Introduction to APA Research Paper Format
The American Psychological Association (APA) has established scholarly requirements for research papers resulting in a standardized publication format. Formatting guidelines from the APA help writers to structure and organize their research papers, making published work accessible and credible. This article provides an overview of key APA format specifications for research papers including page layout, section headers, citations, and references. Sample pages are included that model standard APA style.
Page Layout
APA format arranges the elements of a research paper into a consistent order and structure. Some key layout guidelines are:
Use standard sized paper of 8.5 inches by 11 inches, with 1-inch margins on all sides.
Include a page header (also known as the “running head”) at the top of every page with a short title in all capital letters and flush left against the margin. On the title page, the header should include the words “Running head.” Without quotes. On subsequent pages just the short title is placed in the header.
Number all pages consecutively in the top right corner half an inch from the top starting with the title page as number 1.
Use a clear, legible serif typeface like Times New Roman in a readable 12-point font. Other serif fonts could also be acceptable.
Double space the entire research paper, including quotations of 40 or more words which are indented half an inch from the left margin in a block format.
Indent the first line of every paragraph half an inch from the left margin.
Center the title at the top half of the page and capitalize only the first letter of words in the title that are four letters or longer.
Section Headings
Section headings in APA format classify the level of importance or subordination of the ideas in the paper’s content. The most important is the centered, boldfaced, uppercase and lowercase heading (Level 1). Subsections follow using boldfaced, lowercase heading (Level 2). Tertiary subsections use bold italics and initial capitalization (Level 3).
Tables and Figures
Any tables or figures included in the body of the paper are numbered sequentially (Table 1, Figure 2, etc.) and have a title describing what is visually presented. These titles appear centered above each table or figure. In the text, tables are referenced by their title numbers (see Table 1). When introducing tables or figures, include an above-the-line statement identifying this additional context followed by the number of the appropriate table or figure. Block quotes from external sources of 40 or more words are treated like a figure and are not enclosed in quotation marks, but rather presented in a freestanding block of text formatted with a left indent.
Citations
In-text citations include the author’s last name and year of publication. For paraphrased content, include just the author’s name and year in parentheses. For direct quotes, also provide the page number like (Miller, 2020, p. 36). When paraphrasing, include only the page number for non-sequential or important pages like Sze (2014).
References
At the end of the paper, a References page alphabetically lists the complete references corresponding to the citations in the body of the paper. The page is centered and titled “References” without quotation marks. Each reference is formatted consistently, depending on the source, but generally includes author’s last name, first initial, publication year, title, publisher.
Sample APA Formatted Research Paper Page
The following sample APA formatted research paper page models standard formatting elements for page layout, section headings, citations, and references. This example can serve as a template for writers to format their own research papers using APA style.
Note that table and figure titles are centered above the content, and the reference list accurately alphabetizes references by author’s last name. Proper in-text citations refer readers to the references page. Paragraph indentions, section headings, running head, and page numbering follow APA specifications.
This overview and sample page provide a basic understanding of formatting conventions for papers written in APA style. The official APA Publication Manual includes additional guidelines for formatting headers, footnotes, abstracts, appendices and other paper components not covered here. For professional papers intended for scholarly publication, referencing the APA Manual ensures research formatting adheres to standardized practices.
Learning APA style facilitates clear communication of research findings and conclusions to academic and research communities. Following publication guidelines fosters credibility by creating consistency that allows readers to focus on content rather than structure. This sample page demonstrates key aspects of formatting an APA research paper to the highest professional standards. Formatted papers help to legitimize scholarly work and propel progress in respective fields of study.