What does APA regulate?
Stylistics
In-text citations
References (a list of all the sources used in the paper)
Writing Style
APA emphasizes clear communication, organization, and smooth and precise style
Continuity
...
What does APA regulate?
Stylistics
In-text citations
References (a list of all the sources used in the paper)
Writing Style
APA emphasizes clear communication, organization, and smooth and precise style
Continuity in presentation of ideas
Smoothness of expression
Precision and Clarity
Avoid colloquial expressions
"I will come up with a research..."
"Many times..."
"Whether or not..."
Avoid approximations that are ambiguous
"quite a large part"
"most people"
Avoid clichés
"Old as time"
"All that glitters is not gold"
Active voice
APA Style encourages using the active voice ("We interpreted the results ...").
Especially when the subject performing the action should be clearly identified (e.g. "We interviewed ..." vs. "The participants responded ...").
Numbers as Numerals
Numbers above 10
Numbers in your abstract (that aren't at the beginning of the sentence)
Numbers immediately preceding a unit of measurement (5-mg dosage)
Numbers that represent mathematical functions (multiplied by 5)
Numbers that represent time, ages, score, or points on a scale.
Numbers that reference a table or a figure (In Table 1)
Numbers as Words
Numbers zero-nine
A number that begins a sentence, title, or heading
Common fractions (one fifth)
Universally accepted usage (the Twelve Apostles)
Grammar
Use complete sentences
No fragments
Complex sentences are welcomed (that doesn't mean run-on sentences)
No contractions:
Incorrect: "The results didn't show an increase....."
Correct: "The results did not show an increase....."
Verbs
Use past tense (showed) or present perfect tense (has shown) for the Introduction, the description of the methods, and the description of the results
Use present tense (show) for the discussion and conclusion
Reducing Bias in Language
Avoid sexist bias
e.g., do not use he to refer to both sexes
Avoid gendered pronouns
Avoid "he" or "she"
Racial and ethnic identities, disabilities, & age are other areas to avoid language bias.
You can describe participants using the parameters of your research
E.g. "Results showed differences between those with high self-esteem compared to those with low self-esteem...."
E.g. "Patients diagnosed with cancer..."
General Format
Standard-sized paper (8.5 x 11)
Typed- 12 pt Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
1 inch margins on all sides
Running Head on every page
Page number on every page
Major Sections
Your essay should include four major sections: Title page, Abstract, Main body, References
Each of these sections begins on a new page
Tables and figures follow the reference section
The main body includes:
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Page Header (title page)
Title flush left
"Running head: ABBREVIATED TITLE"
No more than 50 characters
Page number flush right-just the number
Use the "Insert Header" option with "different first page"
Repeated on every page, with one change
Title (title page)
Upper half of the page and centered
Double-spaced
Full title of the paper
No more than 12 words
No abbreviations
Upper & lower case letters
Name (no title or degree)
Affiliation (university, etc.)
No date & Instructor name
Running Head (title page)
Now without "Running head:"
This is how it should look the rest of the paper
Heading
"Abstract"
Centered but not bolded
At the top of the page
The Abstract
Should be a brief summary of your paper that is concise and accurate.
Should contain: research topic, research question(s), participants, method, result(s), data analysis, and conclusions
May also include possible implications
Between 150-200 words
No indentation (block formatting)
Best to write after finishing the paper.
Main Body
Heading:
Same as on abstract page
Title:
Same title from title page
Centered on first line
Introduction
The introduction does not have a heading
Text of your paper starts on the first line after the title.
Main Body
Includes: Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion.
This section begins on a new page (page 3) after the Abstract, but all four of the subsections within the main body flow without a page-break
Exception- if the title of the subsection splits a page
Heading & Subheadings
Function as an outline & reveal organization
Bullets are not acceptable in APA
Do not have just one subsection within a section (i.e., if you have an A, you must have a corresponding B)
Incorrect: Procedure
Survey.
Correct: Procedure
Survey.
Stress hormones.
APA Headings
APA uses a system of five heading levels:
1. Centered, boldface, upper and lowercase headings.
2. Left-aligned, boldface, upper and lowercase headings.
3. Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with a period.
4. Indented, boldface,italicized, lowercase heading with a period.
5. Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with a period.
Section and sub-section headings
Section headings always receive level one formatting
Each sub-section of the Main Body begins at level 1
Running Head (references page)
Still there with the page number
Heading (references page)
"References" should be at the top and centered, but not in bold
Remember that this section starts on a new page
References (references page)
All sources referenced in your paper must appear in your references section
The first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines are indented (this is called "hanging indent")
Entries are in alphabetical order, by the first author's surname (followed by 1st initial)
Double spaced
References: The Basics
Titles:
Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, the first word after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper nouns.
Only book titles should be in italics
Journals:
Capitalize all major words in the title of a journal (not the title of the article)
In italics
Volume:
In italics
Electronic journal (reference example)
Last name, A.A., Last name, B.B., & Last name, C.C. (year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume, pp-pp.
Thomas, A., Donnell, A. J., & Buboltz, W. C. (2001). The Hong Psychological Reactance Scale: A confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 2-13.
Book (reference example)
Last name, A.A. & Last name, B.B. (year). Title of the work. Location: Publisher.
Triandis, H. C. & Smith, G.F. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
In-text Citation
Whenever you refer to ideas or findings that are originally from another researcher, you MUST cite your source.
Include the author's LAST name and the date of publication
Do not include the title of the article or journal you used within text
Barton (2015) found cat purring reduces stress.
For quotations provide a page number as well but refrain from using quotes!
In your papers it is better to over-cite, than to under-cite
In-text (citation example)
Lonsbary (2002) found that conversation increases empathy.
Parenthetically (citation example)
Engaging in conversation increases empathy (Lonsbary, 2002).
Notice that there is not a period before the citation. The period only goes at the end of the sentence, following the citation.
In-text citation format
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