APA Style
Why Do We Need APA Style?

The purpose of APA style writing is to:
- Provide uniformity in writing for publication in the
social science fields
- Provide a standard of communication
• Clarity
• Precision
• Organization

APA style is used for:
- Term Papers or Literature Reviews
- Research Publication
- Presentations
APA Manual

The manual was originally published in
1929 (APA, 2009).

We will be using the 6th edition.

Contains almost everything one needs
to know about writing for publishing in
the social sciences (or for your class
assignments).
Types of Papers

There are two major types of papers:
- Literature Reviews*
- Empirical Studies

Similarities:
-
Both require the standard title page
Both require an abstract
Both require an introduction
Both require the standard reference pages
Both require double spacing, Times New Roman font,
and 1” margins around the page.
Title Page

Key Components:
-
Running head in the Header
Page number
Title of the paper
Author’s name
Institutional affiliation:
• Organization
• University
• City and State, if no affiliation exists
The Title

Key components:
-

Should tell readers exactly what the paper is about
Should not be a question
Should not be cute
Typically less than 12 words
Located exactly 4 “Enter” key strokes from the first
line of the page.
The title is used as the basis for the running
head.
Abstract
A separate page, after the title, before
the introduction
 Contains:


The problem being examined
Description of participants/subjects (ES)
The major findings (ES)
Major conclusions and implications.
Keep it brief
- Number of words allowed varies by journal
Introduction

Key Components:
- Summarizes the problem and its
importance
- Provides the reader with background
information
- Thesis Statement
- Explain conflicting/competing studies
- Relevance/necessity of the study
- Present the hypotheses of the study
Reference Page

Key Components:
- The word “References” on the first line of the page,
centered.
- An APA reference for every source cited in the body of
the paper
- Alphabetical order by first author’s last name

Do not:
- List any reference not cited in the body of the text
- Number, bullet, or outline the references
- Forget to list a reference cited in the body of the text
Body of a Literature Review
Similar to an essay
 Headings:

- Guide the reader through the paper
- Separate discussions such as:
• Common variables used
• Supporting and/or competing theories
• Different models

There are no set number of sections or
formal section types.
Body of an Empirical Paper

After the introduction:
- Methods
• Includes description of the participants, measures
materials used, data analysis methods
- Results
• Contains the data analysis outcomes
- Discussion
• Analysis and interpretation of the outcomes and
findings
• Comparison to other researchers’ findings
• Short comings of the study conducted
• Implications on current theory and future research