Research Paper First Draft Example in APA Format
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A first draft is an initial attempt to put thoughts on paper before fine-tuning and revising. Writing the first draft of a research paper can feel intimidating, but it is an essential step towards completing the final product. This article will provide a comprehensive example of what a first draft research paper following APA style and format may look like. Keep in mind this is just one way to approach a first draft – it does not need to be perfect and leaves room for improvement through the revision process.
The example paper explores how exposure to blue light before bedtime impacts sleep quality and duration. Key elements that would be included in this first attempt are described below.
Title Page
The title page introduces the title of the paper, author’s name, and affiliation (e.g. name of college or university). The title aims to clearly yet concisely summarize the topic. For this example, the title is: “The Effects of Pre-Bedtime Blue Light Exposure on Sleep Quality and Duration.”
Abstract
The abstract provides a brief summary of the paper. It states the research problem or issue being investigated, the participants and methodology used, the main findings or trends discovered, and conclusions. This abstract presents the goal of exploring how blue light exposure impacts sleep, describes using surveys to assess sleep quality and duration in 50 college students with varying blue light exposure before bed, shares that those with more exposure reported poorer sleep, and concludes blue light may disrupt sleep.
Introduction
The introduction provides background context on the research topic to inform the reader and establish why the study is important. It unpacks the problem statement, reviews previous literature on the issue, and states the purpose and hypothesis. This section covers what is known about blue light’s effects on circadian rhythm and melatonin production, how this may influence sleep, reviews mixed findings in past studies, and proposes exposure will correlate with worse sleep quality and less duration. The hypothesis is directly stated.
Method
The method section describes how the research was conducted step-by-step so it could potentially be replicated. It specifies the research design used, participants, materials, procedures, and how data was analyzed. This draft states a correlational research design was used, 50 volunteers aged 18-22 were surveyed, the survey measured hours of blue light and self-reported sleep quality and duration, and bivariate correlation was used to analyze relationships between variables.
Results
The results section objectively presents the statistical analysis or main findings without interpretation. Tables and figures can be included. This draft states a significant negative correlation was found between blue light exposure and both sleep quality and duration. The correlations are reported along with p-values.
Discussion
The discussion section interprets the results, considers limitations, and relates the findings back to previous literature and theories. It does not simply repeat what is in the results. This section reflects on what the negative correlations mean, acknowledges the study relied on self-report, suggests experimental research is needed, and believes the results support that blue light disrupts circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion.
References
References are formatted according to APA style and provide publication information for all in-text citations. At least 5 scholarly sources are included that were used to write the introduction, literature review, and discussion sections.
Conclusion
This research paper first draft example in APA format demonstrates one approach to completing an initial draft. While it may not be perfect, the key elements of title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references are included to move the writing process forward. The next step would be revising—strengthening writing, adding or removing content, improving structure and flow based on feedback. The revision process transforms an initial draft into a polished final product meeting assignment requirements. Getting the first draft done is the crucial first step towards completing the research paper.