APA Style Research Paper Format with Headings
This article provides a detailed example of how to properly format an APA style research paper with headings. The guidelines include formatting the cover page, setting up in-text citations, spacing, fonts and margins. Headings in APA format are used to separate and classify sections of an academic paper. While the formatting requirements for headings vary depending on the level, all headings in an APA style paper must follow certain stylistic guidelines.
The American Psychological Association (APA) establishes standards and procedures for scholarly writing and citation, including formats for research papers and journal articles in various academic disciplines. APA style guidelines are widely used across several academic and professional fields, especially in the social and behavioral sciences, for formatting manuscripts and scholarly papers. Proper use of APA headings can help structure the paper and guide the reader through the content. Here is an example of how to format an APA style paper with headings:
Cover Page
The cover page comes before the introduction section and abstract if applicable and should include:
The title of the paper, which should be centered on the page and written in title case (uppercase and lowercase letters with all major content words capitalized).
A brief author(s) name immediately below the title, also centered horizontally.
An institutional affiliation below the author’s name (if required by the instructor).
A page header at the top left of the page with the page number aligned to the right margin. Use a shortened paper title as the page header (max 50 characters including spaces).
Abstract
The abstract should be on page 2 and have the heading “Abstract” centered at the top in bold title case font, without quotation marks. The abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the key points of the paper, including methodology and findings or conclusions. It is usually no more than 250 words and written in block format without indentation. The word “Abstract” and the text should be double-spaced.
Introduction
The introduction follows the abstract if applicable. It begins on a new page with the centered heading “Introduction” in bold title case. The introduction presents the context and rationale for the topic and research problem, establishes the importance and relevance of the study, and summarizes key points and conclusions. Headings on this level are bolded.
APA Headings Level 2
Level 2 headings indicate major sections of your paper or chapters in a thesis or dissertation. They are center-aligned, bolded, with each major word capitalized (title case capitalization). In a typical bachelor’s or master’s thesis, you would use level 2 headings for an introduction, literature review, methods section, results, and discussion sections.
APA Headings Level 3
Level 3 headings are flush left, bold, with only the initial word capitalized (sentence case capitalization). These headings are used to delineate subsections within the broader sections identified with level 2 headings. In a typical undergraduate paper, a level 3 heading might be used for subsections within the methods or results sections.
APA Headings Level 4
Level 4 headings are indented, bold, with only the initial word capitalized (sentence case), italicized, with a period (. and a space) after the heading text. Level 4 headings are used to section off subsections under level 3 headings. For example:
. Participants
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Level 4 headings are the most nested level of headings used in most student papers. Only use deeper levels (5 and below) in long thesis documents.
In-Text Citations
When quoting or paraphrasing other authors’ work in the body of your paper, include an in-text citation in parentheses immediately following the relevant text. The citation contains the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number if quoting directly. Page numbers are not necessary for paraphrasing. Example for parenthetical citations:
(Smith, 2020)
(Jones & Johnson, 2018, p. 29)
For sources with three or more authors, include only the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”:
(Bradley et al., 2017)
Citations in the reference list are organized alphabetically by the first author’s last name. Multiple entries by the same author are ordered chronologically from earliest to latest publication date. The reference must correspond exactly in contents and format to the in-text citations included throughout the paper. See the reference section below for an example list.
Conclusion
The conclusion follows body content with the centered heading “Conclusion” in bold title case. It summarizes key findings, implications, and recommendations without introducing new information. Refer back to the research problem or question presented in the introduction. Consider opportunities for future research.
References
The references begin on a new page with the centered heading “References” in bold title case and are double spaced throughout. Only include references that are cited in the text. References are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. Below are examples of how to format the most common types of citations:
Bradley, L. P, Priebe, S., & Stratford, A. (2017). Understanding mental health problems in Africa. Oxford University Press.
Jones, S. G., & Johnson, D. W. (2018). Conflict resolution education: The field, its findings, and the path ahead. Psychology of Education Review, 41(1), 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1037/02787393.41.1.21
Smith, M. L. (2020). Understanding educational psychology theories of learning (4th ed.). Pearson.
This sample provides a detailed APA format for research papers with proper use of headings and citations. Headings are crucial organizational elements to break up long sections with major topics. Stylized APA formatting demonstrates credibility by adhering to rules established by the authoritative APA Publication Manual. Using headings and citations as exemplified here promotes clear, logical writing development and lends validity to research results. Proper formatting demonstrates attention to detail and contributes to a professional scholarly presentation.
Andrew Stroud