Abstract Submission

  Abstract Submission Form (PDF Version)

Abstract Submission Form (RTF Version)

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION AND PRESENTATION OF ABSTRACTS

1. Please use the Abstract Submission Form for each abstract. You should submit your abstract electronically (as a Microsoft Word document) to the abstract secretary by the advertised deadline.
   
   
2. The test of an Abstract must be typed in > 12 point type-size with single line spacing; PLEASE USE THE SAMPLE FORMAT PROVIDED. The Society regrets that Figures cannot be accepted.
   
   
3. Where appropriate the abstract should:
   
   
   1. indicate clearly that ethical committee approval was obtained;
      
      
   2. include numerical data; if presented as mean values, such must include the standard deviation or standard error; n values should also be given;
      
      
   3. specify which statistical tests were used;
      
      
   4. include, where possible, only those abbreviations accepted in the field (new abbreviations should be explained within the text);
      
      
   5. include succinct descriptions of the methods used and clear descriptions of the results and conclusions.
      
      
4. Please note that if the Meetings Secretary or Committee members note deficiencies in the submitted abstract, the authors may be requested to amend the abstract prior to the Meeting.
   
   
5. Acceptance of the abstract for publication is dependent upon successful communication to the Society. The Society may request resubmission of a revised abstract prior to such publication.
   
   
6. Oral Communications must not exceed 10 minutes; up to 5 minutes question time is allowed. It is recommended that not more than 6 slides are shown and these do not include excessive amounts of data. In respect of the latter, it is recommended that graphs should contain not more than three curves and that tables are a maximum of 4 columns wide.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

1. Members wishing to present original work to the Society, either as Papers or as Posters, should prepare an Abstract which provides sufficient information to allow the Council to assess the merits of the study. Selection of Abstracts is competitive. We would like to draw members' attention to the fact that though a number of papers may be presented on one project, each paper can only be presented as original work if the data in this format has not been presented elsewhere. This is especially important when abstract are published.
   
   
2. Members are asked to adhere to the following guidelines when preparing Abstracts for submission. Failure to do so will result in the abstract being rejected.
   
   
3. Each Abstract (two copies) should be typed on one sheet of A4 paper. The Abstract must not exceed 300 words.
   
   At the top of the page there should be:
   
   
   1. a title (in capital letters);
      
      
   2. name/s of author/s. Please note that in cases of multiple authorship the person who will be presenting the Paper or answering questions on a Poster presentation should be the first-named author;
      
      
   3. the name and location of the institution/s at which the author/s works.
      
      
4. The Abstract is the only means by which a proposed Paper or Poster is assessed, and should be complete in itself. Within the word limitation it should include:
   
   
   1. a brief introduction or rationale (why the study was undertaken);
      
      
   2. an outline of research method (how the study was done);
      
      
   3. a summary of main results (what was found);
      
      
   4. conclusions (what consequences follow, eg implications for practice).
      
      
   Abstract may be submitted electronically as an alternative to a hard copy. In this case they should follow the same format as described above, be virus checked, and be submitted as a Word file to the abstract secretary.
   
   
5. Abstracts form a main channel of communication and have two principal uses:
   
   
   1. they represent the means by which work is assessed for formal presentation to the Society;
      
      
   2. on publication, they comprise an important part of the public record of the Society's scientific activities.
      
      
6. 1. The review process comprises two stages:
   
   
   1. Assessment and selection of Abstracts for presentation at a Scientific Meeting.
      
      All Abstracts are seen and assessed by all members of the Executive Committee, who comprise the adjudication panel. A criteria grading system is used to judge to abstract, and its acceptability for the proposed meeting. If an Abstract is judged to be unacceptable by the adjudication panel, it will be rejected. However, if an Abstract is judged acceptable, either as it stands, or subject to amendment to be made before presentation, it will be considered for presentation as a Paper or Poster at the next meeting of the Society. If the adjudication process yields more acceptable papers than there are opportunities for presentation in the programme for a particular scientific meeting - they will be held over until the next meeting. All correspondents submitting Abstracts for consideration are informed about the results of adjudication including, where appropriate, any reasons for rejection or required amendments.
      
      
   2. Evaluation of the paper as presented at the Scientific Meeting.
      
      Members of the Executive Committee also have a duty to see that the abstract is a true and accurate representation of the paper presented. If there are inaccuracies or major differences between the two, the abstract may have to be withdrawn from the proceedings if they cannot be resolved.

July 2001