The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for research papers in disciplines like psychology, education, and the social sciences. APA style establishes clear guidelines for referencing sources, formatting papers, and proper in-text citations allowing readers to easily trace ideas back to their sources. Before beginning an APA style research paper, it is helpful to understand its key elements and structure.
Title Page
The title page should contain a running head and page number at the top left of the page. The running head is a shortened version of the paper’s title in all capital letters that is no more than 50 characters. The page number should use the “Page 1 of x” format and align with the running head. Near the middle of the page should be the full title of the research paper, author’s name, and affiliation. The affiliation should be the institution where the work is being submitted, e.g. Missouri State University.
Abstract
The abstract, usually appearing immediately after the title page, provides a brief summary of the entire paper. It should be between 150-250 words and written in block format, meaning there is no indentation. The abstract is meant to inform readers about the purpose, hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions of the study in a concise manner. Some key things to include in an APA abstract are the problem being investigated, research participants or materials, major procedures used, key findings or trends discovered, and main implications of the research.
Introduction
The introduction serves to familiarize readers with the topic being investigated and provide relevant background information. It states the problem being examined, hypothesis, and goal or purpose of the study. The introduction should clearly summarize existing research and theories to establish the context and significance of the work. Previous literature related to the variables or phenomena should be discussed. The hypothesis or research question guiding the study should be explicitly stated toward the end of the introduction.
Method
The method section in APA style provides all of the information needed to fully understand and evaluate the study conducted. It typically has subsections describing the research participants or materials used along with key procedures. For research participants, descriptors like age range, gender, and sample size should be included. Details about sampling methods and any restrictions or eligibility criteria are also relevant. When describing materials and apparatus, model numbers and other identifying information may be included. Procedures should be written in past tense and written clearly enough for others to replicate. subsections for design, controls, and measures are common. Precise descriptions of tasks, stimuli, conditions, independent and dependent variables enable readers to critically assess the study. Statistical analyses should also be outlined.
Results
The results section provides a concise and objective summary of the findings of the study without elaborating on their meaning. Data are presented in a logical sequence using tables and figures when appropriate. Statistical tests are described with confidence intervals or effect sizes reported. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, and frequencies are typically shown. Figures and tables should be referenced in text and have titles that are clear without needing to read additional text. Only key results pertaining to the hypotheses should be included here.
Discussion
In the discussion section, research findings are evaluated and interpreted in relation to the original hypotheses and relevant theories. Limitations and unexpected outcomes are addressed along with implications and directions for future research. The discussion section relates the results back to previous research to demonstrate how this study has advanced scientific understanding of the topic. The discussion provides closure by summarizing how the purpose of the study was achieved and linking results back to the study’s significance described in the introduction. Specific suggestions for future research open possibilities for further progress in the field.
References
All sources referenced in the text must be listed alphabetically by the first author’s last name in the references section. References follow a specific format based on the type of work. For books, this includes author(s), publication year, title, publisher, and URL or DOI if a digital source. For journal articles, this includes author(s), publication year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers. If sources lack certain details, provide as much information as available. The reference list should have a hanging indent where the second and subsequent lines are indented half an inch from the margin.
Other Considerations
There are formatting guidelines regarding font, spacing, page margins, and headings to follow. The preferred font is Times New Roman size 12. Text should be double-spaced except for the abstract which is single-spaced. One-inch margins are standard on all sides. Section headings like Introduction and Method are centered and not bolded or underlined, while subheadings are formatted asbold, left-justified, and ending with a period. Any charts, figures, or other graphics should also follow specific APA rules. Careful formatting and proofreading ensures research is presented professionally following the expectations of the style.
Adhering to APA style formatting and referencing guidelines ensures a consistent and standardized presentation for research. The prescribed structure helps establish credibility by demonstrating the study logically follows a well-established framework. Readers can easily navigate between sections and determine how each component relates to the hypothesis, conclusions drawn, and implications. Authors can demonstrate academic rigor and respect for previous investigators in the field. Careful construction of each section from title page through references allows for optimal clarity and evaluation of the experimental methodology, findings, and their significance. Consistent use of APA style provides a common language for communication of psychological and social science research across disciplines.
Andrew Stroud