APA Style

APA (American Psychological Association) style is a writing guide that is commonly used in social sciences, particularly in psychology and education. It provides guidelines for formatting and citation of sources used in research papers, theses, and dissertations.

History of APA Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) was founded in 1892 as the American Psychologists Association. In 1906, it became known as the American Psychological Association. The association introduced its first publication, Psychology Review, in 1898, which later became one of the most widely read psychological journals.

In 1917, APA published its first edition of Research Methods in Psychology. This book outlined the guidelines for conducting research and presenting findings in a clear and concise manner.

Key Principles

APA Style is based on six basic elements:

  1. Title Page: The title page includes the following information:
    • Title
    • Author(s)
    • Institutional affiliation (optional)
    • Date of submission
  2. References: References are listed in alphabetical order, with a brief description and URL for each source.
  3. Headings: Headings are used to divide the paper into sections and provide context for the reader.
  4. Body Text: The body text is divided into paragraphs and includes an introduction, background information, results, discussion, and conclusion.

Formatting

The following guidelines apply to most types of APA manuscripts:

  • Font and Size: Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides.
  • Margins: One-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).
  • Indentation: Half-inch indentation for the first line of each paragraph.
  • Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the upper right corner of the first page.

References

APA Style requires a specific Citation Format for sources used in research papers. The following guidelines apply to most types of APA references:

  1. In-text Citations: In-text Citations are placed within the body text, using the author’s last name and publication year (e.g., “As Shotton (2018) suggests, …”).
  2. Reference List: A Reference List is included at the end of the manuscript, listing all sources cited in the paper.
  3. Format: References are formatted with a consistent Citation Style throughout the paper.

Types of Sources

APA Style recognizes three main types of sources:

  1. Primary Sources: Original data or research findings.
  2. Secondary Sources: Reviews, analyses, or summaries of existing research.
  3. ** tertiary Sources**: Textbooks, academic journals, and other materials that are not original research.

Citing Sources

When citing a source in APA Style, the following guidelines apply:

  1. Author-Date System: Use an author-date system for primary sources, where the author’s last name and publication year are included (e.g., “Bergstrom, 2020”).
  2. No Author: No author is used when citing secondary or tertiary sources.
  3. In-text Citations: In-text Citations are placed in a parenthetical format (e.g., “As Bergstrom (2020) suggests”).

Additional Guidelines

  • Figures and Tables: Figures and tables should be labeled with a title and include a caption that provides context for the image or table.
  • Dissertations and Theses: Dissertations and theses are treated as monographs, which require a specific Citation Format (e.g., “Smith (2020)” instead of just “Smith”).
  • Online Sources: Online sources should be cited using a URL or DOI.

Style Manual Updates

The APA Publication Manual, 7th ed. (2023), is the primary reference for APA Style guidelines. The publication manual is available online and provides detailed information on formatting, citations, and references.

By following these guidelines, writers can ensure that their research papers conform to the standards of APA Style and provide clear and concise communication of findings.