Introduction
The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for citing references in student papers and manuscripts in subjects such as psychology, education, and sciences. A good example of an APA style research paper published in 2011 provides formatting guidelines for students to properly cite their sources in their own research. This sample paper illustrates many key elements of an APA style paper and can help students become familiar with APA guidelines for formatting their papers properly.
Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of the main points in the paper. It gives readers a quick overview without going into too much detail. The abstract for this paper is:
A proposed model for an effective evaluation program is presented along with strategies for implementation of the model. Key evaluation components include clearly stated program goals and outcome objectives, quantifiable and observable outcome measures, baseline and ongoing data collection, assessment of program fidelity, process evaluation, and impact evaluation using mixed methods.
Introduction
The introduction of a research paper serves to inform readers about the topic being studied and why the research is important. It provides context and establishes how the paper is organized. The introduction from this paper states:
Program evaluation aims to systematically investigate the effectiveness, quality, or value of a program and inform decision making to improve outcomes. With growing demand for accountability and demonstration of results, evaluation has become a necessity for ensuring programs achieve their intended goals. Yet many organizations struggle with designing and implementing a comprehensive yet feasible evaluation system. This paper proposes an effective model for program evaluation that can be tailored to the unique needs of diverse programs and organizations.
Method
In an APA paper, the method section describes procedures that allow others to replicate the study. It identifies how the research was conducted and provides details about participants, measures, and design. The method section from this paper explains:
The proposed evaluation model was developed through a review of evaluation literature and consultation with experts in the field. Core components were identified based on best practices and recommendations from leading organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and United Way Worldwide. Input from program directors at eight non-profit organizations further refined the model to address pragmatic needs and constraints common among community-based initiatives.
Results
The results section reports the analysis of data collected during the study in an objective, non-biased manner. Numeric data is typically reported with descriptive statistics and text is paraphrased. The results from this paper state:
Feedback from program directors indicated the proposed model incorporated essential elements for rigorous yet applicable evaluation. All components were viewed as meaningful and relevant to their programmatic areas. When asked to identify the most critical aspects, outcome measurement and process evaluation rose to the top. Directors reported these areas offer the most valuable information for understanding impact and opportunities for enhancement.
Discussion
The discussion section interprets results and explains how they relate to previous research on the topic. It discusses unexpected findings, limitations, and implications. From this paper:
Results suggest the proposed evaluation model captures best practices that can pragmatically guide evaluation efforts across diverse programs and organizations. By clearly defining goals and measurable outcomes, systematically collecting and reporting data, and assessing both program delivery and effects, the model aims to provide comprehensive yet cost-effective evaluation. Moving forward, steps are needed to promote wider adoption of rigorous yet practical approaches like this model.
References
The reference section lists sources cited in the body of the paper following APA style guidelines. Each entry includes essential publication details like author, date, title, source. For example:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Introduction to program evaluation for public health programs: A self-study guide. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/eval/guide/cdcevalmanual.pdf
United Way Worldwide. (2007). Measuring program outcomes: A practical approach. Alexandria, VA: United Way Worldwide.
Conclusion
This sample research paper in APA style adheres to formatting guidelines and includes elements typical of social and behavioral science research papers. The abstract, introduction, method, results, and discussion sections introduce the proposed evaluation model and present evidence supporting its rationale and potential impact. References are presented in APA style. Overall, it provides students with an example format that can serve as a template for organizing their own research ideas and findings. Mastering APA style is essential for many fields and models like this help demonstrate proper formatting for citations, references, and overall paper structure.