Abstract submission – Guidance for Authors

Welcome to the SRR abstract guidance document. We look forward to hearing about your work and hopefully including it at a SRR meeting. Please follow the guidance below carefully.
Please note: Due to the rescheduling of this conference, only Poster and Work in Progress Presentations will be accepted. Number restrictions also apply.

Thank you for submitting your work to the SRR and good luck with your submission.

Key Dates:

Abstract submission deadline: 29.02.2024
Notification to presenters: W/C 11.03.2024
Successful poster submission deadline: 05.04.2024

Conference date: 29.04.2024

Submit your abstract here

Downloadable PDF Abstract Submission Guidance Document

Secure your place today

1. All abstracts – Guidance for authors

Introduction

Authors wishing to present original research to the Society, either as an oral or poster presentation, should prepare an abstract that provides sufficient information to allow the SRR reviewers to assess the merits of the work. Abstract selection is rigorous in order to maintain the high standard expected of the SRR and to ensure that the programme reflects the multidisciplinary nature and wide-ranging interests of the Society.

There are two types of abstracts:

1. ‘Completed Project’ abstracts on projects that have been completed. The expectation is that results/ findings will be included.

2. ‘Work in Progress’ abstracts on projects that are still underway. Any stage is eligible for submission, from concept through to preliminary findings. There is no expectation that results/findings are included. If an abstract in this category does include a full set of results/findings however, it is assumed to have been completed and will be reviewed as a ‘Completed Project’ abstract instead.

Requirements for all abstracts
• Topic: all abstracts must:
1. focus on a topic in the field of rehabilitation, and
2. either present research, service evaluation, or quality improvement. Abstracts on audit are not eligible for submission. Please refer to the following resource for the relevant definitions: http://www.hra-decisiontools.org.uk/research/docs/DefiningResearchTable_Oct2017-1.pdf

• Method: abstracts are welcomed on quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods studies, service evaluation and also quality improvement projects.

• Word limit: The maximum length for any type of abstract is 256 words. The word count is automatically calculated and is the sum of words entered in the submission box including the six headings of ‘Background, Method, Results/Findings, Discussion and Conclusion’. Please note that the electronic form counts each word separated by a space as a separate word. For example, if the standard deviation is 10, SD = 10 will be counted as three words; SD=10 will be counted as one word. Therefore, when reporting data it is advised to avoid the use of spaces (unless this causes confusion).

• Governance approvals: it is the responsibility of the author(s) to ensure that appropriate approvals (including Research Ethics) will be/have been obtained to conduct research or service evaluation in clinical or other environments.

• Submission: abstracts should be submitted electronically using the website ‘submit for current meeting’ page.

Eligibility for full SRR membership

Eligibility for Full membership of the SRR is open to the first author of an oral or poster presentation of a completed project, provided they have presented the paper/ poster and answered questions.

Eligibility for publication in Clinical Rehabilitation

Accepted abstracts on completed projects are eligible for publication in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation.

2. Completed Project abstracts – Guidance for authors

Completed Project abstracts are eligible to be presented either as a poster, or as an oral. The SRR places equal value on poster and oral presentations, and authors should be aware that if their abstract is awarded a poster presentation, this does not imply lower quality than an oral presentation (and vice versa).

The abstract is the only means by which the completed project is assessed. The submitted abstract text should be presented as follows and include the section headings ‘Background, Method, Results/Findings, Discussion and Conclusion’. The word count has been adjusted to 256 to allow for these headings (six words). Please structure it in this way and include the following information:

• Title of the project (this section does not contribute to the word count)

• Author name(s) (this section does not contribute to the word count). Please note that in the case of multiple authorship, the first named author should be the person who will present the paper/ poster and answer questions.

• Institutional affiliation of the author(s) (this section does not contribute to the word count).

• Background: A brief rationale (why the study was undertaken) and a clear research question/ project aims/objectives.

• Method: abstracts are welcomed on quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods studies, service evaluation and also quality improvement projects. They should include the study design, and an outline of the method (who was involved, and how the study was done) and the population and any sampling.

• Results/ Findings: A summary of the main results/ findings and, where applicable, statistical analysis should be reported. Statements to the effect that “The results will be presented and discussed” are not acceptable for ‘Completed Project’ abstracts.

• Discussion and Conclusion: a succinct summary of key findings, justified by the results/findings presented, and any important implications (e.g. for practice/ research/ education/policy, as appropriate).

• References are not required. Tables are rarely, if ever, appropriate in an abstract.

Council recognises that comprehensive communication within the word limit poses a challenge. Therefore, whilst the key areas to be included within abstracts are set out above, it is recognised that not every area has to be covered comprehensively. If accepted for presentation, authors have the opportunity present more detailed information on study methodology, and empirical data to allow judgement of understanding of the methodological rigour, and of the conclusions drawn.

3. Work in Progress abstracts – Guidance for Authors

Work in Progress abstracts can only be presented in poster format.

• Title of the project (this section does not contribute to the word count)

• Institutional affiliation of the author(s) (this section does not contribute to the word count).

• Background: A brief rationale (why the study was undertaken) and a clear research question/ project aims/objectives.

• Results/ Findings: if preliminary findings are available, please include these (stating that these are preliminary).

• Discussion/ Conclusion: please outline the next steps for this project.

• References are not required. Tables are rarely, if ever, appropriate in an abstract.

4. Verna Wright prizes for best poster and best oral presentation

The Verna Wright Prize is awarded to the best oral and poster presentation on a completed project during the year (if two meetings are held during a single year, then this will be judged over two meetings) by a paid up Associate member. The recipients receive £150.00 each. In order to be considered for the prize, non-members whose Completed Project abstracts are accepted for presentation must join the SRR as an Associate Member before the meeting.

More information about the Verna Wright prize may be found here

There is no additional abstract guidance for authors eligible for the VW prize; please refer to the Completed Project Abstracts guidance above.

Abstract Submission Guidance 2024