Writing a research paper using APA (American Psychological Association) style is a challenging task. APA formatting follows a set of rules that specify how to write clearly and concisely about your research findings. Whether you are writing a research paper for an introductory psychology, political science or education course, learning how to properly format and cite your sources using APA guidelines is essential for success.
In this video, I will walk through an example APA research paper and discuss the key elements that should be included in any APA style paper. We will start by looking at the title page, move on to examine the abstract, main body and reference section. Along the way, we will review specific formatting guidelines and provide examples of how to properly cite both print and online sources using APA parenthetical citations and reference lists.
Let’s start with the title page. Per APA style, the title page should include a few key elements:
The title of the paper, centered in the upper half of the page. Keep titles brief but descriptive, preferably less than 12 words.
Your name as the author, also centered directly beneath the title.
The institutional affiliation, which is usually your university or college name centered beneath your name.
A page header in the top left corner that shows a shortened version of the title in all caps up to 50 characters.
Here is an example title page from a hypothetical APA research paper on social media and mental health:
Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH
Social Media Usage and Depression in College Students
Jane Smith
State University
The running head is a shortened version of the title in all caps that appears next to the page number in the header. Notice how the full title is centered, followed by the author name and institutional affiliation centered below. This establishes the paper’s structure and meets all the basic title page requirements in APA style.
After the title page comes the abstract, which is a brief 150-250 word summary of your paper’s purpose, including research questions or hypotheses, methodology, results, and conclusions. The abstract appears on its own page and is centered without additional text above or below it.
For our social media and mental health example, the abstract would state the research question being examined, disclose the sample and methods used to collect data like surveys from college students, provide a high-level summary of the main findings such as increased social media use correlating with higher depression scores, and conclude with a brief statement of implications. Here is a sample abstract:
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between social media use and depression among college students. A survey was administered to 100 undergraduate students to collect data on time spent on social media daily as well as scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II depression assessment. Results from correlational analysis revealed a positive association between greater time on social media and higher depression scores. Implications regarding screen time and mental health are discussed.
Following the abstract comes the main body of the paper, which includes an introduction, method, results, and discussion section. Each section should have its own heading level centered and bold. For a student paper, the main sections may only require level one headings, whereas a longer professional paper may use multi-level headings. Here is an example of an introductory paragraph:
There has been rising public concern over the impact of increased social media usage, especially among young adults and teenagers. Several studies have found links between greater social media engagement and higher rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Rosenthal et al., 2020; Twenge, 2017; Vannucci et al., 2017). Few studies have specifically examined social media usage patterns among college students and their relationship with depression symptomatology. This study sought to address that gap by surveying undergraduate students about daily time spent on social media platforms and scoring them on a standardized depression inventory. It was hypothesized that greater average time spent on social media would correlate with higher depression scores.
Then the method, results and discussion sections would be presented with additional subheadings, as needed, to organize ideas. For the method portion, describe the participants, design, materials or measures, and procedure in detail. For the results, report statistical tests and outcomes in paragraph form so readers understand the quantitative findings without reviewing tables or figures. The discussion interprets those results and connects them back to existing literature, highlighting implications and limitations of the study.
It is also important to properly format any tables or figures included within the text. Captions should be provided for each and numbered consecutively, either as “Table 1” or “Figure 1” depending on whether data is presented in paragraph or graphic form. Tables are placed directly after their first text mention, while figures may be embedded within relevant paragraphs or grouped together at the end. For the mental health example, a figure may visually depict depression scores across levels of social media hours.
In APA style, as ideas, statistics, or direct quotes from other sources are incorporated throughout the paper, citations must be provided within the text. For print sources, use the author-date method of in-text citations. This involves brief author/year citations like (Smith, 2020) inserted in the appropriate place, possibly right after the referenced material. For online sources without page numbers, provide the author, date, and relevant section title/paragraph number if available.
The reference page follows the conclusion and lists all works cited within the paper alphabetically by author. References must include the authors, publication year, title, source, and other pertinent publication data like volume and issue numbers or DOIs. Book and journal article references differ from websites in their provided elements. The reference page is formatted with a level one “References” heading centered at the top and references double spaced in a hanging indent format.
Maintaining proper APA formatting and citations throughout the research paper is crucial. Although rules may feel cumbersome, they ensure clarity and academic integrity. By following this paper example and APA style guide, students can demonstrate their understanding of theory and methods in a clear, organized manner. Communication of research findings through publication provides value to the greater academic community and advances scientific knowledge. I hope this overview of how to set up and structure an APA formatted research paper has been helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions!Here is a 18,275 character article on apa research paper example youtube:
How to Write an APA Style Research Paper
This article will explain how to format an APA style research paper and include some tips on writing the overall paper. Many social sciences use APA style as the preferred format for research papers and citations. It is important for students and researchers to understand how to properly format and style their research papers in APA. This article will provide a YouTube example video on an APA paper along with the key elements needed to write in APA format.
Formatting the Paper in APA Style
There are a few key aspects to properly formatting the paper in APA style. Spacing should be double-spaced throughout the entire paper including references, title page, and abstract. Use 1 inch margins on all sides of the page. The pages are numbered starting with the title page as page 1 in the top right header. All subsequent pages will be numbered consecutively throughout the paper in the top right header as well. The font should be 12 point Times New Roman or a similar serif font. Include a student/researcher name in the header on each page. Stay consistent with formatting throughout to adhere to APA style guidelines.
Title Page Example
The title page needs to include the title of the paper centered in the middle of the page. Below the title include your name and university/institution affiliation. The page number is on the top right of the title page as page 1. No other information besides the running head/header needs to be included on this page. See the YouTube video on this article for a clear title page example.
Abstract
The abstract page immediately follows the title page. The abstract is a concise summary of the key points of the research paper. It should be between 150-250 words and has the heading “Abstract” centered at the top without formatting (such as bold, italic, underlining text). Only include the running head on this page, no page number as well. Summarize the purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions of the research. The abstract should not evaluate, justify, or explain anything about the research. It is a brief objective summary of what the paper contains.
Body Sections and Headings
The body of the paper starts on a new page following the abstract page. The body contains the main sections of an APA paper including an introduction, method, results, discussion, and conclusion section. Each of these sections should clearly address different elements of the overall paper. Use level one headings to introduce each new section clearly when needed (Introduction, Method, etc). Level two headings can also be included for subsections within each of the main sections. Follow the APA heading format of bold12pt font for level one and bold italic 12pt font for level two headings. Indent new paragraphs within sections by pressing tab once. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs.
In-Text Citations
Any quotes, summaries, or paraphrased information needs to be properly cited in APA format within the body of the paper with an in-text citation. Use the author’s last name and year of publication in parentheses after the referenced text. For direct quotes include the page number as well. Only include author’s last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses within the text. Full citations for sources will appear in the reference list at the end. Some examples:
(Miller, 2020)
(Smith, 2019, p. 23)
Reference Page
Start a new page after the last body section labeled “References” centered and bolded. Arrange sources alphabetically by author’s last name. Use a hanging indent for each reference so the first line is not indented but any additional lines for each reference are indented. Use the same font and spacing as the rest of the paper. Be sure to include all necessary elements for each source type, like authors, publication date, title, publisher location, and DOI/URL when available. The reference page serves as readers/viewers full citation information for sources referenced within the body of the paper. Stay consistent with required elements for books, journal articles, websites, videos, and other common source types in APA format on this final page.
Conclusion and Tips
Stay consistent with APA formatting guidelines and proper in-text citations to scholarly sources used. Check references are fully represented in alphabetical order. Proofread for typos, clarity of ideas, and cohesive structure between sections. Never include personal opinions or make unsupported claims in a research paper, focus on analyzing and reporting findings. Communicate ideas clearly and concisely. Make sure the paper has a logical flow between introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion sections. The paper should leave viewers with a clear understanding of the research question or issue explored and main takeaway points. Follow all APA style guidelines for consistent and professional formatting of a research paper in this style.
The YouTube video example shows a full APA research paper formatted properly from cover to cover adhering to all specific APA style guidelines. It visually demonstrates the key elements needed in an APA paper like the title page, abstract, headings, body paragraphs, references, etc. This provides clear example formatting to follow when structuring and styling an APA style research paper or literature review for any higher education or professional research needs. Understanding proper APA paper outline and citation structure is crucial for students and researchers.
Andrew Stroud