APA Paper

APA Citation Style Formatting

The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is the most commonly used format for manuscripts in the social sciences. The major concerns when reporting research in the APA format is clarity and conciseness. APA Citation Style Formatting regulates: Stylistics, In-text citations and References. Major Components for APA Citation Style Formatting include: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and Reference Page.

Examples of the APA Citation Style Formatting are found in the accompanying paper: Can Medication Cure Obesity in Children? A Review of the Literature by Luisa Mirano, Northwest-Shoals Community College. The page number where the example is located is listed in the column labeled “Example”.

General Format of the essay:

· Should be typed, double-spaced

· on standard-sized paper (8.5”x11”)

· 1” margins on all sides

· 10-12 pt. Times New roman or a similar font

· Include a Page Header in the upper left-hand corner of every page and a page number in the upper right-hand side of every page

Title Page

Title page includes:

Details

Example

Running header

· On the top left corner of the title page type the words “Running Head:”

· After the semi colon, type the shortened title max 50 characters, all uppercase

· The title will appear on all other pages without the words” running head” in front of it- flush to the upper left margin

Page 1

Page number

· Page number flush right

· Starts with the title page as page 1

Title

· Title should summarize the main idea of the paper

· In the upper half of the page

· Centered on page

Author byline

· Your name is on next line after the title

· No title or degree

Institutional affiliation

· University or organization you are affiliated with is on the next line after author byline

White worth University

Abstract

Abstract page includes:

Details

Example

Running Head

· Use Insert Page Header

· Top left corner on title page

· Shortened title, max 50 characters, all uppercase

· Do NOT include the words “Running head:”

Page 2

Heading

· Center the word “Abstract ”one inch from the top of the page

Body of Abstract

· Do not indent the paragraph Page

· Write 150-250 word summary of your paper in an accurate, concise, and specific manner.

· The abstract summarizes the problem, participants, hypotheses, methods used and conclusions.

· Provides the reader with the main idea and key points of your paper.

· Might provide any applications or implications of the research in your paper.

· After the abstract, return on line and Center text. Type Keywords: then list the keywords separated by commas

Main Body

The Main Body includes:

Details

Example

Running Head

· Insert the Shortened title, max 50 characters, all uppercase

Page 3

Page number

· Number the first text page as page 3

· Page number flush right

Main Body (Text)

· Type & center title of paper at top of page

· Type text double spaced with all sections following each other with no break

· Paragraphs indented, no extra space

Tables (Page 6)

· Label tables with Arabic numeral (Table 1, Table 2, and so on)

· Provide a title

· The label and title should appear on separate lines above the table, flush left and double-spaced.

· Below the table, give its source in a note. If any data in the table require an explanatory footnote, use a superscript lowercase letter in the body of the table and in a footnote following the source note. Double-space source notes and footnotes and do not indent the first line of each note

Figures

· You may provide an additional title centered above figure

· Label and title appear on the same line below the figure

· Cite the source below the label and the title

· For each figure, place a label and a caption below the figure, flush left, and double-spaced. The label is italicized and the caption is not italicized (for example, Figure 1. Population of Washington State). The label and caption need not appear on separate lines.

In the text of your paper, discuss the most significant features of each visual (tables and figures). Place the visual as close as possible to the sentences that relate to it unless your instructor prefers it in an appendix.

Writing Style

· Entire paper should be in third person voice. Do not use I, you, we, us Rather use he, she, it, they, this author

· We reviewed the literature. (incorrect)

· The authors reviewed the literature. (correct)

General In-text Citation Information

· When quoting, introduce the quotation with a signal phrase

· Include Author’s name, year of publication, page number

· In-text citations help show respect to someone else’s intellectual property (avoid plagiarism)

· In-text citations help readers locate the cited source in the references page

APA Headings

APA uses a system of five heading levels. For this class use the Level 1 format. In Level 1 major headings are centered and boldface. Capitalize the first word of the heading, along with all words except articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.

Level

Format

1

Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Headings

2

Left-aligned, boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading

3

Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with a period. Begin text after period.

4

Indented boldface, italicized, lowercase heading with a period. Begin text after period.

5

Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with a period. Begin text after period.

Examples of Headings for a Methods Section

Method (Level 1 heading)

Site of Study (Level 2 heading)

Text begins…..

Sample and Population Description (Level 2 heading)

Text begins…..

Certified teachers. (Level 3 heading) Text begins…..

Pre K. (Level 4 heading) Text begins…..

Private schools. (Level 5 heading) Text begins…..

Public schools. (Level 5 heading) Text begins…..

Enrolled students. (Level 4 heading) Text begins…..

Direct Quotations Examples

Type of quote

Details

APA Research Paper Example by Mirano

40 words or less

· Incorporate the quotation into text

· Enclose the quotation with double quotation marks

· Include page number (p. for one page, pp. for more than one page)

· Punctuation is after the parenthesis.

Page 10

More than 40 words

· Display the quotation in a freestanding block of text

· Omit quotation marks

· At the end of the block quotation, cite the quoted source and the page or paragraph number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark

· If there is a new paragraph started within the quote, indent the new quoted paragraph ½”

· Double spaced throughout the quotation

Page 10

In-Text Citation Examples

Type of citation

First citation in text

Subsequent citations in text

Parenthetical format, first citation in text

Parenthetical format, subsequent citations in text

One work by one author

Walker (2007)

Walker (2007)

(Walker, 2007)

(Walker, 2007)

One work by two authors

Walker and Allen

(2004)

Walker and Allen (2004)

(Walker & Allen,

2004)

(Walker & Allen, 2004)

One work by three to five

authors

Bradley, Ramirez,

Soo, and Walsh (2006)

Bradley et al. (2006)

(Bradley, Ramirez,

Soo, & Walsh,

2006)

(Bradley et al., 2006)

One work by six or more

authors

Cahn et al. (2005)

Cahn et al. (2005)

(Cahn et al., 2006)

(Cahn et al., 2006)

Groups (readily identified

through abbreviation) as authors

National Institute

of Mental Health

(NIMH, 2003)

NIMH (2003)

(National Institute

of Mental Health

[NIMH], 2003)

(NIMH, 2003)

Groups (no abbreviation)

as authors

University of

Pittsburgh (2005)

University of

Pittsburgh (2005)

(University of

Pittsburgh, 2005)

(University of Pittsburgh, 2005)

Authors with same last names

M.A. Light and Light (2008)

M.A. Light and Light (2008)

(B. Kachru, 2005; Y. Kachru, 2008)

(B. Kachru, 2005; Y. Kachru, 2008)

Two or more works two authors

Kachru (2005) and Smith (2008)

Kachru (2005) and Smith (2008)

(Kachru, 2005; Smith, 2008)

(Kachru, 2005; Smith, 2008)

Two or more works by published in the same year by the same author

Smith’s (1998a) study of adolescent immigrants…

Smith’s (1998a)

(Smith, 1998a)

(Smith, 1998a)

Work or website by Unknown Author (Use source’s full title + title of publication in quotation marks)

According to “Indiana Joins Federal Accountability System” (2008)

(“Indiana Joins Federal,” 2008)

(“Indiana Joins Federal,” 2008)

(“Indiana Joins Federal,” 2008)

Quotes & Specific parts of a source

Fox and Fallows note, “…” (2001, p.9).

Fox and Fallows also note, “…” (2001, p.11).

(Fox & Fallows, 2001)

(Fox & Fallows, 2001)

Personal communication Interviews, letters, e-mails, etc.

A.P. Smith also claimed that many of her students had difficulties with APA style (personal communication, 3, 2002)

(A.P. Smith, personal communication, January 3, 2002)

(A.P. Smith, personal communication, January 3, 2002)

(A.P. Smith, personal communication, January 3, 2002)

In-Text Citation Examples (Continued)

Type of citation

First citation in text

Video

As seen in Sicko (Moore, 2007).

Electronic sources

(if no page number use paragraph number/heading)

According to Smith (1997),… (Mind over Matter Section, para. 6)

Law

(references to legal material)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) established protected classes.

Grading for Reference Material

5

3

1

All components are present, accurate, and in correct order

4 of the 6 components are present and in correct order

2 or less components present in correct order

References Sheet

Title page includes:

Details

Example

Double-space

·

Order entries alphabetically by author’s surname

Pages 12-13

Reference Sheet

· Includes all references used in paper

· If the reference is not cited it in the paper it should not be on the reference sheet

Details

Specific Examples

· Center title (References) at top of page. Do not bold it.

· Flush left the first line of the entry and indent subsequent lines

· Alphabetized by author

· Invert all authors’ names and use initials instead of first names. With two or more authors, use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. Separate the names with commas. Include names for the first seven authors; if there are eight or more authors, give the first six authors, three ellipsis dots, and the last author.

· Double space reference entries

· Hanging paragraph (Setting in word under lines spacing options, special)

· Abbreviations for “page” and “pages” (“p.” and “pp.”) are used before page numbers of newspaper articles and articles in edited books but not before page numbers of articles in magazines and scholarly journals

· When a URL or a DOI (digital object identifier) must be divided, break it after a double slash or before any other mark of punctuation. Do not insert a hyphen, and do not add a period at the end.

· Book- Single Author

Author, A.A. (year). Title of book. Location: Publisher.

Shotton, M. A. (1989). Computer addiction? A study of computer dependency. London, England: Taylor & Francis.

· Book- More than one author

Zarcadoolas, C., Pleasant, A. F. & Greer, D. S. (2006). Advancing health literacy: A framework for understanding and action. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.

· Book- Electronic (use the doi if available, is no doi use the URL)

Mayer, G.G. (2007). Health literacy in primary care: A clinician’s guide. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com

Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). The post-traumatic Stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery and growth [Adobe Digital Editions Version]. Detroit: Thomson Gale.

· Chapter of book

Author A.A. (year). Title of chapter or entry. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.) Title of book (pp. xxx-xxx). Location: Publisher.

Haybron, D.M. (2008). Philosophy and the science of subjective well-being. In M. Eid & R. Larsen (Eds), The science of subjective well-being (pp.17-43). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

· Journal- Print only

Author, A.A., Author, B.B., & Author, C.C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, x(x), pp-pp. Retrieved from URL

Sillick, T.J., &Schutte, N.S. (2006). Emotional intelligence and self- esteem mediate between perceived early parental love and adult happiness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2(2), 38-48. Retrieved from http://ojs.lib.swin.edu/au/index.php/ejap

· Book- Electronic (use the doi if available, if no doi use the URL)

Mayer, G. G. (2007). Health literacy in primary care: A clinician’s guide. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com

Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). The post-traumatic stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery and growth [Adobe Digital Editions version]. doi:10.1036/10071393722

· Journal with a doi

Author, A.A. & Author, B.B. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, x(x), pp-pp. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx

Herbst, K.L. &Kulik, J.A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Pyschology, 24, 225-229. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225

· Group as Authors, Corporate author, government report

Group or Government agency. (Year). Title of work (Report No. xxx). Location: Publisher.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2010). National Healthcare Disparities Report (AHRQ Publication No. 10-0004). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services.

· Website

When you are citing a particular document or piece of information from a website, include both a reference list entry and an in-text citation. The key to creating the reference list entry is to determine the type of content on the web page. Web references must have an associated date as specific as possible.

Basically, provide the following four pieces of information: Author, A. (date). Title of document [Format description]. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx

When there is no author for a web page, the title moves to the first position of the reference entry:

New child vaccine gets funding boost. (2001). Retrieved from http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/story_13178.aspx

· Document from website- Non Government

American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/sexualization.html

· Government Report from a website

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools (NIH Publication No. 02-2650). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/asth_sch.pdf

· Image

Applewhite, J. S. (2009). Dr. Francis Collins. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from http://www.apaimages.com

Obama in Egypt. (2009). Retrieved August 18, 2009 from http://memphistours.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/obama-in-egypt

· Video recording

O’Hara, M. (Producer), & Moore, M. (Director). (2007). Sicko [Motion picture]. United States: Weinstein Co. Home Entertainment.

· Law

Mental Health Systems Act, 42 U.S.C. §9401 (1988).

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, §2, 104 Stat. 328 (1991).

Grading Reference Material

5

3

1

Alphabetized, indentation, punctuation and elements are correct and present (Author, title, date, publisher)

3 of the components defined are present and in correct order

2 or less components are present