APA Style Organizing and Presenting Information in Research
Reports
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Lesson Topics What is APA Style? Components of a Research
Report APA Style Format Guidelines Additional Information
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What is APA Style? APA is an acronym for the American
Psychological Association. The APA style is a set of research
writing documentation standards that are often used in business and
the social sciences. These standards identify the way in which
information is organized, presented, and cited in research reports.
The goal of standardizing research reports is to facilitate the
clear communication of ideas and information simplify the tasks of
publishers, editors, authors, and readers
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Parts of a Research Report The APA style divides the contents
of a research report into 10 different sections: 1.Title Page
2.Abstract 3.Introduction 4.Method 5.Results 6.Discussion
7.References 8.Appendix 9.Author Note
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Title Page A title page identifies the title of the report, the
byline (author), and the organization through which the author
conducted the investigation (affiliation). The title should be no
more than 12 words. An abbreviated version will appear in the page
header. Information on the title page is located in two areas:
Running head [right justified] abbreviated title; page number Page
center [center justified] title (uppercase and lowercase letters);
authors name (first name, middle initial, last name);
affiliation
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Example Title Page Abbreviated Title Page Number Title Byline
and Affiliation 12 point Times New Roman or Courier font, double
spacing Running Head:
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Abstract An abstract is a short summary that provides an
accurate overview of the purpose and content of the report. The
abstract should include the main idea and major points of the
research report and may also indicate implications of the research.
An abstract should adhere to the following guidelines: Located on a
separate page, directly after the title page No more than one page,
between 75 and 120 words
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Example Abstract Heading 12 point Times New Roman or Courier
font, double spacing, no indent
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Introduction The Introduction identifies the problem, the
hypothesis, and the research strategy that was used. Questions that
should be answered by the introduction include: 1.Why is the
problem important? 2.How do the hypothesis and the experimental
design relate to the problem? 3.What are the theoretical
implications of the study, and how does the study relate to
previous work in the area? 4.What theoretical propositions are
tested, and how were they derived?
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Example Introduction 12 point Times New Roman or Courier font,
double spacing, indent each paragraph Heading
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Method The method section describes the experiment and how it
was conducted with enough detail for the reader to replicate the
study. This section allows the reader to evaluate the
appropriateness and validity of the results. Subsections often
include: Descriptions of participants or subjects, pertinent
demographic information, and the selection process Identifying
apparatus (or materials) used and their function in the experiment
A summary of each step of the procedure Identification of control
features
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Results The results section summarizes the data that was
collected, the statistical or analytical treatment of that data,
and an interpretation of the results as they relate to the
hypothesis. The results section often includes: Tables Figures
charts, photographs, and drawings
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Discussion acknowledgement of any limitations alternative
explanations of results comments on the importance of your findings
The discussion section provides the reader with the authors
interpretation of the implications of the study results as they
relate to the original hypothesis. This section begins with a clear
statement of support or nonsupport of the original hypothesis, and
includes the following:
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Horenstein, M. N., (2002). Design concepts for engineers (2nd
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. References The
references section is a list of sources used in the research and
preparation of a report, specifically those cited in the text. A
reference list is different from a bibliography, which cites works
for background or further reading. References must provide enough
information for each source to be identified and retrieved.
Example: Reference for book with one author
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Example References Heading 12 point Times New Roman or Courier
font, double spacing, reverse indent, arranged in alphabetical
order
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Appendix Large tables of data Flowcharts Mathematical analysis
Large illustrations Detailed explanations and descriptions of test
techniques and apparatus Technical drawings An appendix is a
section that contains additional information. Any information that
is too extensive for the main part of the report and would serve to
distract or interrupt the flow of the report belongs in the
appendix. Examples include:
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Example Appendix
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Author Note identify the organization and affiliation of the
author acknowledge the contributions of others to the report
provide the reader with contact information The author note section
gives the author the opportunity to
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APA Style Format Guidelines The following list represents
common elements of a research report that must be properly
formatted according to APA guidelines Page Format Headings
Reference Citations in Text Quotations Tables Figures Referencing
Guidelines
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Page Format APA style identifies formatting guidelines for the
pages within a report. This includes page and margin sizes, page
numbering, running header contents, the font type and size to use,
and line spacing. Paper size 8.5 x 11 (A4) size paper with 1
margins on all sides Page numbering Arabic numeral(s) located
within a running page header in the top right-hand corner
Abbreviated title located five spaces or to the left of the page
number Font size, type, and line spacing 12 point Times New Roman
or Courier font, double-line spacing
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Headings A heading is a title of a section (i.e., Abstract,
Introduction, Method, etc.) or subsection within a report. If
divided, a section must have at least two subsections. Each
subsection has its own heading. Each section of a research report
begins with a centered heading on a separate line First-level
subsection headings are left-justified, italicized, and exist on
their own line Second-level subsection headings are left-justified,
italicized, indented , and end with a period (.)
Reference Citations in Text Reference citations or direct quote
indicate author, year of publication, and page number (Parker,
2003, p. 5) Paraphrasing indicate author and year of publication
(Parker, 2003) A citation is a reference to the author and the date
of his or her work that supports the research. Citations that occur
within the text are placed in parentheses. They allow the reader to
locate the source of information in the alphabetical reference
list.
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Quotations incorporated into the text enclosed by double
quotation marks () Quotes that are less than 40 words: separate
double-spaced block of text (block quotation) indented from the
left margin are not contained by quotation marks do not begin with
an opening paragraph indent Quotes of 40 words or more: A quotation
(or quote) is a passage or remark repeated by someone other than
the person who originally said or wrote it.
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Tables A table is an arrangement of detailed facts or
statistics, presented in a row-and-column format. Identify a table
in the text of the report by the table number. Cite* the source of
the data under the table. Numbered successively with Arabic
numerals at the top (i.e. Table 1), and aligned left Table title
appears below the table number, is italicized and is aligned left *
Not necessary if the data is original
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Example Table Table 1 Spur Gear Size GeometryValue Pitch
Diameter2.25 in Pressure Angle20 Diametral Pitch17 (Madsen et al,
2002, p. 526)
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Figures A figure is a graphic that is used to illustrate an
idea in a way that cannot be described by text alone. Figures
include: charts, graphs, photographs, or drawings. They are
identified within the text and in their captions as Figure 1,
Figure 2, etc., and are presented in the order in which they are
mentioned. Use only sans serif fonts (such as Arial) Text size
should be between 8- and 14-point type Use only high resolution and
high contrast images Include a caption below the figure
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Example Figure Figure 1. Unknown Aluminum Alloy Stress-Strain
Diagram. The line graph depicted identifies the proportional
limit,.2% offset yield stress, ultimate stress, and point of
fracture for an unknown aluminum alloy tensile test specimen.
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The APA style format for references may also be used for
bibliographies in other types of reports. References are presented
in 12-point serif font ( Times New Roman or Courier ), double-line
spaced, reverse indented, and presented in alphabetical order.
Commonly referenced sources include: Web pages Books Dictionaries
Encyclopedias Magazines Newspapers Audiovisual media Referencing
Guidelines
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Web Pages An Internet reference should provide an author or
host organization, document description (title), date of
publication, date of retrieval, and a working URL address. If a
publication date is not available, use n.d. (no date). Heitzman, F.
(n.d.) A professional portfolio of your design work. Retrieved June
1, 2006 from
http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/portfolio.html
Referencing Guidelines Cool Fire Technology. (2004). A history of
measurement and metrics. Retrieved June 7, 2006 from
http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/W
EIGHTSandMEASURES/MetricHistory
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Books Referencing Guidelines For books with more than six
authors, list the first six and then et. al. to indicate there are
more authors than those listed. Books with one author: Horenstein,
M. N., (2002). Design concepts for engineers (2nd ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Books with multiple authors:
Madsen D. A., Folkestad, J., Schertz, K. A., Shumaker, T. M.,
Stark, C., & Turpin, J. L. (2004). Engineering drawing and
design (3rd ed.). Albany, NY: Delmar-Thompson Learning.
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Dictionaries No author or editor: Editor(s) known:
Merriam-Websters collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993).
Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. Soanes, C. & Hawker, S.
(Eds.). (2005). Compact Oxford english dictionary (5th ed.). NY:
Oxford University Press. Costello, R. B. et al (Ed.). (1991).
Websters college dictionary (10th ed.). NY: Random House. For
multiple editors, identify the lead editor, followed by et al.:
Referencing Guidelines
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Encyclopedias Entry in an encyclopedia: Bergmann, P. G. (1993).
Relativity. In The new encyclopaedia Britannica (Vol. 26, pp.
501508). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica. Referencing Guidelines
Magazine Articles Author known: Hughes, E. (2006, October). Project
Lead The Way: Its time has come. Techniques, 81, 35-39.
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Referencing Guidelines Newspaper Articles Daily newspaper
article, author known: Schwartz, J. (1993, September 30). Obesity
affects economic, social status. The Washington Post, pp. A1, A4.
Daily newspaper article, no author: New drug appears to sharply cut
risk of death from heart failure. (1993, July 15). The Washington
Post, p. A12.
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Audiovisual Media Motion picture of limited circulation: Shedd,
J. P. (Producer) & Shedd, B. (Writer/Director). (1987). The
flight of the gossamer condor. [Motion Picture]. (Available from
Shedd Productions, Inc., 233 S. Villa Place, Boise, ID 83712)
Single episode from a television series: Burke, J. (Writer), &
Black, J. (Director). (2003). Drop The Apple [Television series
episode]. In J. Burke (Producer), Connections 3. Silver Spring, MD:
Discovery Communications, Inc. Referencing Guidelines
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Additional Information Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (5th Edition) http://apastyle.apa.org/
The Teacher Guidelines folder in all compressed help menu (CHM)
style Project Lead The Way curricula This lesson constitutes a
brief summary of the APA style. Form more information, refer
to
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References: American Psychological Association (2001).
Publication manual of the american psychological association (5th
ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Beer, D.,
& McMurrey, D. (2005). A guide to writing as an engineer (2nd
ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Howell, J. F. &
Memering, D. (1993). Brief handbook for writers (3rd ed.). Edgewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Lunsford, A. A. (2006). Easy
writer: A pocket reference. (3rd Ed.). Boston, MA.: Bedford: St.
Martins.
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Credits: Writer: Michael P. Gallagher Lesson Editor: PLTW
Editor: Ed Hughes Production: CJ Amarosa Video Production: Audio:
CJ Amarosa Project Manager: Sam Cox