Introduction
Writing a research paper in APA style requires adherence to certain formatting guidelines. Students are often asked to write papers in APA style for psychology and other social science courses. The American Psychological Association publishes an official manual for this writing and citation style. Understanding how to format APA style papers, citing sources, and developing a strong thesis statement and topic sentences are key components to writing successful research papers. This article provides sample research papers in APA format to help demonstrate what these look like in practice.
Sample Student Research Paper in APA Style (Reduced Sample)
This section provides a sample APA paper which includes a brief overview of content and formatting guidelines. No sample works cited page is included due to copyright concerns. For the actual template, see https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation_resources/research_paper_sample.html
Title of Paper Goes Here and Is Centered
Your name
School name
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Due Date
Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of the paper. The abstract is typically between 150-250 words. Abstracts are written in block format. The first sentence, or topic sentence, introduces the overall paper topic and focus. The final sentence functions as the conclusion sentence summarizing the paper’s key points. The remaining sentences provide a brief overview of the introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections.
Research Question and Hypothesis
The research question and hypothesis come next on a new page. The research question presents the specific question that the research seeks to answer. The hypothesis presents a specific, testable prediction about the research question. The research question and hypothesis are usually short, clear sentences.
Method
The method section describes the overall research design and specific procedures used to collect and analyze data. Experiments use an empirical research design and often manipulate at least one independent variable. Surveys use a quantitative descriptive design and describe trends in a population. This section generally includes subsections describing the participants and sampling method, materials or measures used, and procedures followed. The method section provides enough detail that another researcher could replicate and extend the study.
Results
The results section concisely summarizes obtained data and statistical outcomes. Tables and figures are labeled and referenced in text. Relevant statistical tests and outcomes are described either in text or parenthetically. Descriptive statistics appropriate to the study design are reported as well as inferential statistics if applicable. The results simply and objectively report relevant outcomes of data analyses without interpretation.
Discussion
The discussion section evaluates and interprets the results and links findings to theory, hypotheses, and prior research. Findings are discussed in the context of existing empirical and theoretical literature and hypotheses. Connections between results and implications are made. Study limitations and directions for future research are suggested. The discussion section does not simply restate results but provides an integrative framework to interpret results with insight into applications and extensions of the research topic.
References
References appear alphabetically by author’s family name (not per citation). For more than one work by an author, list references by year (earliest to latest). Use hanging indent formatting and 10-12 point Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman font. Omit “Retrieved from” for web content. See https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation_resources/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html for specific electronic source reference examples.
Summary
This paper provided a sample student APA paper formatted according to typical sections used in social science research papers. The paper demonstrated key components including a title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, and discussion sections along with in-text citations and a reference list. Understanding the elements and purpose of each section helps students successfully write empirical research papers in APA style across the social sciences. The provided template demonstrates how to structure content, paraphrase and cite sources, and develop a logical flow following APA style guidelines.