The American Psychological Association (APA) has established a set of guidelines for writing research papers known as APA style. Writing a research paper using APA style requires understanding the key elements of research methods and how to apply them in the structure and formatting of an APA paper. Some of the main elements of research that are key to addressing in an APA paper include understanding the purpose of the study, developing research questions or hypotheses, detailing the methodology used to collect and analyze data, and presenting the findings in relation to existing literature on the topic. A successful APA style paper will integrate these elements cohesively while following the standardized formatting guidelines established by the APA.
The first section of an APA research paper is the abstract, which provides a brief summary of the paper. The abstract is typically 150-250 words and includes the purpose of the study, key methodology used, major findings or trends identified, and the main conclusions drawn from the results. It presents a high-level overview of the paper but does not include any citations or references. Directly after the abstract, the paper should have the keywords section, which lists 3-5 important terms related to the research topic to aid searchability.
Following the abstract and keywords, the paper then moves into the main body, which should begin with an introductory paragraph identifying the focus of the research study by discussing the research problem or issue being investigated. After introducing the problem, the introduction moves to review current literature and research on the topic, highlighting gaps, controversies, or areas needing further study. The literature review concludes by stating the purpose of the research study and briefly introducing the method and design.
The method section provides a detailed explanation of the procedures and methodology used to examine the research problem and questions. Elements covered include the research design, setting and participants, instrumentation, and procedures. This section allows readers to critically evaluate the research process and assess whether appropriate techniques were used to examine the issue. It provides context to interpret the results and determine if the methodology was aligned with answering the research questions.
Next is the results section, which presents the analysis and key findings of the research. This section utilizes tables, figures, or examples to display patterns identified in the data. Results are reported clearly, objectively, and without interpretation. The discussion section then interprets these results, comparing and contrasting findings to previous research and theories discussed in the literature review. It addresses how results did or did not support the original hypotheses while acknowledging limitations and areas for future research.
The conclusion revisits the research problem and reviews how the study addressed the issue. It summarizes main findings andtheir implications. While conclusions tie back to the introduction, they do not simply restate previous text but synthesize the key elements of the study. Any recommendations for practical application or future avenues of exploration also belong in the conclusion. The references section follows, listing full citations for all sources mentioned within the text, formatted according to APA style guidelines. A properly formatted reference section includes all necessary bibliographic elements for each source.
Additional sections like appendices or a list of tables and figures may follow depending on the individual study. Overall structure and adherence to formatting guidelines are vital for an APA research paper to be viewed as scholarly and professionally presented. Key requirements include one-inch margins all around, Times New Roman 12pt font, double-spacing throughout, left alignment, page headers with abbreviated running title on the right and page numbers at the top, and section headings centered and boldfaced. Ultimately, thoroughly integrating research methods and following APA style allows students to effectively communicate their studies and findings and join the ongoing scholarly conversation around important topics.