The American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of the most widely used formats for writing academic papers, especially in the social sciences. For college students, mastering the APA format is essential for writing research papers throughout their undergraduate and often graduate studies. The general format for a college research paper written in APA style is as follows:
Title Page: The title page should contain a running head, the title of the research paper in all capital letters, and the student’s name and school affiliation double spaced and left aligned on the page. The page number for the title page is within the header and should be set to page 1, but the number itself does not appear.
Abstract: The abstract page immediately follows the title page. As with the title page, the running head is included. The abstract includes a brief summary of the paper, between 150-250 words. It includes the purpose, problem, methods, results, and conclusions of the paper in one paragraph double spaced. The word “Abstract” is centered at the top of the page without formatting.
Body: The body of the paper begins on the page following the abstract. The title “Introduction” is centered and not bolded, underlined, or in all caps. It includes the thesis statement and preview of topics to be covered. Each subsequent section heading “Method,” “Results,” “Discussion” are formatted the same as the introduction. Paragraphs are double spaced with 1-inch margins. Each new idea should begin a new paragraph. Sources must be cited using parenthetical citations within the body text and full references listed on the reference page.
Headings: The paper sections can have up to five heading levels. Level one headings are centered, bolded, and title case. Level two headings are flush left, bolded, and title case. Level three headings are flush left, boldfaced, italicized, sentence case. Level four headings are indented, boldfaced, ending with a period, and title case. Level five headings are indented, italicized, ending with a period, and title case.
References: The reference page begins a new page with the running head and centered title “References” without formatting. All references should be double spaced with a hanging indent of 0.5 inches. Sources are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. If no author is available, use the source title. Only the first word of the title and proper nouns are capitalized.
Title Page Example:
Running head: EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Academic Performance
John Doe
DeVry University
Abstract Example:
Abstract
This paper examines the effects of sleep deprivation on college students’ academic performance. Sleep deprivation is common among college students who work and study long hours to meet demanding schedules (Coren, 1996). A literature review revealed that sleep-deprived college students struggled with concentration, memory retention, and problem-solving skills necessary for academic success. An online survey was administered to 100 undergraduate students at a large state university to assess sleep habits and grade point averages. Results indicated that students obtaining less than 7 hours of sleep per night reported lower GPAs than students with adequate sleep. The discussion addresses the implications of sleep deprivation on college campus environments and mental health. Modifications are recommended to promote healthier sleep habits among students.
Body Example:
Introduction
Approximately 20-30% of college students report feeling tired, drained, and unable to function due to lack of sleep (Hershner & Chervin, 2014). College is a time of academic demands, extracurricular activities, job responsibilities, and socializing that often compromise sleep (Hershner & Chervin, 2014). This paper examines the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive functions essential for academic performance such as concentration, memory, and problem-solving.
Method
A survey was administered to 100 randomly selected undergraduate students attending a large state university in the Midwest. Participants were asked to report their average number of hours slept per night during the academic week and their cumulative grade point average. Students were grouped according to hours slept as “adequate” (7-9 hours) or “insufficient” (less than 7 hours).
Results
An independent samples t-test revealed that students obtaining inadequate sleep had significantly lower GPAs (M = 2.89, SD = 0.56) than students with adequate sleep (M = 3.41, SD = 0.43), t(98) = 5.23, p < .001.
Discussion
The results supported the hypothesis that sleep-deprived college students have poorer academic achievement than well-rested students. The implications of sleep loss on cognitive performance and mental health are discussed. Modifications to academic policies, campus culture, and student wellness programs are proposed to encourage healthy sleep habits.
References
Coren, S. (1996). Accident and emergency hospital admission of insomniacs: A preliminary investigation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 58, 548–550. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199611000-00008
Hershner, S. D., & Chervin, R. D. (2014). Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6, 73–84. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S62907
This sample APA paper follows the official style format published in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition. The title page, abstract, body text formatting, headings, citations, and reference page adhere to APA specifications. Using this general format and style guide, college students learn how to consistently write research papers, literature reviews, dissertations, and more according to APA standards. Mastering APA format is an important academic skill that serves students well throughout their postsecondary education and careers.
Andrew Stroud