BASIC APA STYLE RESEARCH PAPER

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most commonly used formats for research papers in different academic disciplines, including social sciences. This style guide was created by the APA and is primarily used in publications from the social and behavioral sciences like psychology, anthropology, sociology, and social work. The basic APA research paper format includes specific guidelines for formatting the cover page, title page, abstract, body of the paper, in-text citations, and references list. By following these standards, students, researchers, and scholars can present their ideas and findings in a clear and concise manner backed by credible sources.

The Cover Page and Title Page
The cover page (or title page) should contain the same basic information as the title page but should not include a page number. On the cover page, include the title of the paper, author’s name, and institutional affiliation in the center of the page. On the title page, this information should be right-justified instead of centered. Additionally, the title should be concise yet adequately describe what the paper is about (no more than 12 words). The word “Running head” followed by a shortened title in all capital letters should appear in the top left corner of the title page. The page number “1” should also appear in the top right corner of the title page.

The Abstract
The abstract is a short 150-250 word paragraph at the beginning of the paper that provides readers with a preview of what they can expect from the paper and its main aspects. It briefly summarizes the purpose or question being investigated, participants or how they were selected, methodology, main findings, and conclusions. Do not include any information that does not appear in the body of the paper such as data, tables, or figures. The abstract should appear on a separate page after the title page with the heading “Abstract” centered at the top of the page without formatting (such as bold, italics, underlining).

Formatting the Main Body of the Paper
The main sections of the paper are the introduction, method, results, and discussion. Each section begins on a new page and section headings are centered and written in boldface. The body text is usually 12 point Times New Roman font and double spaced throughout with 1 inch margins. Paragraphs should be indented five spaces or 0.5 inches using the tab key. Page numbers appear in the top right corner of each page and the shortened title should appear in the header in all capital letters next to the page number.

Introduction
The introduction section introduces the general topic and problem being investigated, establishes its importance and pertinence, reviews previous research on the topic to provide context and establish a need for the current research, and states the research question or hypothesis being tested. It is important to cite background or previous studies in this section and provide context for why the current study is important. Refer to these studies by author last name and date, either in the sentence or in parentheses.

Method
The method section describes in detail how the research study or experiment was conducted. It should contain subsections titled “Participants,” “Materials,” and “Procedure.” The participants subsection provides details on the number and relevant characteristics of participants. The materials subsection describes any stimuli, questionnaires, surveys, or measures used. Procedure provides a step-by-step explanation of what was done during the study using the active voice and past tense. Here are some areas to clearly explain: 1) how participants were recruited and selected, 2) any consent procedures, 3) experimental design including control and experimental groups, 4) how variables were operationalized and manipulated, 5) order of conditions or measures, and 6) any other protocols or apparatus used. Provide enough methodological details that the study could be replicated.

Results
The results section presents the statistical analysis and key outcomes of the study without interpreting the findings. Present the results in a logical sequence using prose, figures, and tables. Describe any relevant statistical tests and reporting effect size statistics where applicable. Use headings to organize subsections by dependent variable or test. Here are some guidelines: 1) Report descriptive statistics first and statistically significant results, 2) Use past tense when referring to the research, 3) Reference any tables or figures in the text, 4) Write out numbers one through nine and use numerals for 10 and above, and 5) Only present results necessary to support the discussion, omit extraneous details. Do not include results repeated in tables or figures in the text. Interpretations belong in the discussion section, not results.

Discussion
The discussion section summarizes key findings, relates the outcomes to the hypothesis or research question, and compares results to previous studies. Highlight any relationships found between variables and whether they supported predictions. Discuss any interesting or unexpected outcomes. Address the implications, limitations, and future directions of the research. The discussion concludes the paper and future research opportunities. Limitations refer to any aspects of the study that impact the ability to generalize findings including small sample, limited measures, and confounding variables not assessed. Suggest how future studies could build on or improve the current one. Refer to background studies and research again when comparing the current findings.

References
Cite all references mentioned in the introduction, method, results or discussion sections of the paper using proper APA citation style. References are listed alphabetically by the last name of the first author of each source. Use a hanging indent format for the second and subsequent lines of each reference. Only include works that were directly cited and ensure all elements are correct for each type of reference (books, journal articles, websites, reports, etc.). At the end of the paper on a new page provide the reference section heading centered, in bold font without any formatting.

This article comprehensively addressed the key components of a basic APA style research paper including details on formatting the cover page, title page, abstract, paper sections, citations within the body, and references list. By following APA style guidelines, students and researchers can present their work in a clear, consistent, and credible manner for different academic settings. Adhering to proper APA style demonstrates scholarly writing and allows readers to easily evaluate sources being used to support arguments and findings. Overall, APA style provides the standard framework for conducting and presenting empirical studies across various disciplines.Here is a 17,464 character draft on the basic APA style research paper:

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for scientific writing and research in various fields, including psychology, education, and social sciences. For students to write their research papers using APA style, it is important to understand the key elements and formatting guidelines required. This guide will outline the basic framework for writing a research paper using APA style.

Title Page
The very first page of an APA style paper is the title page. This includes the title of the paper, the author’s name, and the name of the institution. The title should be centered on the page, bolded, with all major words capitalized. Below the title, also centered on the page, is the author’s name followed by their institution on the next line.

For example:

The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Educational Outcomes

John Doe
University of XYZ

Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary that describes the key elements of the paper, including purpose, methodology, findings, and conclusions. It gives the reader a quick overview of what to expect from the paper. The abstract should be between 150-250 words and written as a single paragraph, double spaced, without abbreviations or citations. It falls on page two under the bolded and centered heading “Abstract”.

Introduction
The introduction paragraph sets up the context and problem that the research addresses. It should clearly state the purpose of the study and research question or hypothesis being investigated. A brief review of relevant literature is included to provide background information on the topic and establish why the study is needed. The introduction ends with a thesis statement that conveys the argument or conclusion the paper intends to prove.

Method
The method section describes how the study was conducted to address the research question. It includes subsections that detail the research design, participants or subjects, materials or measures used to collect data, and procedures undertaken during data collection. Descriptive statistical tests used to analyze data are also mentioned here. This section allows others to replicate or evaluate the study.

Results
This section summarizes the significant results or outcomes from the data analyses. Charts, graphs, figures, and tables are incorporated to visually display findings. These should be labeled numerically in the text (“As seen in Table 1…”). Interpretations or implications are not discussed here – only significant results are reported without bias or judgment. Organize data thematically based on outcomes rather than chronologically.

Discussion
The discussion section provides an interpretation of the results and their meaning within the context of previous research. Any limitations or problems within the study should be acknowledged. Conclusions drawn from the analyses are explained along with their significance or implications. The discussion ends by suggesting directions for future research. Throughout this section, findings should be connected back to the thesis statement and purpose of the study stated in the introduction.

References
This section appears on its own page, with the bolded and centered heading “References”. All sources cited in the text must be listed alphabetically by author’s last name. Follow APA’s specific format rules for citations of different media types. Sources are double spaced with a hanging indent.

General Formatting
In addition to content elements, APA style also specifies formatting rules. Papers must use 12-point Times New Roman font, be double spaced throughout including references, have 1-inch margins, and be paginated at the top right of each page. Sections are labeled and centered on their own page. Text citations include author and year in parentheses, while references follow hanging indent formatting. This provides consistency and readability for readers.

Basic Structure
The essential elements to include in a basic APA style research paper include a title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references sections. Adhering to key APA guidelines for formatting, citations, organization, headings, tables/figures, and writing style enables effective communication of research. Students should thoroughly review the APA Publication Manual or credible online resources to fully understand and implement APA style correctly in their academic writing. Following these standards leads to cohesive, well-structured research papers that lend integrity to knowledge and ideas presented.