APA Types of Articles
Dr. Gustafson
Multiple Styles of Journal Articles
•
•
•
•
•
•
Empirical Studies
Literature Reviews
Theoretical Articles
Methodological Articles
Case Studies
Other Types of Articles
Empirical Studies
•
•
•
•
APA Manual 6th Edition 1.01
Reports of original research (quan. or qual.)
Content not contained in previous reports
Include distinct sections
▫
▫
▫
▫
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Literature Reviews
• APA Manual 6th Edition 1.02
• Synthesis of previous research on a topic
▫ Meta-Analysis (sub-type of a literature review)
• Purpose:
▫
▫
▫
▫
synthesize previous work
define and clarify the problem
identify relationships, gaps, inconsistencies
suggest next steps
• Various strategies of organization and structure
Theoretical Articles
• APA Manual 6th Edition 1.03
• Use existing research to advance theory
▫ Examine theory over time
▫ Examine external validly of theory
▫ Highlight flaws in theory
• Various strategies of organization and structure
Methodological Articles
• APA Manual 6th Edition 1.04
• Present new methodological approaches to the
study of a topic
▫ Modify existing strategies of inquiry
▫ Discuss methodological approaches – for research
community
• Should include enough detail to be well
understood and accessible to the research
community
Case Studies
• APA Manual 6th Edition 1.05
• Reports of case material (from work with an
individual or group)
• Purpose is to indicate a problem and provide a
possible solution to the problem
• Confidentially must be carefully considered
• Although there are some parallels, this type of
article should not be confused with the case
study strategy of inquiry in the qualitative
research design.
Other Types of Articles
• APA Manual 6th Edition 1.06
• The APA recognizes other types of articles
included in journals. Examples include:
▫ Brief reports
▫ Comments and replies on previously published
work
▫ Book reviews
▫ Obituaries
▫ Letters to the editor
▫ Monographs
Additional Information
• Included in this PowerPoint are the types of articles
recognized by the APA as journal articles in the
Behavioral and Social Sciences.
• As a student, you will also be asked to engage in
additional types of writing assignments that are not
included here (response papers, online forums, book
reports, annotated bibliographies, analysis papers,
clinical reports, grant proposals, thesis,
dissertations, etc.)
• Regardless of assignment style, always follow the
instructions provided by your instructor and in your
course syllabus. This PowerPoint is only intended as
a general guide of APA journal articles types.