Abstract Guidelines 

Student Conference delegates are invited to submit abstracts within the following sport and exercise science themes:

  • Biomechanics and Motor Behaviour
  • Physiology and Nutrition
  • Psychology
  • Sport and Performance
  • Physical Activity for Health

Studies using qualitative and/or quantitative methods and/or with results pending are acceptable.

Two presentation formats are available:

  • Free communication presentation- a 10-minute presentation of your work followed by questions, in a Chaired session with other presenters. For programming reasons, slots for free communication presentations are limited and preference will be given to those demonstrating excellence in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
  • Poster presentation- your poster will be displayed with others and the times you will be available to discuss your work with delegates will be published in the programme.


Submissions close (deadline) - 6 March 2024 at 5pm

Abstract Preparation Guidelines

Important:

  • Please read the “Abstract format guidelines” (below) before completing your submission.
  • Please prepare your abstract using the template that can be found here.
  • An example of an abstract submission can be found here.

Abstract format guidelines:

The following guidelines are designed to assist authors prepare their abstracts. Because of the differences across research methods, there is no one prescribed format for an abstract. Authors are encouraged to use a format most appropriate for the methods used.

Abstracts should be no more than 400 words, containing no tables or figures, sub-headings or paragraph breaks. Word counts are calculated using the word count tool in Word. Abstract title, authors and institutions are not considered in calculating the wordage.

Some important style points include:

  • The font should be Arial size 12.
  • British English spelling and punctuation is preferred.
  • Please use double quotation marks, except where “a quotation is ‘within’ a quotation”.
  • Present dates as 16 December 2015.
  • Abbreviations, units and symbols should conform to Systeme International d’unites (SI units).
  • For all abbreviations other than units, write the word or words to be abbreviated in full on the first mention followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
  • Avoid the use of non-standard abbreviations within the text.
  • Statistical abbreviations should, normally, be italicised (e.g. t, P< 0.05). Use capital and italic “P” for p values; use “years” not “yrs”; use “min”, “h”, “s” for minutes, hours, seconds.
  • References must be kept to an absolute minimum and must be used only if essential. When used, any references must be incorporated into the text of the abstract. The required style of referencing for abstracts is shown in the referencing tab below.

It is anticipated that most abstracts will follow the format of:

A title that should be concise and reflect the work being described. Only the first word begins with a capital letter, unless a proper noun is used.

Author names and affiliations, formatted as per the example abstract. Please also provide an email for the corresponding author and a Twitter handle here if they wish for it to be associated with the paper.

A brief introduction in which the authors need to present the theoretical and/or empirical framework that the study builds upon, or is related to.

All research should have an aim/purpose, which should outline the principal objectives and scope of the study. For a quantitative research design that tests a specific hypothesis, it might be: “Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of A on B”. It should be emphasised that the authors are encouraged to state the purpose of the work concisely and if the purpose was exploratory, then this should be stated.

The methods section describes how sample sizes were determined and how data were collected and analysed so that other researchers could repeat the research. Please use the term ‘participants’ (not ‘subjects’). There needs to be a statement indicating that ethical approval was granted. For example, “With institutional ethics approval…”. Metrics by which outcomes of analyses are to be evaluated should be stated. Preferred metrics are effect sizes or confidence intervals of differences/change rather than probabilities.

Authors must provide a clear explanation of their results and are encouraged to use the most appropriate format to do this. Quantitative researchers should report effect sizes and P values (e.g., P = 0.048). P < 0.01 is appropriate for values exceeding 3 decimal places (e.g., P = 0.000021). The number of decimal places a P value is reported to depends on the statistical analysis undertaken and what is being measured and its meaningfulness. Thus an author could report P values to 2 and 3 decimal places in the same abstract, but in different analyses. Qualitative researchers are encouraged to use themes and /or quotations to illustrate their findings. Please note: we encourage submissions from ongoing projects which will be completed by the conference – prepare your abstract with expected results and/or identified trends (there will be an opportunity to update this before your abstract is published).

In the conclusion authors must conclude the relevance of their findings in relation to existing knowledge. This could be theory, research, and/or practice. Authors are encouraged to provide clear recommendations on the value of their work and reflect on the extent to which findings relate to one or more educational, professional development or applied issues for sport and exercise scientists. The concluding sentence should provide a clear "so-what?" i.e. a statement of how knowledge has been advanced or practice should be changed.

Referencing

Referencing must follow the APA reference guide provided at:

www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=rjsp20&page=instructions

The following are examples illustrating the referencing method to be used.

  • The equipment necessary for trauma care was listed in an EAP. (Young, L. and Trevail, T., 2016, In K. Ward (Ed.) Routledge Handbook of Sports Therapy, Injury Assessment and Rehabilitation (pp. 224-294). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge). [This illustrates the citation of a paper or chapter in a book].
  • A 1% treadmill grade was used, after the recommendations of Jones and Doust (1996, Journal of Sports Sciences, 14, 321-327). Our findings were similar to those previously reported (e.g. Jones & Doust, 1996). [This illustrates the first and second citations of a journal paper].
  • Gait efficiency was defined as ... (Perry and Burnfield, 2010, Gait Analysis: Normal and Pathological Function, 2ndNew Jersey: Slack Incorporated). [This illustrates the citation of a book].
  • The differences between groups for the nine release parameters from Bestet al. ([1993]. Journal of Sports Sciences, 11, 315-328) ... [This illustrates the citation of a source, here a journal paper, with more than two authors].

Abstract Submission Guidelines

**Please refer to the “abstract preparation guidelines”, above, before submission.**

  1. All abstracts should be submitted as per the instructions provided by the BASES Student Conference host institution.
  2. On the submission email the presenting author, on behalf of all the authors, needs to declare that the material submitted is original and unpublished, and that it is not under consideration for presentation elsewhere. The email should also indicate FREE COMMUNICATION or POSTER COMMUNICATION preference and undergraduate/postgraduate status of the first author.
  3. All accepted abstracts will be published in an ‘Abstract Book’ available to all delegates attending the conference. 
  4. Abstracts will be accepted with results pending as long as they are received by the deadline date. There will be an opportunity to update abstract results before publication. 

Abstracts will be reviewed and authors will be notified of one of the following decisions:

1. Accept
2. Accept with minor amends

Number of submissions from each person and research team:

Please note - to assist with programming, each person is only permitted to submit an abstract as first named author for one free communication presentation and one poster presentation. Normally only two abstracts from any one research group may be presented.

The authors must indicate their preferred format presentation (although the organising committee cannot guarantee inclusion of the abstract in the requested format).

The first named author must present the abstract.

Presenters must pay the delegate fee for the conference.


Guidelines for Free Communications and Poster Presentations

About BASES

BASES stands for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. BASES is the professional body for sport and exercise sciences in the UK.

Contact us
  • Rooms G07 and G08 Fairfax Hall, Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus. Headingley, Leeds LS6 3QT
  • 07838 153258