, rather than researchers or professionals. It should be written in plain English, avoid the use of jargon and explain any technical terms that have to be included. ‘

What is a lay summary example?

Real example lay summary 1


“He’s not the man I married…he used to be so calm.” “Every little thing seems to make me angry.” “I’m afraid to leave the children with him.” I am a neurologist

, and these words are directly from my patients with severe head injuries and their families.

How do you write a lay summary?

  1. Predict and cover the “so what?” factor – justify your research.
  2. Give some background and context to the research. …
  3. Follow a logical order. …
  4. Explain the impact of the work – what is going to change (especially in relation to wider society)?

What is a patient lay summary?

A layperson summary is just that,

a document which clearly shares key information about a clinical trial in easy to understand language

. These summaries are designed to improve data transparency making it simpler and easier for anyone without a medical background to find out more about our clinical trials.

What should a lay abstract include?

  • Context: Why are you doing the research? …
  • Aims: State clearly the aims and objectives for a lay audience. …
  • Strategy: Describe clearly what you are actually going to do throughout the project.

How do you write a short summary?

  1. Find the main idea. A useful summary distills the source material down to its most important point to inform the reader. …
  2. Keep it brief. A summary is not a rewrite—it’s a short summation of the original piece. …
  3. Write without judgment. …
  4. Make sure it flows.

How do you write in a nutshell?

A nutshell is a kind of summary. In one sentence, you write the most important idea or part of a topic. You can write nutshell

summaries in your notebook or learning log during class or after important lessons

.

How do you write a plain English summary?

  1. avoid wherever possible using jargon, abbreviations and technical terms – if you have to use them provide a clear explanation.
  2. avoid complicated English or uncommon words.
  3. use active not passive phrases, for example say ‘we will do it’ rather than ‘it will be done by us’
  4. keep sentences short.

Is an abstract a summary?

An abstract is

a short summary of your (published or unpublished)

research paper, usually about a paragraph (c. … an abstract prepares readers to follow the detailed information, analyses, and arguments in your full paper; and, later, an abstract helps readers remember key points from your paper.

Do you put references in a summary?


Summaries should summarize the work/report

and anyone reading the summary will not need to go to references to check on sources since those are given in the report itself. I can see exceptions from this if one or two references are key to the report by for example, being ground-breaking or by being in conflict.

What is a plain language summary?

What is a plain language summary? A Plain Language Summary is an

incredibly effective science communication tool

that allows researchers to reach a wider audience by summarizing their work in terms that are accessible to people outside of a specific scientific circle.

How do you write a lay person?

  1. Present extensive background information in your introduction.
  2. Organize information from the familiar to the unfamiliar.
  3. Simplify information to the level sufficient for the audience’s purpose in using the document.
  4. Explain all technical terms.

What is lay language?

This is why we sometimes request things to be communicated in “lay language,” meaning

simple

, everyday terms that a layperson can understand.

How do you write a layperson paper?

Your layperson summary should include (1) why the study was proposed (background) (2) the reason for conducting the study (rationale and objectives), and (3) the expected outcomes (benefits) for conducting the study. The text should be written in

an easily readable style

.

What is a lay audience?

The “lay” audience has no special or expert knowledge.

They connect with the human interest aspect of articles

. They usually need background information; they expect more definition and description; and they may want attractive graphics or visuals.

How do you write an abstract?

  1. Write the paper first. …
  2. Provide introductory background information that leads into a statement of your aim. …
  3. Briefly describe your methodology. …
  4. Clearly describe the most important findings of your study.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.