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APA Treasure Hunt
Hannah Carter
School of Behavioral Sciences/Department of Social Work, “Liberty University”
PSYC255: Introduction to Research (D02)
David S Sosin
October 27, 2025
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“APA Treasure Hunt”
Title Page Differences
Professional and student APA papers require title pages, with differences in requirements.
Professional title pages, unlike student title pages, require an author note and a running head
(American Psychological Association, 2020). Whereas both require an affiliation, the affiliation
for a student title page will be the university attended and the department the student is in
(APA, 2020). The APA (2020) lists the requirements for student title pages which include, the
title of the paper, the author’s name, the author’s affiliation, the course number and name, the
instructor’s name, the assignments due date, and the page number. Unless the instructor of the
class has specific guidelines, the format listed by the APA (2020) will be used. This information
was found in the APA (2020) on page 30.
Abstract Details
The purpose of an abstract is to provide a summary of what is covered in the paper (APA,
2020). APA (2020) requirements for professional papers vary based on the type of paper. For
empirical articles, the abstract includes the problem being investigated, the data sources, details
of the study method, the findings of the study, and conclusions or applications of the findings.
For replication articles, the abstract includes the type of replication, details of the scope of the
replication, the original study(s), and conclusions. For quantitative or qualitative meta-analyses,
the abstract includes what is being investigated, characteristics for the inclusion of studies,
methods of synthesis, results, conclusions, and implications. For literature review articles, the
abstract includes the scope of the literature being examined, time covered, and conclusions. For
theoretical articles, the abstract includes how the theory/model works, principles it is based on,
what phenomena the theory/model tries to explain, and correlations to empirical results.
Finally, for methodological articles, the abstract includes general class, essential features, the
range of how the methods are applied, and features of the approaches or methodological
integrity. In professional papers, the abstract is located by itself on the page directly following
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the title page (APA, 2020). According to APA (2020), abstracts are not required on student
papers unless the instructor or institution requires it.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is “presenting the words, ideas, or images of another as your own; it denies
authors or creators of content the credit they are due” (APA, 2020). APA (2020) describes that
plagiarism violates ethical standards and to avoid plagiarism appropriate credit must be cited.
Self-plagiarism is presenting your previous work as original work (APA, 2020). This makes
readers believe that more information is available than truly is (APA, 2020).
The Liberty Way Student Honor Code provides rules that are like APA (2020) in
plagiarism. Division of Student Affairs (2024) states that academic dishonesty is improving
academic standing through dishonest means. Plagiarism is used to improve academic standing.
The rules state “Plagiarism is the failure to give attribution to the words, ideas, images, or
information of others on papers, projects or any assignment prepared for a course” (Division of
Student Affairs, 2024). This aligns with APA (2020), in that plagiarism is using the work of
another person as your own. The Division of Student Affairs (2024) also states “Submitting work
previously used to fulfill academic requirements for any course at any institution at any level,
including Liberty University, without permission from a student’s current professor”, which
aligns with the APA (2024) definition of self-plagiarism. Furthermore, the Division of Student
Affairs (2024) states that falsification is misrepresenting the truth to advance in academic
achievement, which is what plagiarism is. The Division of Student Affairs (2024) and the APA
(2020) highlight the importance of integrity, properly giving sources credit, and remaining
honest.
Formatting Examples
Headings
Headings provide organization to papers and state the purpose behind each section
(APA, 2020). They are used to help readers understand the organization of the paper, find
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information they are looking for, and ease the flow of information (APA, 2020). This information
was found on page 46 of the publication manual. There are five levels to heading with specific
requirements, with some examples listed next (APA, 2020). A level one heading must be
centered, bold, and have title case heading. A level two heading must be flush left, bold, and
have title case heading. A level three heading must be flush left, bold italic, and have title case
heading. Headings are important to organizing and making a paper flow.
Organization as the Author
An organization is considered a group author, and the name of the organization should
be used in the citation if the source title page lists only the organization name and not the
individuals that wrote the content (APA, 2020). APA (2020) states that the first in-text citation
should have the full name of the organization. The following in-text citations can be
abbreviated, especially if the abbreviation is commonly used (APA 2020). This information was
found on pages 288 and 268 of the publication manual. (American Psychological Association,
2020) is an example of the first in-text citation with (APA, 2020) as the subsequent in-text
citations. The reference should include the author, date published (in parentheses), title
(abbreviated), and source (APA, 2020). A period should follow each reference element (APA,
2020). Additionally, according to APA (2020), the name of the organization will be the author
and should not be abbreviated in the reference. This information was found on pages 282, 283,
288, and 329 of the publication manual. An example of a reference with an organization as the
author is listed below:
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Religious Works
When writing a reference for religious works, they are typically written as if they have no
author, but an annotated version of a religious work would credit the editor (APA, 2020). APA
(2020) states that when there is no author, the reference should list the title followed by a
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period and then the date. When the date is unknown or in dispute, it is not included (APA,
2020). However, if the religious work (such as the bible) has an original and republished date,
both are used, with the original work being the first date in the reference and the republished
date following the source in parentheses (APA, 2020). This information was found on pages 289,
302, and 325 of the publication manual. An example of a religious work citation is below:
New International Bible. (2011). New International Bible Online.
https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-international-version-niv-bible/ (Original
work published 1978)
To create in-text citations for religious works that have no author, the title is used. As with other
in-text citations, the date (original date/republished date) will follow with a comma separating
the elements. If a specific verse is being cited, the book, chapter, and verse will follow the date.
For example, (New International Bible, 1978/2011, 1 Cor. 13:1). This information was found on
page 264 of the publication manual.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Division of Student Affairs. (2024). The Liberty way: Student honor code 2024-2025. Liberty
University. The Liberty Way – Student Honor Code | Student Affairs | Liberty University
