The American Psychological Association (APA) is one of the largest scientific and professional associations in the United States. The APA style is most commonly used to cite sources within and style papers in the social sciences, with the key focus of APA style being on transparency. This style guide is designed to help you prepare and format a research paper or academic manuscript for publication in APA style.
APA Paper Formatting Guidelines
General formatting guidelines for an APA style paper include:
12-point Times New Roman font
Double spacing throughout
1-inch margins on all sides of page
Page numbers in the upper right corner on each page
Cover page with paper title, author name, institutional affiliation
Abstract page with heading “Abstract” (without formatting like bold, italics etc)
Main body of paper organized with level one headings, level two subheadings etc. as needed
References page listing all sources cited within paper and organized alphabetically by author’s last name
Title Page (Cover Page)
The title page of an APA style research paper should contain:
Running head (including page number)
Paper title (centered)
Author name(s) (centered)
Institutional affiliation (centered, usually your university)
The running head is an abbreviated version of the paper title that appears in the header of each page. It should be no more than 50 characters including spaces and appear in capital letters. Page numbers start on the title page and continue through to the end.
Abstract
An abstract is a short, one paragraph (150-250 words) summary of your entire paper that describes all the key elements. The abstract should be written last to summarize your completed paper. Abstracts have four parts in this order:
The background/context for the study (why is this topic being studied?)
The participants and methods (population/sample, methods used for data collection, instruments used, procedures)
The main findings or trends found as a result of the study
The implications or conclusions of those findings
The abstract heading is centered and bolded at the top of the page, but not as a level one heading. There is no formatting like bold, italics, indentations, or additional text in the abstract.
Main Body
The main body of an APA research paper begins after the abstract summary. It includes the introduction, method, results, and discussion sections. Each section has its own level one heading centered and in bold. Any subsections under each include level two headings that are indented and bold on the left side only.
Introduction
The introduction presents the problem or issue being studied and establishes the importance and relevance of the topic. The introduction should end with a clear thesis statement outlining the purpose of the study.
Method
The method section describes the overall research design and procedure used to collect information and data including your sample, measures used, materials, and process. This section allows readers to critically evaluate your study design and results. Key elements include:
Participants (number, relevant characteristics, how they were selected and recruited)
Materials (if any devices, surveys, tests used – include description how they were developed/normed)
Design (experimental, correlational, quasi-experimental)
Procedure (step by step process of what participants experienced from start to end)
Results
The results section summarizes the analyzed data and key findings without interpretation. Present results that are most relevant to your research questions and hypothesis. Use tables and figures to display statistical data, but describe all in text as well.
Discussion
In the discussion, analyze and interpret your results in context of your hypothesis and relevant other published studies. Discuss possible explanations for your findings, limitations of your study, and suggestions for future research. The discussion connects the implications of your study to the larger context.
Headings
APA uses five heading levels to separate and classify sections of content. Each level is formatted differently:
Level 1
Centered, Bold, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
(Introduction, Method, etc.)
Level 2
Left aligned, Bold, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
(Participants, Materials)
Level 3
Indented, bold, lowercase heading with period.
(Eligibility criteria.)
Level 4
Indented, bold, italicized, lowercase heading with period.
(Inclusion criteria.)
Level 5
Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with period.
(Age requirements.)
References
All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end. References are organized alphabetically by author’s last name with a hanging indent and double spaced.
Reference entries follow specific APA style formatting based on the type of source such as book, journal article, website, etc. Each source includes key elements arranged in a specific order:
Author’s last name, first initial and middle initial (if available).
Publication date.
Title of work.
Publication information (publisher or website name)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) if available
For comprehensive guidelines on how to format reference entries for any type of work, consult the official APA Publication Manual or research guides by Purdue OWL and other APA style experts. Proper references avoid plagiarism and make academic work verifiable.
APA Paper Checklist
Use the following checklist to review your paper and ensure it meets basic APA formatting guidelines:
12-point Times New Roman font
Double spaced throughout
1-inch margins all sides
Page numbers top right
Running head on title page
Paper title
Author name, school/affiliation
Abstract present (150-250 words)
Main body sections with level headings
In-text citations for all sources
References page listing all sources
Proper citation formatting used
Consistent tense throughout
Correct spelling and grammar
Following APA style consistently results in a clean paper that meets the guidelines researchers and scholars trust. Reviewing your paper and having integrity in citation reinforces credibility and authority as you conduct research. Using a checklist ensures all formatting elements are covered before submitting for grading or publication.
Andrew Stroud