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Sep 30 2010 01:59pm


Section I. What is APA Style?
Section II. General Rules for APA Format
Section III. Title Page
Section IV. Abstract
Section V. In-Text Author Citations
Section VI.In-Text Article Citations
Section VII. Author References
Section VIII. Article References
Section IX. Book References
Section X. Electronic Sources
Section XI. Definition Session
Section XII. Conclusion


Section I. Introduction

APA
    APA stands for American Psychological Association. APA Style is a set of rules or guidelines that a publisher observes to ensure clear and consistent presentation of written material. It concerns uniform use of such elements as

      • selection of headings, tone, and length;
      • punctuation and abbreviations;
      • presentation of numbers and statistics;
      • construction of tables and figures,
      • citation of references; and
      • many other elements that are a part of a manuscript.

    Please keep in mind, the style may vary depending on your professors/teachers prefences!


Section II. General Rules for APA Format

Research Paper
    Are you writing a paper for a psychology class? Then you will need to use APA format to organize your paper and list the references you used. If you’ve never used APA format before, you may find that it is quite a bit different from some of the writing styles and guidelines you have used in the past. While it might take a while to get used to, learning how to write an APA paper is a useful skill that will serve you well throughout your years in high school and college.

Title Page
    Your title page should contain a running head, title, author name and school affiliation. Learn more about writing an APA format title page in the next section.


Abstract
    An abstract is a brief summary of your paper that immediately follows your title page. According to APA format, your abstract should be no more than 150 to 250 words, although this can vary depending upon the specific publication or instructor requirements. Learn more about writing an APA format abstract: How to Write an Abstract


In-Text Citations in APA Format
    When citing in APA format in the text of your paper, use the author's name followed by the date of publication. For example, if you were to cite Sigmund Freud's book The Interpretation of Dreams, you would use the following format: (Freud, 1900). The extended information on the source should then appear in your reference section.


Reference Page in APA Format

    • Your references should begin on a new page. Title the new page "References" and center the title text at the top of the page.

    • All entries should be in alphabetical order.

    • The first line of a reference should be flush with the left margin. Each additional line should be indented (usually accomplished by using the TAB key.)

    • While earlier versions of APA format required only one space after each sentence, the new sixth-edition of the APA style manual now recommends two spaces.

    • Each reference should be single-spaced, but be sure to double space between references.

    • All sources cited should appear both in-text and on the reference page. Any reference that appears in the text of your report or article must be cited on the references page, and any item appearing on your reference page must be also included somewhere in the body of your text.

    • Titles of books, journals, magazines, and newspapers should appear in italics.


Section III. Title Page

What is a Title Page?
    "The title page is the first page of your paper. It is important to have a well-formatted title page that clearly represents your paper. The following format should be used in both psychology lab reports and research articles. Your instructor may also request that you use a similar format for other types of psychology writing."

Formatting a Title Page
    • Article title
    • Authors name
    • Authors school affiliation
    • Running head
    • Page number (1)

Choosing a Title
    One of the most difficult tasks is choosing a good title. Your title should be as specific as possible. Notice the titles used in the following examples:

      • [Specific] "The Structures and Functions of the Brain"
      • [General] "The Brain"


Other Elements

    • A running head should be included in the upper left hand corner on all pages, including the title page.

    • All pages, including the title page, should include a page number located in the upper right hand corner.

    • The first line of your title page should be left-aligned at the top of the page, using the following format:

      Running Head: PAGE TITLE


    • Note that the running head should be listed as no more that fifty characters, including letters, spacing between words and punctuation, of your title in uppercase letters.

    • Your title, name, and school should be double-spaced and centered on the page.


Section IV. Abstract

Abstract
    The abstract is the second page of a lab report or APA-format paper and should immediately follow the title page. Think of an abstract as a condensed summary of your entire paper.

      1. First, write your paper. While the abstract will be at the beginning of your paper, it should be the last section that you write. Once you have completed the final draft of your psychology paper, use it as a guide for writing your abstract.

      2. Begin your abstract on a new page and place your running head and the page number 2 in the top right hand corner. You should also center the word Abstract at the top of the page.

      3. Keep it short. According to the APA style manual, an abstract should be no longer than 150 to 250 words. Exact word counts can vary from journal to journal. If you are writing your paper for a psychology course, your professor may have specific word requirements so be sure to ask. The abstract should also be written as only one paragraph with no indentation. In order to succinctly describe your entire paper, you will need to determine which elements are the most important.

      4. Structure the abstract in the same order as your paper. Begin with a brief summary of the Introduction, and then continue on with a summary of the Method, Results and Discussion sections of your paper.

      5. Look at abstracts in professional journals for examples of how to summarize your paper. Notice the main points that the authors chose to mention in the abstract. Use these examples as a guide when choosing the main ideas in your own paper.

      6. Write a rough draft of your abstract. While you should aim for brevity, be careful not to make your summary too short. Try to write one to two sentences summarizing each section of your paper. Once you have a rough draft, you can edit for length and clarity.

Tips:

    1. Look in academic psychology journals for examples of abstracts.
    2. Keep on hand a copy of a style guide published by the American Psychological Association, such as the Concise Rules Of Apa Style for reference.
    3. If possible, take your paper to your school's writing lab for assistance.

Section V. In-Text Author Citations

No Author
    How do you cite these resources in APA format? While most articles, books, and other reference materials will include an author attribution, some sources lack information on authorship. In-text citations should use a short article title enclosed in parentheses and the date. When article titles are long, simply use the first word or two of the title.

    For example:

      The study revealed a strong positive correlation between the two variables (“Learn APA", 2006).


One Author
    When a book, article, or other source lists only one author, simply provide the author’s last name followed by the publication date.]

    For Example:

      Another structure found in the temporal part of the forebrain is the hippocampus (Lundbeck, 2005)
      or
      Lundbeck (2005) states that another structure found in the temporal part of the forebrain is the hippocampus


Two Authors
    When a source lists two authors, your in-text citations should provide the last names of both authors and the publication date.

    For example:

      The brain stem is a term sometimes used to group the midbrain, the medulla and the pons together. (Feist and Rosenberg, 2010)
      or
      Feist and Rosenberg (2010) believes that the brain stem is a term sometimes used to group the midbrain, the medulla and the pons together .


Three to Five Authors
    Proper APA format for sources with three to five authors requires listing the last names of all authors the first time you cite the source as well as the publication date.

    For example:

      ...results indicated a strong positive correlation between the two variables (Robsen, Hutchkins, Ru, & Selanis, 1989).
      or
      Robsen, Hutchkins, Ru, & Selanis (1989) found a strong positive correlation between the two variables.

    Subsequent citations should list only the last name of the first author along with the publication date.

    For example:


      Robsen (1989) demonstrated the affects of…
      or
      ..in a study demonstrating these effects (Robsen, et al., 1989).


Six or More Authors
    Listing the last name of the first author as well as the publication date should cite sources with more than six authors.

    For example:

      ...students demonstrated competence after reading about APA format (Smith et al., 2005).
      or
      Smith et al., (2005) found that…


Organizational Authors
    How do you create an in-text citation in APA format when the author is an organization or entity? Always include the full name of the organization the first time you cite the source in-text. The citation should also include the acronym of the organization if one is available. Subsequent citations can simply list the acronym and the publication date.

    For example:

      The American Psychological Association (2000) reported that...
      or
      ...found that students responded positively (American Psychological Association [APA], 2000).
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Sep 30 2010 02:00pm
Section VI. In-Text Article Citations in APA Format

Basic Structure
    Articles appearing in journals and other periodicals should be cited using the author-date format. APA format citations should include the author's last name, followed by the date of publication.

    For example:

      …as Jones (2001) described…
      or
      ...the study found a significant statistical relationship between the two variables (Jones, 2001).

Citing Articles with no Authors
    In cases where no author is listed, include the short title of the article followed by the date of publication.

    For example:

      ...the findings were consistent with previous research ("New Study," 2003).


Tips
    • All direct quotations should include the page number of the source.
    • When citing an organization, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), spell out the entire name in the first citation. All further citations should use the appropriate acronym.


Section VII. Author References

Author References in APA Format
    APA format establishes a number of clear rules for how to list reference works using author information. Reference listings vary based on the number of authors to whom the source is attributed.

    Before you create a reference section for a psychology paper, it is important to know how to properly list books, articles, and other sources in APA format. The following guidelines can help you prepare a reference section in proper APA format.


No Author
    Articles and other works that do not provide an author attribution should begin with the title of the work. If the title is a book, list the title first in italics. The volume number and page numbers should follow article titles, while book titles should be followed by the location and publisher name.

    For example:

      A student guide to APA format. (1997). Psychology Weekly, 8, 13-27.
      and
      The ultimate APA format guidebook. (2006). Hartford, CT: Student Press.


One Author
    Works by a single author should list the author's last name and initials. The date of publication should be enclosed in parentheses and followed by the title of the article or book. Books and journals titles should be listed in italics. The volume number and page numbers of the article should follow journal titles, while book titles should be followed by the location and name of the publisher.

    For example:

      McCrae, R. R. (1993). Moderated analyses of longitudinal personality stability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 577-585.
      and
      Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.


Two Authors
    Works by two authors should list last names and first initials separated by an ampersand (&). These names should be followed by the date of publication enclosed in parentheses. If the work is a journal article, the title of the article should immediately follow the publication date. Next, the title of the book or journal should be listed in italics. If the reference is a journal article, provide the volume number and page numbers. For books, list the location and name of the publisher.

    For example:

      Kanfer, F. H., & Busemeyer, J. R. (1982). The use of problem-solving and decision-making in behavior therapy. Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 239-266.
      and
      Buss, A. H., & Pomin, R. (1975). A temperament theory of personality development. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.


Three to Seven Authors
    Works by three to seven authors should list last names and first initials of each author separated by an ampersand. Author names should be followed by the date of publication enclosed in parentheses.

    If the work is a journal article, include the title of the article immediately following the publication date. The title of the book or journal should then be listed in italics. If the reference is a journal article, provide the volume number and page numbers. For books, list the location and name of the publisher.

    For example:

      Abma, J. C., Chandra, A., Mosher, W. D., Peterson, L. S., & Piccinino, L. J. (1997). Fertility, family planning, and women’s health: New data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Vital and Health Statistics, 23(9), 1-67.
      and
      Alper, S., Schloss, P. J., Etscheidt, S. K., & Macfarlane, C. A. (1995). Inclusion: Are we abandoning or helping students? Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.


More than Seven Authors
    When a work is credited to more than seven authors, the reference is listed by providing the names of the first six authors followed by . . . and then the final author. The remainder of the reference follows the same format as that for six or less authors.

    Author last names and initials are followed by the date of publication enclosed in parentheses. The name of the article is listed immediately after the publication date. The title of the journal or the book title should be provided in italics. The volume number and page number should follow journal titles, while book titles should be followed by the location and publisher name.

    For example:

      Black, C. P., Arlo, S. T., Rechit, R., Machlen, J. P., Sempson, K., Bee, A. L., . . . Smith, R. K. (1999). Citing seven or more authors in APA format. Journal of APA Style and Format, 17, 45-75.
      and
      Black, C. P., Arlo, S. T., Rechit, R., Machlen, J. P., Sempson, K., Bee, A. L., . . . Clark, S. P. (2001). APA format for psychology students. Newark, NJ: Prentice-Hall.


Section VIII. Article References

Article References
    APA format details a set of clear rules for referencing articles that appear in academic journals and other periodicals. Article references will vary somewhat based on where the article appears and who authored the content.

    The reference section is one of the easiest places to lose points due to incorrect APA format, so always check your references before you hand in your psychology papers. Learning to reference articles in proper APA format can help you throughout your study of psychology. Check out the following rules and guidelines for referencing articles in APA format.


Basic Structure
    Start by listing the authors last name and first initials, followed by the date of publication in parentheses. Provide the title of the article, but only capitalize the first letter of the title. Next, list the journal or periodical and volume number in italics. Finally, provide the page numbers where the article can be found.

    For example:

      Author, I. N. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal or Periodical, volume number, page numbers.
      or
      Smith, L. V. (2000). Referencing articles in APA format. APA Format Weekly, 34, 4-10.


Magazine Articles:
    The structure for an article appearing in a magazine is similar to that of a journal article. However, the publication date should also include the month and day of publication.

    For example:

      James, S. A. (2001, June 7). Magazine articles in APA format. Newsweek, 20, 48-52.


Newspaper Articles:
    References for newspaper articles follow the basic structure, but use the initials ‘p.’ or ‘pp.’ to denote page numbers.

    For example:

      Tensky, J. A. (2004, January 5). How to cite newspaper articles. The New York Times, pp. 4D, 5D.


Section IX. Book References

Book References
    APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association and is used in most types of science and social science writing. Before you create a reference page for your papers, essays, articles, or reports, it is important to learn how to format your references in proper APA style. The following examples and guidelines can help you prepare book references in proper APA format.


Basic Structure:
    The basic structure of a book reference should list the author's last name, first initials, publication year, book title, location and publisher. Your reference should appear as follows:

      Author, I. N. (Year). Title of book. Location: Publisher.

    For example:

      Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.


Edited Book with One or More Authors:
    Edited books with one or more authors should follow the basic structure of a book reference and include the initials, last name, and 'Ed.' in parentheses after the book title.

    For example:

      Adler, A. (1956). The individual psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation of selections from his writings. (H. L. Ansbacher & R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.). New York: Basic Books.


Edited Book with No Author:
    Edited books with no author should list the last name and first initials of the editor or editors, followed by 'Ed.' or 'Eds.' in parentheses. The remainder of the reference should follow the basic structure and include the publication year, book title in italics, location, and publisher.

    For example:

      Atkinson, J. W. & Raynor, J. O. (Eds.). (1974). Motivation and achievement. Washington, DC: V. H. Winston.


Article Featured in an Edited Book:
    Articles by individual authors that appear in edited books should list the last name and first initial of the author, followed by the publication date and book title. Next, the editors should be noted followed by the location and publisher.

    For example:

      Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2005) History of Forensic Psychology. In I. B. Weiner & A. K. Hess (Eds.), The Handbook of Forensic Psychology (pp.1-27). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.


Translated Books:
    Books translated from another language should include the last name and first initial of the author, followed by the year of publication and book title. The first initials and last name of the translator and the notation 'Trans.' should then be included in parentheses. Next provide the location, publisher and a note of the original date of publication.

    For example:

      Freud, S. (1914). The psychopathology of everyday life. (A. A. Brill, Trans.). London: T. Fisher Unwin. (Original work published 1901).


Section X. Electronic Sources

Electronic Sources
    There are a number of special style concerns for referencing electronic sources in APA format. Online documents, journal articles, databases, and message boards all have unique referencing requirements. It is important to note the exact Web address on any online source you use. Always keep track of the electronic resources you refer to as you are researching a topic and collecting references. The following examples can help you prepare your electronic references in proper APA format.


Online Documents:
    The basic structure for referencing online documents is very similar to other references, but with the addition of a retrieval date and source. List the day you accessed the document online and provide the exact URL where it can be found.

      Author, A. A. (2000). Title of work. Retrieved month day, year, from source

    For example:

      Van Wagner, K. (2006). Guide to APA format. About Psychology. Retrieved November 16, 2006 from Site URL Here


Online Journal Article:
    Online journal articles should be cited much like print articles, but they should include additional information about the retrieval date and source location. The basic structure is as follows:

      Author, A. B., Author, C. D., & Author, E. F. (2000). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume number, page numbers. Retrieved month day, year, from source

    For example:

      Jenet, B. L. (2006) A meta-analysis on online social behavior. Journal of Internet Psychology, 4. Retrieved November 16, 2006 from Site URL Here


Article Retrieved from a Database:
    Articles that are retrieved from online databases are formatted like a print reference, but also provide information about the date the article retrieved and the location of the database.

    For example:

      Henriques, J. B., & Davidson, R. J. (1991) Left frontal hypoactivation in depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 535-545. Retrieved November 16, 2006 from PsychINFO database.


Online Forums, Discussion Lists, or Newsgroups:
    Messages posted by users on forums, discussion lists, and newsgroups should follow the basic structure for citing an online document. When possible, use the posters real name. If this is not possible, list the author’s online screen name.

    For example:

      Leptkin, J. L. (2006, November 16). Study tips for psychology students [Msg. 11]. Message posted to Site URL Here


More Tips:

    * Emails should not be included in your reference section, although they should be cited in-text.
    • The APA also provides information on the preferred spelling of several electronic terms, including the following:
    • e-mail
    • e-journal
    • database
    • Internet
    • FTP
    • online
    • Web


Section XI. Definition Session
Note: Please ignore this section if you are comfortable with your ability to write essays and the terminology behind it.


Grammar
    Grammar is the study of the way the sentences of a language are constructed. The correct use of grammar is a vital aspect in every formal piece of work.
    Incorrect grammar and careless construction of sentences distracts the reader.

Verbs
    A verb is a word that expresses action or a state of being. Always pay attention to your verbs in any written assignment.

    Verbs are vigorous, direct communicators. Use the active rather than the passive voice, and select tense and mood carefully. Generally, you should keep the same tense throughout the paper.

    The passive voice is acceptable in expository writing and when you wish to focus on the object or person of an action rather than on the actor.

    Use the past tense to express an action or a condition that occured at a specific, definite time in the past.
    Use the present perfect tense to express a past action or condition that did not occur at a specific, definite time.

    A verb must agree in number (plural or singular) with its subject.

    For more information about tenses please refer to my Essay Guide.

Nouns
    A noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place, thing, and abstract idea.

    Be careful of your verb when dealing with collective nouns (series, set, pair, etc). If the action of the verb is on the group as a whole, treat the noun as a singular noun. If the action of the verb is on members of the group as individuals. treat the noun as a plural noun.

Pronoun
    A pronoun is a word used as a place-holder for a noun, a noun phrase, or a different pronoun. Pronouns are usually used in writing and speech as a way of keeping the flow of the words smooth by reducing repeated use of the full subject or object word.

    Pronouns must agree in number and gender. They can be either subjects or objects of verbs or prepositions. You can determine if a relative pronoun is the subject or object of a verb by turning the subordinate clause around and substituting a personal pronoun.

Preposition
    A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.

Adverb
    An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".

Conjunction
    A conjunction is a word that joins two or more words, phrases, or clauses.

Punctuation, Tenses, and Other Strategies


Section XII. Conclusion

Contact Me!
    • Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding writing an APA style paper. I will do my best to try to respond and answer your question.

    • If you would like additional examples of references, title page, APA style papers, etc feel free to ask me and I'll try to help.

    • Feel free to refer to my other guide for additional essay assistance: Tools and Techniques for Writing a Successful Essay

    • Thanks for reading, I hope it help :) Any questions, suggestions or concerns can be sent to me by Private Message.
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