APA WRITING ESSAY EXAMPLE

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for writing in the social sciences fields such as psychology, anthropology, and sociology. For students and researchers in these disciplines, it is important to understand how to properly format papers, cite sources, and create references in APA style. This article contains examples of essays written in APA format to serve as helpful references for students new to writing in this style.

One of the most common types of papers written in APA style is a literature review, which critically evaluates previously published research on a topic. A literature review provides an overview of empirical studies and organizes, compares, and evaluates past research to identify trends, debates, and gaps in the existing body of knowledge. Here is an example of how to write an introduction for a literature review in APA style:

The social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought important issues related to mental health and well-being to the forefront. Social connection and interaction is a basic human need, and research shows loneliness and lack of social support puts individuals at higher risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even early mortality (Cacioppo et al., 2006; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). While technology has allowed for some connection during periods of physical distancing, online interactions are no substitute for in-person contact. The current literature reveals increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and suicidal ideation worldwide related to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions (Gao et al., 2020; Luchetti et al., 2020; Salari et al., 2020). Given the detrimental impacts of prolonged isolation, it is crucial to explore effective strategies for mitigating loneliness and promoting mental health during and after the pandemic. The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize and evaluate current empirical studies examining interventions for reducing loneliness and improving well-being and resilience during times of social distancing.

This introduction establishes the relevance and importance of the research topic, summarizes key findings from the existing literature to establish a need for further inquiry, and identifies the overall objective and purpose of the literature review. The references are cited properly in APA format both in-text and in the reference list at the end. Let’s now examine an example of how one study might be discussed in the body paragraphs that follow:

One promising intervention that has shown success in reducing loneliness is befriending programs that pair volunteers with individuals experiencing loneliness for regular social contact and activities (Masi et al., 2011). In a recent randomized controlled trial conducted in Spain, Gonzales-Sanguino et al. (2020) examined the impact of a 6-month befriending program on loneliness levels among community-dwelling older adults compared to a waitlist control group. Using validated self-report scales, the researchers found that older adults (N = 120) assigned to the intervention group had significantly lower levels of loneliness at post-intervention and 6-month follow-up assessments compared to the control group (Gonzales-Sanguino et al., 2020). Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated improved mental health outcomes including reduced anxiety and depression symptoms (Gonzales-Sanguino et al., 2020). These findings provide support for the effectiveness of volunteer-based befriending programs in alleviating loneliness and promoting well-being among older adults experiencing social isolation. While limited to a specific population and geographical location, the study adds to the growing evidence for social support as a key factor in mental health.

This paragraph objectively summarizes the purpose, methods, findings, and implications of a single pertinent study. Key details are provided such as the sample size, research design, measures used, results, and conclusions. The paragraph focuses on interpreting and evaluating the meaning and significance of the study rather than just restating the information. Integrating synthesis of how this research relates to past literature and identifying limitations are also important components of creating a well-written literature review in APA style.

Another common type of paper is an empirical research report, which describes an original study conducted by the student. The following is an example of a research methods section written in APA style:

Method

Participants
A sample of 110 undergraduate college students between the ages of 18-22 (M = 19.5, SD = 1.3) were recruited from Psychology courses at a large public university. The sample consisted of 78 women and 32 men. Participation was voluntary and students received course credit for their involvement.

Materials and Measures
Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996), a 20-item self-report instrument measuring subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Sample items include “I lack companionship” and “There are people I can turn to.” Responses are indicated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from “never” to “always.” Higher total scores reflect greater loneliness.

The Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures Questionnaire (Fraley et al., 2011) was used to measure attachment styles. This 9-item self-report measure asks participants to indicate their agreement with descriptions aligned with attachment anxiety (e.g. “I’m afraid that I will lose my partner’s love”) and avoidance (e.g. “I prefer not to show a partner how I feel deep down”). Items are rated on a 7-point scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”

Procedure
After providing informed consent, participants completed the questionnaires online through a secure survey platform. The measures were administered in random order with demographics collected last. No identifying information was associated with responses. The study was approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board.

This methods section thoroughly describes the research design, participants, measures, and procedure using APA style conventions. Key psychometric properties are reported for the measures, and ethical review is indicated. Including this level of methodological detail allows readers to adequately evaluate the validity and reliability of the findings.

The next component of an empirical research paper is the results section:

Results
Preliminary analyses examined the internal consistency of the scales. Cronbach’s alpha for the UCLA Loneliness Scale was excellent at α = .91. For the ECR-RS subscales, attachment anxiety displayed good reliability of α = .87 and attachment avoidance was also reliable at α = .78.

To test the primary hypothesis, a Pearson correlation analysis assessed the relationship between loneliness and attachment styles. There was a significant positive correlation between loneliness and attachment anxiety, r(108) = .59, p < .001, indicating greater loneliness was associated with higher anxiety. Additionally, loneliness was positively correlated with attachment avoidance, r(108) = .42, p < .001, such that higher avoidance was linked to increased loneliness. An independent samples t-test explored differences in loneliness between genders. There was no significant difference between women (M = 44.3, SD = 9.1) and men (M = 42.5, SD = 8.7) conditions; t(108) = 1.12, p = .27. Finally, a linear regression analysis evaluated how well attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted loneliness. The full model containing both predictors was significant, F(2, 107) = 34.61, p < .001, and accounted for approximately 39% of variance in loneliness (R2 = .39, Adjusted R2 = .38). Attachment anxiety uniquely contributed to loneliness (β = .49, p < .001) above and beyond avoidance (β = .17, p = .03).