Writing Research Papers Using the American Psychological Association (APA) Format Source Evaluation and Documentation Created by The Writing Center Owens Community College

APA documentation This style is used in applied and social sciences as well as education and business. It emphasizes the author and date of publication and citation of research. Gives credit to the author’s work Provides the required information to retrieve the original material.

Philosophy of APA APA emphasizes the strength of data rather than the reputation of the author. Emphasizes scientific and factual data rather than creative ideas. Uses only last name in body of text. Uses only first initial in the reference page. Uses date for in-text citations to emphasize currency.

Writing style APA focuses on economy of expression Focuses on analysis of facts Uses past tense Uses third person Uses simple, declarative sentences Increases precision

Begin your search Search a diverse spectrum of credible sources Academic databases for news articles and professional journals Books, edited collections, etc. Peer reviewed articles Electronic journals Jim Trum will add to this page

Expand your search Check the reference page of the sources you gather. This will lead you to respected authors and save time in the research process. Use the research of a reputable source to lead you to primary sources.

Evaluate the angles of the topic Look at opposing points of view to create a better understanding of your topic and a better synthesis of your research. Assess the source’s bias. Examine whether a source is written or sponsored by an advocacy group. If written by an advocacy group, be sure to explore the opposition’s position.

Take careful notes Collect facts Summarize passages Paraphrase major ideas Write down quotes for distinctive prose, original facts, original ideas

Evaluate the credibility of your source Who is the author? (credentials) Who is the publisher? (academic or trade) What sources were used in the author’s research? Who is the intended audience? What difference might this make?

Check the currency of all sources Medical, scientific, and technological writers should rely on the most current research However, older sources may provide background information The most recent book may not be the best or as comprehensive as an older edition

Dangers on the Internet! AVOID sources that: Have no author named (authors may be an agency) Have no statement of author's credentials or affiliations Are self-published Are published by an advocacy group Have no date of publication

Dangers on the internet (continued) AVOID sources that: Are published by a corporation or other for-profit entity other than a book or journal publisher Are websites maintained on free web space (e.g.,Geocities, Angelfire) Are self-regulated, i.e. Wikipedia Have no citations or sourcing for information presented

Formatting the paper 8 1/2”x11” white paper 12 point font, serif typeface Title page: include a running head, title and byline and institutional affiliation Abstract: if your instructor requires one, include an abstract on its own page *Check your instructor’s style preference!

Typical format APA format lends itself primarily to communicating the results of scientific, empirical research: Title Page Abstract Introduction/Literature Review Method Results Discussion References

Recognizing Social Demands Sample title page Young Adults 1 Running head: Young Adults Page number Identifying information is centered from top to bottom and left to right Title Author Course Instructor’s Name Date Young Adults: Recognizing Social Demands on Adolescents Lynda Hoffman Psychology 220 Ms. Yaklin September 13, 2006 Is

Why do I need to cite sources? To avoid plagiarism To give appropriate credit To put research in context To advance the knowledge base To make research easier for future scholars

Avoiding plagiarism: citing sources When you use direct quotations… When you use information not considered common knowledge (such as statistics)... When you paraphrase, mention author and date of information, not page number. ...You MUST cite your source! This is where Sarah A’ expertise will be helpful!

A direct quotation Is a group of words or sentences that you copy word for word and use as a part of your essay. When using a direct quotation, you must… Use quotation marks around the borrowed words or sentences Cite the source in your text using the proper APA in-text citation style Create a reference page entry using the proper APA reference style

What if it doesn’t fit? Check a style manual if you need to vary from the original (for example, changing a [c]apital to a lowercase letter or singular[s] to a plural in order to keep your sentence grammatically correct.

When should I paraphrase? A paraphrase is restating the content of the original text in your own words. The length will be similar to that of the original. Paraphrasing is best used for short passages.

When summarizing… Introduce the source and supply only the year of publication EX: Trumm (2006) demonstrates the effects of the Socratic method in tutor training practices. No page number is needed when summarizing sources

Quoting Brief quotations (fewer than 40 words) According to the Journal of Applied Cellular Research, “Stem cells are able to reproduce at a rate of 100,000 cells per hour” (Hanover, 2005, p. 115).

Features of APA style: in-text citations State the author’s last name and the year of the publication for in-text citations. Harper and Marks (2005) claim that the “testing of stem cells with Parkinson's patients, provides useful data in fighting the disease” (p. 123).

Sample in-text citation Put the page reference inside of the comma, after the year, outside of the quotes. The author stated, “[t]he results showed a major growth in both hormones within days” (Harrison, 2005, p. 311), but she did not explain to what extent. Harrison (2005) found that “the effects of the hormones disappeared within days” (p. 311).

Signal phrases—avoiding freestanding quotations Introduce your evidence to increase clarity and variety. It has been reported that… According to… A recent study suggested… Several authors noted that… Data suggested that…

Over 40 words, use block quote According to one researcher: Family histories that reveal the dynamics…(all 40 + words). (Andrews, 2005, p.166) Note the period comes before the citation and the entire quote is set in five spaces from the margin.

For a work with two authors Smith and Harrison (2005) agreed that “all hormone producing agents need to be further tested” (p. 98). “All hormone agents need to be further tested” (Smith & Harrison, 2005, p. 98). Note the ampersand (&)

When between three and six authors are given: List all authors the first time the citation is given. In subsequent references, identify only the first author followed by “et al.” The most recent study supports the belief that hormones added to milk improve the health of humans (Hoover, Davis, Beaker, Schuller, Jett, & Flood, 2005).

When a text has six or more authors List the first author, followed by “et al.” which means “and others.” “The use of steroids in cattle is at a dangerous level” (Jenkins et al., 2005, p. 214).

APA references style List references at the end of the paper, giving full publication information. Use hanging indent form for reference lists. First line of each entry begins at the left margin. All lines following are indented five spaces (tab once from the margin). Authors are referenced by first initials and last name. Date of publication follows author name. Capitalize only the first word and proper names in book and article titles and subtitles. Italicize book and journal titles.

Reference entry for a text Borque, M.J. (2006). Under the lights: Examining polyvalent reactions in subcutaneous excisions. New York: Walden. 1. Author 4. City of publisher 2. Date of publication 5. Publisher 3. Title of book

Entry for an article 1. Author 4. Name of periodical 2. Date of publication 5. Volume & issue numbers 3. Title of article 6.Page numbers Scott, J.H. (2005). The power of peers. Education Weekly, 2(2), 58-69.

Sample entry for an online journal 1. Author 4. Name of periodical 2. Date of publication 5. Volume numbers 3. Title of article 6.Date retrieved 7. Web address Scott, J.H. (2005). The power of peers. Education Weekly, 2. Retrieved October 10, 2006, from http://www.occ.edu/ AdolescentMedicine.

Example entry for an Internet site The endangered human. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2006, from www.ecology.com 1. Title of Internet site 2. Date of publication 3. Date YOU accessed site 4. URL

Sample References entry Hormones 10 References Andrews, E.F. (2005, March 6). Improving cattle in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal, C2. Clancy, J., Grant, D.E., & Kelson, F. (2004). An analysis of bovine blood levels. Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 23(9), 25-39.

Reference list cont. (electronic sources) The endangered human. (n.d.) Retrieved November 12, 2005, from http:// www.ecology.com Smithsonian Institution on Animal Husbandry: A special health report. (2003). [Electronic version]. Outdoor World, 3,15-36. Retrieved November 12, 2005 from http://www.epinions.com/ mag-Outdoor_world This represent no date given on the Web and an example of a weak source.

Further guidelines APA style is specified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition). We have covered the most common rules and formats; however, this is no substitute for the manual itself.

Final checklist Is there a clear, informative title? Is there a clear thesis? Is the organization logical? Are sentences varied in length and structure? Are there smooth transitions? Are sources credible, suitable and persuasive? Are quotes, paraphrases, and summaries introduced with signal phrases and cited?

References American Psychological Association. (2003). APA Style .org. Retrieved January 30, 2006, from http://www.apastyle.org/ Changes in the 5th Edition. (2006, January 31). APA Style.org. Retrieved January 31, 2006, from http://www.apastyle.org/chapter4.html Dewey, R. (1/2003). American Psychological Association(APA) Publication Manual Crib Sheet. Retrieved January 30,2006, from http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html#top Fulwiler, T. & Hayakawa, A. (2007). The Blair Handbook. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Perrin, R. (2005). Handbook for College Research. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Contributors- 10/31/06 Sarah Abts Nancy Emrick Marcia Harrington Lynda Hoffman Linda Schuller Jim Trumm Russ Sprinkle Sara Yaklin