APA Style
6th Edition
What is this application about?
This instructional computer application is designed to introduce you to the use of APA format when writing a research paper.
You will find 5 concept questions (labeled "Quiz-me") embedded in the following pages to allow you to assess how well you are learning the material. Be sure to check your answers At the end of the application, you can print out a certificate with your score to submit to your instructor.
You can access more information by placing your cursor over the blue text or clicking the left mouse button on blue underlined text. Scroll through the pages in this application by clicking on the "next page" function at the bottom of the screen.
Sections of an APA Report Include:
-
Title page
-
Abstract
-
Introduction
-
Method
-
Results
-
Discussion
-
References
-
Table
- Figures
This instructional application is based on the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA, 2010).
Reference
Title Page Content Includes:
- Running head (short title)
- Page number on right top corner
- Title that refers to the IV and DV
- Your name
- Institutional affiliation
Example
Abstract Includes:
•Title labeled 'Abstract' in bold typed at top center of the page
•Summary of the entire paper that is double spaced, no first line indentation, and ranges from 150 to 250 words specifying:
- purpose
- participants
- procedure
- results
- conclusions
Example
Introduction Section Includes:
- Centered title
- A general statement of the problem
- An indication of why the topic is important
- A review of the research literature
- The purpose of the study & hypothesis
Example of a paper.pdf (click on this text)
Highlights of a research article
Introduction Section Continued: Citing Others' Work
Use Author (year) format for the following sentence structure:
- Margolin and Abrams (2009) found . . .
- Several studies found that X affects Y (Anon, 2004; Mulvaney & Mebert, 2007; Suess, Blik, & Wen, 2001)
- If multiple studies are cited, order of citations is based on alphabetization of first authors' last name
Use Author et al. (year) when
- 2nd time work is cited for > 2 authors
- Each time when > 5 authors
Method Section Includes:
- Title of "Method" in bold and centered
- Participants-who, age, gender, special characteristics, how many, how recruitedMaterials—what you used in your study
- Sample items from questionnaire
- Procedure (presented in great detail to allow replication)
- What happened from the participants' perspective
- Research design
- What was measured (DV)
- If applicable what was manipulated (IV)
- Instructions given
Example.pdf(click on this text)
Results Section Includes:
- 'Results' title in bold and centered
- Summary of data
- Only results, no interpretation of data
- Descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, standard deviation, standard error)
- Tables (Place after the reference section)
- Figures (Place after any tables and the reference section)
- Inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, etc.)
Example.pdf (click on this text)
Discussion Section Includes:
- "Discussion" title in bold and centered
- Summary of the overall findings
- Statement of whether the findings agree with past research (be sure to cite that research)
- Importance of the findings; whether they contribute to the research literature on the topic
- Limitations of the research (confounds, threats to internal validity, problems with generalizing the findings)
- Future research
Example.pdf (click on this text)
Reference Page Includes
- 'References' title in bold and centered
- List of references in alphabetical order according to first author's name
- Only the first word for the title of the article capitalized
- All major words in the journal title capitalized
- Journal name and volume in italics
- Page range (e.g., 45-56)
- Digital object identifier (doi) or, when unavailable, the URL of the journal home page
- Hanging indentation format
Reference format guide for different sources.pdf (click on this text)
Example.pdf (click on this text)