The American Medical Association (AMA) style is commonly used for formatting papers in the medical and scientific fields. When writing a research paper in AMA format, there are specific guidelines to follow for the overall paper structure, in-text citations, reference list, numbers and units, and abbreviations.
The overall structure of an AMA style paper follows a basic introduction, methods, results, discussion format. Begin with an abstract that is a brief summary no longer than 250 words. The abstract summarizes the key points of the paper but does not include references or abbreviations. The introduction section provides background on the topic and states the specific purpose or research question.
The methods section thoroughly describes how the research was conducted so that other researchers could replicate the study. Include details on the design, setting, participants or materials used, data collection and analysis techniques. Use past tense verbs for completed actions. The results section objectively presents the key findings from the study without interpretation. Use tables and figures to display results in addition to text. Present results that directly relate to the purpose and methods described previously.
In the discussion section, interpret and explain the significance of what you found in relation to your stated purpose or research question. Also compare and contrast your results to previous relevant studies. Discuss strengths and limitations of the study and suggest further areas of research. Conclude by summarizing the most important results and conclusions without introducing new information.
For in-text citations in AMA style, list citations in numerical order within the body of the text using superscripted numbers. Corresponding reference entries are listed numerically at the end of the paper without having to cite by author and date. For citations of up to three authors, list all authors last names followed by et al. For four or more authors, list the first author followed by et al. Always include page numbers for direct quotes.
The reference list provides full publication details for all cited sources so readers can easily locate each source. List references numerically in the order they are first cited in the text. The basic components for journal articles include authors, article title, journal name, year, volume, and inclusive page numbers. Other referenced sources like books include additional elements like editors, edition, city of publication, and publisher. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a journal title, italics the journal title.
For numbers, use numerals for values 10 and greater while spelling out numbers less than 10 unless they relate to units of measurement, page numbers, or year. Include units of measurement with all values. For measurements, use the International System of Units (SI units) where applicable. Ex: 10 mL, 5 mg, measurements in cm. Use commas in numbers of four or more digits for readability.
Regarding abbreviations, limit use to standard medical abbreviations and those commonly recognized in the literature. Spell out an abbreviation on its first mention followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Consistently use the abbreviation for all subsequent mentions. Maintain consistency in abbreviation use throughout the paper. Do not use abbreviations in the title or abstract.
Following the AMA style guidelines properly presents research in a clear, objective manner that medical and science professionals expect. The key components ensure readers easily understand the methods, results and conclusions of a study. Proper structure and citation/reference formatting respects copyright and ethics by accurately attributing sources. Adhering to conventions facilitates sharing ideas and building upon existing scientific knowledge.