The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for citing sources and formatting papers in science subjects like psychology, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences. Some key aspects that science researchers should keep in mind for APA format include the following:
Title Page
APA requires a title page as the first page of the research paper. It should include a running head , page number, paper title, author name, and institutional affiliation. The specific format requirements are as follows:
Running head – An abbreviated title in all capital letters left aligned at the top of the page. The running head should not exceed 50 characters.
Page number – Page number 1 should be right aligned at the top of the page.
Paper title – Centered on the first line below the running head and page number. Title should be concise yet fully represent the content and topic of the paper.
Author name – Centered on the line below the title. Author’s name should include first and last names only without titles or credentials.
Institutional affiliation – Centered on the line below the author’s name. This includes college/university name.
Abstract
The abstract page follows the title page. The heading “Abstract” should be centered on the first line of the page. Unlike the title, the “Abstract” heading is not bolded. The abstract text should be a single paragraph of 150-250 words summarizing the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions of the study. No citations should be included.
Body Sections
The body consists of the main sections required for a scientific research paper: Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion sections. Each section starts on a new page and has the section heading centered and typed in bold font at the top of the page. Section text is typically double spaced in 12-point font Times New Roman.
Introduction – Reviews relevant literature and theory and states purpose and significance of the study.
Method – Describes participants, materials, procedures, measures, and design in sufficient detail to allow replication.
Results – Describes key findings from the data in text, tables, and figures without interpretation.
Discussion – Interprets findings in light of prior research and theory. Addresses limitations and implications.
In-text Citations
APA uses an author-date citation style for in-text citations. This typically involves placing the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses after a quote or paraphrase, like (Smith, 2020). For direct quotes, the page number is also included like (Smith, 2020, p. 42). If the author is mentioned in the text, only the year goes in parentheses.
Reference List
At the end of the paper is a Reference list of all sources cited in the text. Entries are in alphabetical order and use a hanging indent with the author’s last name, year, title, and publication information.
For books:
Last name, First initial. (Publication year). Title of book. Publisher.
For journal articles:
Last name, First initial. (Year published). Article title. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page range.
Common Elements
Text is double spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font
1-inch margins all around
Page numbers in top right header starting with title page
Headings use title case and are bolded
Figures and tables are embedded in text close to relevant discussion
Proper APA formatting must be followed for science students to successfully convey their research and ideas. Adhering to APA style guidelines assures readers the research presented meets scholarly publication standards. Going beyond a cursory understanding and learning APA style in-depth prepares students for scientific careers.