APA Research Paper Example According to 6th Edition Guidelines
This article presents an example of a research paper written according to the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) 6th edition, including a title page, abstract, formatting concerns for the entire paper, in-text citations, and references section. While this example features an assignment on obesity, you can modify it to fit your own research paper requirements.
Title Page
The title page introduces the reader to the topic of the paper and includes key information about the research. The APA title page must include:
-A concise yet descriptive title that indicates what the paper is about
-The author’s name without degrees or titles
-The institutional affiliation, which is usually the college or university where the author is enrolled
-An author’s note providing acknowledgments or contact information is optional
Abstract
The abstract, located on page 2, is a single paragraph, no longer than 250 words, that briefly describes the research topic and findings. It summarizes key points from the paper without providing evaluation or conclusions. The abstract is not indented but formatted as a block of text.
Obesity is a Growing Problem in the United States
John Doe
Anthropic
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has more than doubled in the last 30 years according to the CDC. This research paper examines existing literature on obesity trends, causes, and health consequences, as well as preventative efforts and potential solutions to mitigate the rising rates. The findings suggest obesity poses major public health risks due to its link to chronic diseases and premature death. Environmental and genetic factors contribute to obesity, yet prevention requires public policy adjustments, community design changes, and individual behavior modifications. More research is needed to combat this crisis.
Paper Formatting
The entire paper is double-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides in Times New Roman 12-point font following APA style. Page numbers are placed in the upper right-hand corner on each page. Headings are used to organize sections:
Level 1 Heading
Centered, Boldface, Title Case Heading
Text follows on a new line.
Level 2 Heading
Flush Left, Boldface, Title Case Heading
Text follows on a new line.
Indent any headings below Level 2 five spaces from the left margin:
Level 3 Heading
Indented, boldface, sentence case heading ending with a period. Text follows on the same line.
In-Text Citations
Any outside sources used within the body of the paper are cited using the author-date citation method. This tells the reader the source of the cited information while also providing a reference for that source in the reference list. In-text citations include the last name of the author(s) and year:
(Smith, 2020)
If the author’s name is mentioned within the sentence, only the year is needed:
Smith (2020) found that…
References Section
At the end of the paper, a References page in a new page lists all the in-text citations alphabetically by the author’s last name. This provides full publication details for sources so readers can locate them. Each reference follows APA style formatting guidelines:
Smith, J. (2020). Title of source. Publisher. https://doi.org/9999
Sample APA Paper on Obesity Prevalence, Causes, Consequences
The paper below uses the formatting and citation guidelines described above to examine the topic of obesity prevalence, causes, and health consequences in the United States. It serves as an example of how to write an APA research paper using proper structure and style. Feel free to modify the content to suit your own paper requirements:
Obesity in America: Understanding Prevalence, Causes, and Consequences
John Doe
Anthropic
Abstract
This paper examines the rising rates of obesity in the United States, identifying causes, risks, and potential solutions. Existing literature on obesity trends, environmental and genetic factors, chronic disease linkages, and prevention methods are reviewed. Findings suggest a multifaceted health crisis requiring policy adjustments, design changes, and individual behavior modifications to address fundamental contributors. More research can aid the mitigation of obesity’s detrimental consequences.
Obesity in America
Obesity rates in the United States more than doubled from 15% to 42% between the 1960s and 2016 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020). This reflects a substantial increase in average body mass index from 25 to 29 kg/m2 over the past 50 years. While genetic predispositions exist, environmental and lifestyle changes are primary drivers of the obesity epidemic (Flegal et al., 2013). Understanding prevalence trends, contributing causes, and health risks is crucial to enacting impactful preventative measures.
Causes of Obesity
Several factors combine to influence obesity on individual and societal levels. Biological components like metabolism and hormones impact weight, yet environmental changes have particularly damaging effects (Finkelstein et al., 2012). For instance, easy access to affordable yet unhealthy processed foods high in sugar, sodium, and calories correlates with rising obesity (Dodson et al., 2009). Cheap convenience foods replace homemade meals, and large portion sizes normalize overconsumption.
Additionally, increasingly sedentary lifestyles as technology replaces physical activity cultivate weight gain (Sturm, 2004). Automobiles and labor-saving devices reduce daily energy expenditure. Schools cut gym classes and recess to focus on testing, while public spaces lack walking trails or parks (Ewing et al., 2003). Genetic predispositions cannot explain the dramatic increase since World War II alone. Cultural shifts favoring calorie-dense diets and less movement primarily drive the escalating obesity epidemic.
Health Risks of Obesity
The medical costs associated with obesity and related conditions place an enormous burden on the healthcare system. In 2008, obesity-associated medical costs amounted to $147 billion or nearly 10% of all medical spending that year in the U.S (Finkelstein et al., 2009). Individuals with obesity also miss more days of work and experience greater disability than those with normal or overweight BMIs (Withrow & Alter, 2011).
Beyond economic impacts, obesity profoundly reduces quality and length of life. It constitutes a major risk factor for life-threatening chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers (Kitahara et al., 2014; CDC, 2020). Obesity spikes the risk of premature death from these conditions which are among the top causes of preventable mortality in America today (Finkelstein et al., 2012).
Solutions and Preventative Efforts
Addressing individual behaviors alone cannot reverse obesity’s complicated causes within toxic environments. Multi-level public health interventions targeting policy, systems, and built environments show most promise (Delobelle et al., 2009). Nutritional standards for government food assistance and school meals can improve diets (Powell & Chaloupka, 2009). Requiring calorie counts on menus nudges diners toward mindful choices without restricting freedom (Elbel et al., 2009).
Designing neighborhoods with sidewalks, bicycle lanes, parks, and safe routes for walking to everyday destinations fosters activity (Ewing et al., 2016). Similarly, modifying food landscapes with full-service grocery stores in “food deserts” improves access to nutritious options (Bonanno & Li, 2012). Subsidizing medical costs for obesity prevention programs and doctor referrals encourages utilization of effective weight management resources (Roberts & Reinhold, 2010). Adopting comprehensive solutions fits obesity’s scope and maintains civil liberties while benefitting public health.
Conclusion
The obesity crisis intensifying in America stems from interactions between biological and environmental factors. As dietary and lifestyle patterns changed drastically over recent decades, weight has risen to unprecedented levels and taken an immense toll on national health. While certain policies may face opposition, the risks and costs of unaddressed obesity demand population-based prevention through nutrition guidelines, activity-promoting design, and healthcare access changes. Ongoing research can evaluate multi-faceted interventions and help reverse climbing obesity rates to promote longevity and well-being.
References
Bonanno, A., & Li, J. (2012). Grocery store accessibility and fruit and vegetable consumption in food deserts. American journal of agricultural economics, 95(2), 470-482. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aas045
CDC. (2020, January 30). Adult obesity facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
Delobelle, P., Depoorter, A. M., Debuysere, S., Guthrie, J., Ngabo, F., Lepage, P., … & Clement, J. (2009). Obesity prevention through Street Design: A Health Impact Assessment. International Journal of Public Health, 54(5), 323-327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-8088-z
Dodson, E. A., Drewnowski, A., Johnson, S. L., & Richards, L. K. (2009). Food environment moderators of obesity: proximity to fast-food outlets and full-service restaurants. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-33
Elbel, B., Gyamfi, J., & Kersh, R. (2011). Child and adolescent
Andrew Stroud