Which aspect of a research article typically includes a summary of the study's purposes and main findings?

The abstract of a research article serves as a concise summary of the study, encapsulating its primary purposes and key findings. This section is designed to give readers a quick overview of what the research entails, including the rationale behind it, the methods used, and the conclusions drawn. By summarizing these elements, the abstract allows readers to determine the relevance of the study to their own interests without requiring them to delve into the entire paper.

In contrast, the introduction typically outlines the background of the research, the problem being addressed, and the specific research questions but does not summarize findings. The discussion section interprets the results, explores their implications, and places them within the context of existing literature, but again, it does not provide a succinct overview of the entire study. References serve as a list of sources cited in the study and do not summarize the research itself.