apa 6 research paper example

APA Research Paper Formatting: APA 6th Edition Resources

• Home of APA 7th Edition Resources
• APA 6th Edition Resources

APA (American Psychological Association) style was developed by social and behavioral scientists to standardize scientific writing. It is used for term papers, research reports, empirical studies, literature reviews, theoretical articles, methodological articles, and case studies. (APA website)

Writers in the following disciplines usually use APA style:

• Social sciences- psychology, sociology, economics, criminology

*IMPORTANT NOTE: In October 2019 the American Psychological Association released the latest edition of the APA format - the 7th edition. For Spring term 2021 many instructors will have shifted to using APA 7th edition, while some may still request (or allow) students to choose APA 6th edition. It would be a good idea to verify which edition your professor will be requiring.  

As of January 2021, the APA citation generators in the Gale and Ebsco databases are formatting APA citations in 7th edition instead of 6th edition.

This Library Guide will also be updated throughout Spring 2021, to add additional resources for the 7th edition and links that should remain accessible for the 6th edition. 

ALL RESOURCES ON THIS PAGE ARE FOR APA 6TH EDITION.

FOR 7TH EDITION RESOURCES, SEE THE 7TH EDITION TAB AT THE TOP OF THIS GUIDE.

APA - Publication Manual

(In 2021 most instructors will be using the 7th edition instead.)

APA 6th ed. Template & Paper Sample

• APA 6th ed. Paper Sample (including headings)
• APA Template - 6th Edition You are going to love this! Save this template somewhere safe or e-mail it to yourself. Then resave it immediately with the name of your new document. This will keep your template safe and ready to reuse again for future assignments.

How to Use the APA Template

How Do I Write a Thesis Statement?

• Thesis Statement Help - Owl @ Purdue

Free Citation Creation Tools on the Web

• BibMe BibMe is a free automatic bibliography generator that supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian formatting.
• Citation Machine Select APA citation style. Then choose they type of resource to cite.
• CiteFast APA citation generator. Choose APA tab at top (if not already selected). Then select the source to be cited.
• KnightCite APA citation generator. Choose type of resource on the left.

How to Generate Citations Using CiteFast

Parenthetical References or In-text Citations

• APA Parenthetical (In-text) Citations - Purdue OWL
• APA Parenthetical (In-text) Citations - EasyBib

Everything APA - 6th Edition

• APA Style - Official 6th Edition Archive
• Purdue OWL - APA 6th ed.

APA Inclusive Language Guidelines

American Psychological Association's Inclusive Language Guidelines and related information can be found here:  https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines

• << Previous: Home of APA 7th Edition Resources
• Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 12:13 PM
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APA format is a style for formatting academic publications. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association —often referred to as the APA Style Guide —is used by authors at all levels. It provides guidance and direction in all aspects of the writing process.

Whether you are working on an annotated bibliography , a literature review , or a dissertation, you can use the guide to organize and share your ideas with the scholarly community.

The APA Style Format includes guidelines for how to:

• cite and accredit your sources
• structure your paper (eg. margins, headings, fonts, etc.)
• format your writing style (eg. how to present ideas, language tone, grammar, etc.)
• format writing elements (eg. tables, present data, use figures, use photographs, etc.)
• construct a bibliography

Check out the Tutorials to learn more about formatting your paper in APA.

You can view the apa 7th edition guide here ., a guide for apa 7th edition is currently being worked on. if you need further information about the new edition, please go here ..

• Elements of an APA Paper from The Purdue OWL A sample APA Paper with each element highlighted from the Purdue Online Writing Lab
• APA Visual Guide by Nancy Wolf, Lesley faculty Basic APA rules laid out graphically for visual learners!
• APA 6th Edition - Lesley Examples Quick reference for APA citation that includes how to cite works without authors, blogs, web pages, etc.
• Annotated Bibliography Guide by Lesley faculty member, Nancy Wolf Instructions on formatting an annotated bibliography.
• How to Write an APA Style Reference When Information Is Missing, by the American Psychological Association This chart helps you navigate how to cite a work when information is missing.
• DOI and URL Flowchart Learn when to use a DOI vs a URL when citing resource from the American Psychological Association.

Librarians are happy to answer questions about citations, but we do not proof-read citations for accuracy . Contact Lesley's Center for Academic Achievement for help with formatting APA, as well as writing papers and other academic challenges.

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APA Style 6th Edition: Citing Your Sources

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Sample Reference Page

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• Formatting Rules

• References cited in text must appear in the reference list and vice versa (exception for personal communication which is not included in a Reference list).
• Make sure that all citation information (names of authors, titles, volume and issue numbers, edition number, page numbers, city and state name, publisher name and location information) is correct.
• When listing titles, the only words you should capitalize are the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle (if there is one), and proper nouns (Russia, Eleanor Roosevelt).  The only exception to this rule is when you list the titles of magazines, newspapers, or academic journals that contain the articles you’re quoting.  In these cases, use “headline” capitalization (meaning you capitalize all words except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions).  See examples below for clarification
• The following should be italicized:  Titles of books, ebooks, newspapers, journals, magazines, movies, dissertation/thesis, films, videos, television series, podcasts, YouTube videos, artwork, maps, music albums and unpublished manuscripts.  Additionally, volumes of journals are also italicized.
• Reference lists must be double-spaced , with a hanging indent:
• The following cities can be listed without a state because they are well known for publishing: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Jerusalem, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Tokyo, Vienna.

Order of References in Reference List

• Alphabetize letter by letter
• Alphabetize prefixes such as Mc and Mac literally
• Alphabetize surnames that contain articles and prepositions (de, la, du, von, etc.) according to the rules of the language of origin
• Alphabetize items with numerals as if the numerals were spelled out
• Alphabetize group authors such as associations or agencies by the first significant word of the name, and use the full official name, not an acronym
• If the author is designated as Anonymous, then the entry is alphabetized as if Anonymous were a true name
• If there is no author, the entry is alphabetized by the first significant word in the title
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• Last Updated: Sep 22, 2022 11:20 AM
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SWK 470: Social Research & Evaluation (Salgado)

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APA Citation Guide

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• Purdue University's OWL APA Citation Examples and Rules Social Work students use the APA (American Psychological Association) to cite their research in papers.
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APA 6th Edition Abstract – With Format & Examples

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Writing an APA 6th edition abstract plays an essential role in academic writing and serves as an imperative skill for students, researchers, and professionals in social sciences. An abstract consists of a concise summary of a thesis , dissertation, or research paper . It has the purpose of giving a short overview touching upon the topic, purpose, methods, results, and hurdles of a research study. This article will delve into how to write an effective APA 6 th edition abstract.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 In a nutshell: APA 6th edition abstract
• 2 How to write an APA 6th edition abstract
• 3 Formatting an APA 6th edition abstract
• 4 Example of an APA 6th edition abstract

In a nutshell: APA 6th edition abstract

• An APA 6 th edition abstract defines a brief summary of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper including the purpose, methodology , results, and obstacles of a research study.
• The APA 6 th edition abstract is formatted as a block and is not indented.
• The word count for an APA 6th edition abstract ranges between 150–250 words.
• Citations, undefined abbreviations, or detailed statistical analyses should not be included in the abstract
• When writing about your research study, focus on the most important aspects and use clear and concise language to ensure that your message is conveyed effectively.

How to write an APA 6th edition abstract

The following five steps provide a quick guide to writing an abstract in APA style , the 6th edition to be precise.

• Topic: The statement should be introduced with a short summary of the research topic.
• Research objective: The objective of your research should involve the purpose, research question/hypothesis, and motivation for your research study.
• Used methods: It is important that the abstract include a summary of the methodology of your research. It typically includes the analysis and data collection of the study.
• Report of the results: Summed up, present the key findings of the research in the APA 6 th edition abstract.
• Obstacles: In the concluding sentences, briefly discuss the uniqueness of your research and what implications occurred throughout the process.

The following table illustrates what should be included and what should not be included:

Formatting an APA 6 th edition abstract

The APA 6 th edition abstract follows specific formatting guidelines:

• It must be formatted as a single paragraph.
• The paragraph must be justified as a block.
• The headline must state “Abstract” and be centered.
• Use double-spacing.
• Don’t use indents.
• Don’t exceed a word count of 250.

Example of an APA 6th edition abstract

Following these guidelines will optimize your abstract. The goal of an abstract is to give a clear message of the purpose and importance of your study to the readers. It should represent a short but concise summary of your research. As your abstract is the first part of your paper, it’s vital to make a strong, compelling impression. It should accurately reflect the content of your paper, invite readers to delve deeper into your work, and contribute to the broader discourse in your field of study. Keep refining your abstract until it encapsulates your research concisely while remaining clear and readable.

What are the key components of an abstract in the APA 6th edition style?

The abstract should provide:

• A concise summary of the research question
• Methodology
• Key findings
• Conclusions

What are the formatting guidelines for an abstract in APA 6th edition style?

The abstract should be formatted as one justified block, the headline should be centered, double-spacing, no indentation, and it should not exceed 250 words.

What is the purpose of an abstract?

The abstract communicates the importance and significance of your research to the audience. Therefore, it is important to only include the key components of your research study.

1 Tuskegee University. “American Psychological Association (APA) Citation Style: How to Write an Abstract in APA 6th Edition Format.” February 09, 2023. https://tuskegee.libguides.com/c.php?g=546082&p=7353566 .

2 Scott, Brian. “Format the Abstract Page in APA Style, 6th Edition.” Owlcation. April 27, 2022. https://owlcation.com/humanities/Format-the-Abstract-Page-in-APA-Style .

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Generate accurate APA citations for free

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• APA Style 6th edition

A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition)

Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on May 19, 2022.

An APA in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and year of publication, for example: (Smith, 2020). When quoting , also include page numbers, for example (Smith, 2020, p.170).

Here’s what an in-text citation looks like in a sentence:

• The author claims that “plagiarism is becoming a bigger problem” (Smith, 2014, p. 170) .
• As Smith (2014) has shown, plagiarism is a serious issue for universities.
• In 2014 , Smith found that plagiarism is becoming increasingly widespread.

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Table of contents, apa in-text citations with multiple authors, in-text citations explained in under 4 minutes, punctuation in apa in-text citations, when to include page numbers, apa in-text citations with lists, exceptions and missing information.

Multiple author names are separated using a comma. Only the final name in the list is preceded by an ampersand (“&”), for example: (Taylor, Johnson, & Parker, 2019) . Use “ et al .” to shorten in-text citations of sources with 6+ authors (first in-text citations) and 3+ authors (subsequent in-text citations), for example: (Taylor et al., 2019) .

Using “et al.” in APA in-text citations

Sources with three, four or five authors are shortened after the first citation. From the second citation onwards, include only the first author name followed by “et al.” (“and others”). Sources with six or more authors are always shortened, including in the first citation.

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• When using the abbreviation “et al . ,” always include a period (“.”).
• Include a comma between “et al.” and the publication date (e.g. Taylor et al., 2018).
• There should be no punctuation between “et al.” and the author’s name preceding it.
• The period ending the sentence always comes after the citation (even when quoting).

Never use an ampersand symbol (“&”) in the running text. Instead, use the full word “and.”

• According to research by Taylor & Kotler … (2018).
• Taylor and Kotler conclude … (2018).

Including the page number(s) in the in-text citation is required when quoting a source in APA . It is encouraged, but not required, when paraphrasing a source . Don’t include page numbers when referring to a work as a whole, e.g. “the study shows…”.

If the quote or paraphrase covers just one page, use “ p. 16. ” If it covers two or more pages, use a double ‘p’ followed by a page range (e.g.  pp. 16-18 ).

The in-text citation can be included in three different ways:

• This is also confirmed by the business plan: “creating an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (Smith, 2014, pp. 14-15) .
• Smith (2014) states: “making an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (pp. 14-15) .
• In 2014 , Smith wrote: “making an APA Citation Generator is a lot of work but many students benefit from it” (pp. 14-15) .

Sources with no page numbers

When quoting a source that has no pages or page numbers, you can include a chapter or paragraph number instead.

If the source uses headings, cite the heading and the paragraph number following it. Long headings may be shortened, but then they should be enclosed in quotation marks.

• (Johnson, 2019, Chapter 3)
• (McCombes, 2016, para. 4)
• (Smith, 2014, Conclusion, para. 2 )
• (Streefkerk, 2019, “No Page Numbers,” para. 2)

If the cited list originates from one source, put the in-text citation after the last list item. If the list comes from several different sources, add the in-text citations after each list item.

• Wired lifestyle
• Time pressure
• Risk aversion
• Internet experience
• Social interaction (Johnson, 2016, p. 18) .
• Consumers experience greater risk for online purchases (Writers et al., 2016, p. 47) .
• Young consumers experience no risk for online purchases (Porter, 2016, pp. 63-64) .

The basic APA guidelines are not applicable to every source. Information can be missing, confusing for the reader or simply different. The most common exceptions are listed below.

If the author is unknown, cite the first few words of the reference list entry instead (usually the title). Enclose the title in double quotation marks when citing an article, web page or book chapter. Italicize the title of periodicals, books, reports and brochures.

• ( “U.S. Flood Risk Could Be Worse Than We Thought,”  2015)
• ( Thinking, Fast and Slow , 2017)

For sources without a year of publication, use “n.d.” (no date) instead: (Johnson, n.d. ).

Multiple sources in the same parentheses

If you’re using multiple sources to support a statement, you can combine the in-text citations and separate them using semicolons. Order the sources alphabetically.

If you’re using multiple sources from the same author, you don’t have to repeat the author. Just add the other years and separate them with a comma.

Multiple publications from the same author(s) in the same year

To differentiate between two publications from the same author published in the same year, add a suffix after the publication year.

Repeated use of the same source

For citing the same source multiple times in a paragraph there are specific APA guidelines. The first mention should include the author and publication year. For subsequent mentions in the running text, you only have to include the author’s last name, not the year. However, citations in parentheses should always include the year.

Different authors with the same last name

To differentiate between two (or more) authors with the same last name, include the initials. This rule applies even if the year of publication is different.

Citing a source within a source (secondary source)

If you want to cite a source that you found in another source, you can do one of two things. First of all, you should try to find the original source ( primary source ). If you’re able to find it you can use regular APA guidelines.

If you are not able to find the primary source, you should cite it through the source that led you to it ( secondary source ). The in-text citation looks like this:

Note that you only need to include the publication year of the source you consulted (here Johnson).

Personal communication

Personal communication such as phone calls, emails and conversations are not cited in the reference list because they can’t be found anywhere. However, you should still cite them using an in-text citation.

Give the initials and the last name of the person you communicated with and provide as exact a date as possible.

Sales are declining in the second quarter  (P. G. Brown, personal communication, June 13, 2018).

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Streefkerk, R. (2022, May 19). A complete guide to APA in-text citation (6th edition). Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/6th-edition/archived-in-text-citation/

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