An abstract is a summary of the key points of a dissertation written to give readers an overview of its contents and encourage them to read further. It is important because professors often decide whether to read a dissertation based on its abstract. A good abstract creates a good impression and makes professors more likely to read the entire dissertation carefully. It briefly describes the topic, problem statement, research methodology, sample size, results, and significance of the research. The abstract should provide all this information concisely and clearly in a manner that grabs attention and persuades readers to explore the full dissertation.