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7th edition

Anatomy of a Journal Article Scientific journal articles share a common anatomy, or structure. Each part of an article serves a purpose, and if you know the purpose, you can become more efficient at reading and understanding articles. Instead of reading from beginning to end, consult targeted sections according to the kind of information you need to learn at your stage of the writing process. You will save time and find better sources because the search itself becomes easier.

Title and Author • Tells you what the article is about

(topic, variables, population, etc.) • “The face” of the article • Identifies who did the work and

where they work

Abstract • Summary of the article • “Takes the pulse” of the article so

you can decide whether to read more

• Always free, easy to find

Introduction • Provides background and context • Shows the “family tree” of

knowledge about the paper topic • Poses research question • Justifies significance of study

Method • Provides step-by-step directions

(“map” of the study) • Describes who was in the study

(participants) and what they did (materials and procedures)

Results • What the study found (the “rabbit

in the magic hat”) • Usually includes statistics • Often incorporates tables and

figures • Answers the research question

Discussion • Key study “takeaways” or

conclusions • Interprets results • States strengths and limitations • Explores real-world implications • Identifies areas for future research

Tables and Figures • Visual representations of data

(“charts and bars”) • Often show demographic data and

differences between groups • Summarize methods and results

Reference List • Identifies all sources cited in the text

(the “DNA” of the knowledge in the paper) and helps you get them

• Credits and acknowledges others’ work so plagiarism is avoided

Last updated September 12, 2023

More information on APA Style can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) and the Concise Guide to APA Style (7th ed.).

CITE THIS HANDOUT:

American Psychological Association. (2023). Anatomy of a journal article. https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional- aids/anatomy-journal-article.pdf

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