Introduction to APA Style

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Introduction to APA Style

• Pamela May
• State University of New York at Geneseo

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What is APA?

• American Psychological Association
• oversees publication of books and journals
• provides a standard editorial style for
  manuscripts
• Without APA style conventions, the time and
  effort required to review and edit manuscripts
  would prohibit timely and cost-effective
  publication and would make clear communication
  harder to achieve (APA, 2001, pp. xxi).

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Learning the Basics

• General Characteristics
• Tone
• Spacing and margins
• Font
• Page numbers
• Headings
• Citations

• Specific Components
• Title page
• Abstract
• Body
• References

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Tone

• Scientific, not literary, writing
• Be clear, concise, and formal
• No long-winded sentences loaded with descriptive
  words
• Example
• Sally Richards is an unfortunate person
  afflicted with bipolar disorder. Her emotions
  are like a rollercoaster, sometimes shes really
  happy and sometimes shes down in the dumps.
• Sally Richards is diagnosed with bipolar
  disorder, a disorder characterized by dramatic
  mood swings.

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Spacing, Margins, and Font

• Always double space
• on title page, abstract, body
• after headings
• between and within references
• 1 inch margins
• Right, left, top, and bottom
• 12 pt. Times New Roman

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Page Numbers and Headers

• Page Numbers
• start with the title page
• number all pages on the upper RIGHT edge
• Page Headers
• first two or three words from the title in upper
  right hand corner, five spaces to left of page
  number
• Word- go to View ? Header and Footer

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Prosopagnosia Addressing
1 Running head PROSOPAGNOSIA ADDRESSING
LATERALITY Prosopagnosia Addressing
the Problem of Laterality Sara Summers State
University of New York at Geneseo
Page number
Page header
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Reference Citations in Text

• One work by one author
• In a recent study of cigarette smokers, 40,000
  reported withdrawal effects (Walker, 2000).
• In the study by Walker (2000), 40,000...
• One work by two authors
• Cognitive pathways...are substantial (Earl
  Whitter, 2004).
• Earl and Whitter (2004) found...

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Reference Citations in Text

• One work by three, four, or five authors
• For the first time it is cited-
• In a recent study of cigarette smokers, 40,000
  reported withdrawal effects (Smith, Rapp, Kurs,
  1997).
• Smith, Rapp, and Kurs (1997) found...
• Second time cited and after-
• (Smith et al., 1997)
• Smith et al. (1997)

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Reference Citations in Text

• One work with six or more authors- cite only the
  first author followed by et al.
• (Koenig et al., 1994)
• Koenig et al. (1994)

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Reference Citations in Text

• Two or more references within the same
  parentheses
• By the same authors
• Chronological order by year
• (Walls Rine, 2000, 2003)
• By different authors
• Alphabetical order by the first authors last
  name, and separate works by semicolons
• (Coldwell, 1999 Massa Abrams, 2003 Moritz
  Balmer, 2001)

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Title Page

• Running head
• left justified at top, abbreviated title in
  caps., below header and page number
• 50 characters max- including spacing and
  punctuation
• Title
• centered, half way down page
• Your name and institutional affiliation
• centered, below title, different lines for each
• Dont forget page number, header, and double
  spacing!

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Prosopagnosia Addressing 1
Running head PROSOPAGNOSIA ADDRESSING
LATERALITY Prosopagnosia Addressing
the Problem of Laterality Sara Summers State
University of New York at Geneseo
Running head format
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Abstract

• Brief but dense summary of paper
• Begin on a new page (p. 2)
• Type Abstract at top, centered
• No indentation at beginning of abstract
• Do not exceed 120 words
• Leave the rest of the page blank, start the rest
  of the essay on page 3

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Body

• Begins on page 3
• First line- Restate your title, centered
• Start body one double-spaced line below title

• Using a Double 3
• Using a Double Span Task to Measure Working
  Memory
• Performance on Recognition Tasks
• The working memory is a system that underlies
  complex human thought processes by
• maintaining and storing information in the short
  term (Baddeley, 2003). It keeps track of
• what we are doing or where we are at the moment,
  and

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A little sidetracking...

• If references are cited in the abstract, cite
  them in full form when they are cited again in
  the body for the first time
• In abstract for first time
• (Smith, Rapp, Kurs, 1997)
• In body for first time
• (Smith, Rapp, Kurs, 1997)
• Second time in either abstract/body
• (Smith et al., 1997)
• this applies to references with three or more
  authors only

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References

• Not a bibliography!
• Cited references in your paper should be on your
  reference page AND anything cited on the
  reference page should be in your paper
• Be accurate and complete

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Reference Technicalities

• On a separate page after the body
• Type References on first line, centered
• List references in alphabetical order
• First line is left justified, hanging indent (5
  spaces) for following lines within reference
• Tip Press Control T
• When listing authors use not and

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Reference Form Scholarly Journals

• Last name, Initials of first and middle names.
  (Publication year). Title of article. Journal
  Title, Volume, Page numbers.
• Capitalize only first letter of article title and
  after a colon if present
• Italicize journal title and volume
• Issue numbers are unnecessary
• Do not write pp. for pages

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Journal Examples

• One to six authors- list all
• Keller, M. P., Chance, P. F. (2003).
  Inherited neuropathies From gene to
  disease. Brain Pathology, 9, 327-341.
• Seven or more- type first six and use et al.
  for the rest
• Krajewski, K. M., Lewis, R. A., Fuerst, D.
• R., Turanksy, C., Hinderer, S. R.,
• Garbern, J., et al. (2000)...

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Reference Form Books

• Last name, Initials of first and middle names.
  (Publication year). Book title. Location of
  publisher Publisher.
• If there are more than 6 authors- follow the same
  rule for journals
• Capitalize only first letter of book title and
  after a colon if present
• Italicize book title

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Book Examples

• Sosa, C. A., Maley, D. D. (2002).
  Psychological theories. Newbury Park, CA Sage.
• Charr, J. S., Young, L. N. (Eds.). (1988).
  Child psychology. New York McGraw- Hill.
• If book is edited put (Ed.) after editors name
• If city is well known (New York, Chicago,
  Philadelphia, etc.), do not include state

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Book Examples cont.

• Referring to a chapter in an edited book
• Thomas, P. K. (2005). Charcot-Marie-Tooth
  disease Historical perspective and
  overview. In G. J. Parry (Ed.),
  Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorders A Handbook
  for Primary Care Physicians (pp. 1-4).
  Chicago The Charcot- Marie-Tooth
  Association.
• Chapter author and date ? chapter title ? In
  editor (Ed.) of whole book ? Book title and
  chapter numbers (pp.) ? Publisher information

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Reference Form Websites

• Includes internet-only journals, websites,
  newsgroups, online discussion groups, etc.
• General online document form
• Last name, Initials. (Publication year). Title of
  work. Retrieved month day, year, from
  site
• Capitalize only first letter of title and after a
  colon if present
• Italicize title
• Always include Retrieved date and from site

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Website Example

• Crow, T. J. (2003). Being happy. Retrieved
  August 6, 2003, from http//www.health.com/
• _4a.html1

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Reference Form Motion Pictures

• General form
• Producers last name, Initials (Producer),
  Directors last name, Initials (Director).
  (Year). Title of video Motion picture.
  Country Movie Studio.
• Identify primary contributors as directors,
  producers, or both (Producer/Director)
• Capitalize only first letter of title and after a
  colon if present
• Italicize title, identify it as a motion picture
  in brackets immediately after

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Motion Picture Example

• Thomas, T. (Producer), Kine, D.
  (Writer/Director). (1980). Ten wonderful things
  about you Motion picture. United States
  Paramount Pictures.

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• Note This PowerPoint is only a basic
• introduction to APA. For more specific
• guidelines, please refer to the latest
• Publication Manual.

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References

• American Psychological Association. (2001).
  Publication manual of American Psychological
  Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC American
  Psychological Association.
• Tomczak, T. A students guide to American
  Psychological Association (APA) publication
  style. Unpublished manuscript, Genesee Community
  College, Batavia.