writing a literature review apa format

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Writing Center Literature Reviews: Literature Reviews

Literature reviews.

A literature review is a summary of published information in a subject area; sometimes limited to a specific time period. Researchers benefit from literature reviews since they provide critical evaluation of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. Oftentimes a literature review will highlight disagreements between different scholars or schools of thought. The following literature review examples are just two types found in scholarly literature and does not reflect the format you may need to produce for your assignment. 

Example: Literature Review in a Standalone Article

A literature review can be a standalone document that provides a survey of current research in a particular field or subject. Notice this entire article is dedicated to reviewing literature on the topic.

Example: Literature Review in Original Research

A literature review may also be located at the beginning of an original research article. Notice this article's literature review is located only in the beginning of the article before the Methodology section.

Literature Review

Literature review provides a narrative summary and evaluation of the findings or theories within a literature base. The literature base may include qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods research. Literature reviews capture trends in the literature. 

When writing a literature review, here are some things to consider

Consider what the assignment prompt is asking you to highlight within your literature review. 

Is it part of a research paper (usually found after the introduction) or

Are you asked to summarize previous literature to inform readers of the state of the research?

You may need to identify relations, contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the literature.

Parts of a literature review may include: 

An Introduction, Body, & Conclusion.

A literature review may be organized 

Chronological - to identify the development of the topic

Thematic - grouping research on the basis of similarity in the topic and concepts. 

Methodological - if you are pulling together information from various fields that use different research methods. 

Theoretical - in order to discuss different theories, models, and key concepts. 

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What is a literature review?

A literature review is an integrated analysis -- not just a summary-- of scholarly writings and other relevant evidence related directly to your research question.  That is, it represents a synthesis of the evidence that provides background information on your topic and shows a association between the evidence and your research question.

A literature review may be a stand alone work or the introduction to a larger research paper, depending on the assignment.  Rely heavily on the guidelines your instructor has given you.

Why is it important?

A literature review is important because it:

• Explains the background of research on a topic.
• Demonstrates why a topic is significant to a subject area.
• Discovers relationships between research studies/ideas.
• Identifies major themes, concepts, and researchers on a topic.
• Identifies critical gaps and points of disagreement.
• Discusses further research questions that logically come out of the previous studies.

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1. Choose a topic. Define your research question.

Your literature review should be guided by your central research question.  The literature represents background and research developments related to a specific research question, interpreted and analyzed by you in a synthesized way.

• Make sure your research question is not too broad or too narrow.  Is it manageable?
• Begin writing down terms that are related to your question. These will be useful for searches later.
• If you have the opportunity, discuss your topic with your professor and your class mates.

2. Decide on the scope of your review

How many studies do you need to look at? How comprehensive should it be? How many years should it cover? 

• This may depend on your assignment.  How many sources does the assignment require?

3. Select the databases you will use to conduct your searches.

Make a list of the databases you will search. 

Where to find databases:

• use the tabs on this guide
• Find other databases in the Nursing Information Resources web page
• More on the Medical Library web page
• ... and more on the Yale University Library web page

4. Conduct your searches to find the evidence. Keep track of your searches.

• Use the key words in your question, as well as synonyms for those words, as terms in your search. Use the database tutorials for help.
• Save the searches in the databases. This saves time when you want to redo, or modify, the searches. It is also helpful to use as a guide is the searches are not finding any useful results.
• Review the abstracts of research studies carefully. This will save you time.
• Use the bibliographies and references of research studies you find to locate others.
• Check with your professor, or a subject expert in the field, if you are missing any key works in the field.
• Ask your librarian for help at any time.
• Use a citation manager, such as EndNote as the repository for your citations. See the EndNote tutorials for help.

Review the literature

Some questions to help you analyze the research:

• What was the research question of the study you are reviewing? What were the authors trying to discover?
• Was the research funded by a source that could influence the findings?
• What were the research methodologies? Analyze its literature review, the samples and variables used, the results, and the conclusions.
• Does the research seem to be complete? Could it have been conducted more soundly? What further questions does it raise?
• If there are conflicting studies, why do you think that is?
• How are the authors viewed in the field? Has this study been cited? If so, how has it been analyzed?

Tips: 

• Review the abstracts carefully.  
• Keep careful notes so that you may track your thought processes during the research process.
• Create a matrix of the studies for easy analysis, and synthesis, across all of the studies.
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Common Assignments: Literature Reviews

Basics of literature reviews.

A literature review is a written approach to examining published information on a particular topic or field. Authors use this review of literature to create a foundation and justification for their research or to demonstrate knowledge on the current state of a field. This review can take the form of a course assignment or a section of a longer capstone project. Read on for more information about writing a strong literature review!

Students often misinterpret the term "literature review" to mean merely a collection of source summaries, similar to annotations or article abstracts. Although summarizing is an element of a literature review, the purpose is to create a comprehensive representation of your understanding of a topic or area of research, such as what has already been done or what has been found. Then, also using these sources, you can demonstrate the need for future research, specifically, your future research.

There is usually no required format or template for a literature review. However, there are some actions to keep in mind when constructing a literature review:

• Include an introduction and conclusion . Even if the literature review will be part of a longer document, introductory and concluding paragraphs can act as bookends to your material. Provide background information for your reader, such as including references to the pioneers in the field in the beginning and offering closure in the end by discussing the implications of future research to the field.
• Avoid direct quotations . Just like in an annotated bibliography, you will want to paraphrase all of the material you present in a literature review. This assignment is a chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge on a topic, and putting ideas into your own words will ensure that you are interpreting the found material for your reader. Paraphrasing will also ensure your review of literature is in your authorial voice.
• Organize by topic or theme rather than by author. When compiling multiple sources, a tendency can be to summarize each source and then compare and contrast the sources at the end. Instead, organize your source information by your identified themes and patterns. This organization helps demonstrate your synthesis of the material and inhibits you from creating a series of book reports.
•  Use headings . APA encourages the use of headings within longer pieces of text to display a shift in topic and create a visual break for the reader. Headings in a literature review can also help you as the writer organize your material by theme and note any layers, or subtopics, within the field.
• Show relationships and consider the flow of ideas. A literature review can be lengthy and dense, so you will want to make your text appealing to your reader. Transitions and comparison terms will allow you to demonstrate where authors agree or disagree on a topic and highlight your interpretation of the literature.

Related Multimedia, Social Media, and Other Resources

Randolph, J. J. (2009). A guide to writing the dissertation literature review. Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation , 14 (13), 1–13. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1219&context=pare

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

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Literature Reviews

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• 4. Organizing Your Research
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Writing a Literature Review

Once you have gathered all your research, analyzed, and synthesized the major themes of the literature, now is the time to organize and write your literature review. There are different ways of organizing your literature review. You can organize the review by chronological order, advancements of research, or other logical ways.

David Taylor University of Maryland University College

7:40 Tutorial about organizing and writing a literature review

Common mistakes when writing a literature review

• Relying on the quantity of resources used instead of the quality, unless you are performing an exhaustive review.
• Not going deep enough or broad enough in your research and not using landmark studies.
• Neither organizing nor structuring the literature review section to create a logical flow.
• Listing and summarizing the resources you have used instead analyzing and synthesizing the literature on your topic.
• Using irrelevant resources.
• Relying too heavily on quotations.
• Not following citation standards and guidelines.
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Types of APA Papers

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Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

There are two common types of papers written in fields using APA Style: the literature review and the experimental report. Each has unique requirements concerning the sections that must be included in the paper.

Literature review

A literature review is a critical summary of what the scientific literature says about your specific topic or question. Often student research in APA fields falls into this category. Your professor might ask you to write this kind of paper to demonstrate your familiarity with work in the field pertinent to the research you hope to conduct.

A literature review typically contains the following sections:

• Introduction section
• List of references

Some instructors may also want you to write an abstract for a literature review, so be sure to check with them when given an assignment. Also, the length of a literature review and the required number of sources will vary based on course and instructor preferences.

NOTE: A literature review and an annotated bibliography are not synonymous. If you are asked to write an annotated bibliography, you should consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for the APA Format for Annotated Bibliographies.

Experimental report

In many of the social sciences, you will be asked to design and conduct your own experimental research. If so, you will need to write up your paper using a structure that is more complex than that used for just a literature review. We have a complete resource devoted to writing an experimental report in the field of psychology here .

This structure follows the scientific method, but it also makes your paper easier to follow by providing those familiar cues that help your reader efficiently scan your information for:

• Why the topic is important (covered in your introduction)
• What the problem is (also covered in your introduction)
• What you did to try to solve the problem (covered in your methods section)
• What you found (covered in your results section)
• What you think your findings mean (covered in your discussion section)

Thus an experimental report typically includes the following sections.

• Introduction
• Appendices(if necessary)
• Tables and/or figures (if necessary)

Make sure to check the guidelines for your assignment or any guidelines that have been given to you by an editor of a journal before you submit a manuscript containing the sections listed above.

As with the literature review, the length of this report may vary by course or by journal, but most often it will be determined by the scope of the research conducted.

Other papers

If you are writing a paper that fits neither of these categories, follow the guidelines about General Format , consult your instructor, or look up advice in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association .

When submitting a manuscript to a journal, make sure you follow the guidelines described in the submission policies of that publication, and include as many sections as you think are applicable to presenting your material. Remember to keep your audience in mind as you are making this decision. If certain information is particularly pertinent for conveying your research, then ensure that there is a section of your paper that adequately addresses that information.

Key takeaways from the Psi Chi webinar So You Need to Write a Literature Review

• In-Text Citations
• Research and Publication
• Secondary Sources

In this post, we summarize 15 takeaways from the Psi Chi webinar So You Need to Write a Literature Review: Understanding the Key Tasks and How to Accomplish Them .

If you are writing another type of research paper or completing a research assignment, you may also find this guidance helpful. You can find more information on content to include in many types of student and professional papers in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition and the Concise Guide to APA Style, Seventh Edition as well as access free style and grammar guidelines, student resources, and sample papers on the APA Style website .

The takeaways are as follows:

1. The typical length of a literature review paper is 15 to 20 pages. However, your instructor might ask for something shorter or longer—make sure to follow assignment instructions when determining the length of your paper.

2. Avoid choosing a topic that is too broad. If you start with a broad topic, narrow it down as you read and evaluate sources. It is key to pick a topic that fits the length of your assignment.

3. When you can, use primary sources. Primary sources report original research that has been conducted by scientists and other researchers. Secondary sources describe research secondhand and are often written by journalists or others who may or may not be experts in science. Secondary sources can help you understand primary sources, but you should refer to the primary source whenever possible to provide context and confirm the information is accurate and complete. Search academic research databases such as APA PsycNet, EBSCO host , or ProQuest to find trustworthy and useful primary sources.

4. Learn to search like a professional researcher by using keywords to filter your search results. This table provides ideas of the kinds of keywords you can use to focus your topic.

5. Targeted reading is a strategy in which you read specific sections of an article before reading the full article to determine whether the article will be useful for your paper. This table describes the order of sections to read to conduct a targeted reading.

6. Your goal in a literature review paper should be to summarize studies, compare and contrast studies, describe patterns and themes, and describe strengths and limitations. The Research Article Activity (PDF, 190KB) , a free handout from the APA Style team, can help you analyze studies, write references, and stay organized while writing a literature review.

7. It may be helpful to write your paper out of order. Start by writing the “heart” of your paper first, in which you analyze the literature, and then write the introduction, paper title, and conclusion.

8. Present one idea per paragraph. The first sentence of the paragraph should contain the main point of the paragraph, and the other sentences should support the main point.

9. Focus on relevant details when describing studies. Report parallel information across studies to show similarities and differences. For example, report the same information about participant demographics for all studies, if possible, to increase your readers’ ability to generalize the results.

10. Be consistent in use of the past tense or present perfect tense to report the work of other scientists, as shown in this table.

11. Literature reviews should have a thesis statement, which is your “take-home message.” The thesis statement should appear near the end of the introduction. Check your thesis statement after writing a first draft to ensure it matches the content of the paper.

12. Limit your use of direct quotations. Instead, paraphrase (i.e., restate in your own words) whenever possible.

13. Write clearly by using shorter sentences and plain language. Avoid repeating academic jargon. See Section 4.9 of the Publication Manual  and Section 2.9 of the Concise Guide  for more details and examples.

14. Cite sources immediately and at the appropriate level of citation . That includes avoiding overcitation (i.e., the unnecessary repeating of citations, such as in every sentence) and delayed citation (i.e., citing only at the end of a long paraphrase). Rather, when writing a long paraphrase that involves several sentences in the same paragraph about one source, put the citation in the first sentence to which the source applies and then do not re-cite that source as long as the context makes clear that the source has not changed and no other sources are used.

15. Assemble your paper into the sections of title page, text, and reference list. Use the Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3.26MB) to help you set up and order your paper sections.

Although the task of writing a literature review or any type of research paper can seem daunting, these takeaways will help you approach the writing process in an organized way. For more information on writing a literature review, check out the recorded webinar and accompanying Q&A session available on demand from the Psi Chi website. You can also access the webinar slides and other resources mentioned in the presentation on our Open Science Framework page .

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Psychology - How to Write a Literature Review

In-text citations.

When you use words (direct quotes) or ideas (paraphrases) from other authors in your paper, you must note them with in-text citations.  With APA style, in-text citations can be parenthetical (enclosed in parentheses) or narrative (the author name is incorporated as part of the text).  In both styles, the author’s last name and the year of publication must appear in the sentence. 

Parenthetical example:

One scholar argued that it is impossible to measure social class (Calvert, 1982).

Narrative example:

• Author-Date In-Text Citations from APA Style See chart with examples for multiple authors, group authors and sources with no publication date.

References Page

TIP: Library databases will format citations for you.  When you find a good article, always make sure to copy and paste the citation!  If you are using other sources, like books or websites, you can follow the format examples below or use a citation generator like Citation Machine.

• Citation Machine APA Enter your source information and Citation Machine will format it into APA style.

Format Your Paper

• Guidelines for Formatting a Paper in APA Style See the APA's official guidelines for title pages, headers, margins, etc.
• APA Sample Paper A sample paper with specific formatting instructions.

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Know the CORRECT APA 7th Edition Literature Review Format

Mastering the APA 7th edition literature review format is crucial for academic and research works. This standardized format ensures consistency, clarity, and proper citation, allowing researchers to present their ideas systematically. Adhering to the APA literature review format enhances the credibility of academic work and facilitates the seamless exchange of information within the scholarly community.

Welcome to our guide on how to correctly format your literature review in APA 7th edition style. This blog is here to help you understand the right way to organize and present your ideas in your APA format literature review. It's important to get this format right because it shows your ability to engage with existing research and contribute to academic conversations.

In this blog, we'll break down the literature review format in APA 7th edition, making it easier for everyone, whether you're a student, researcher, or academic. Whether you're new to these guidelines or looking to improve your skills, we've got practical tips and insights to guide you through the process.

We want to make the literature review format less confusing and more accessible. Join us as we explore the steps to help you write a literature review that meets the standards set by the American Psychological Association. Let's make your scholarly writing even better!

Now let us know the correct APA 7th edition literature review format using the official APA manual  which is  highly beneficial for the PhD  researchers.

The American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition provides guidelines for formatting various elements of a literature review.

Below is an outline that you can follow for structuring a literature review in APA format:

The Title Page in an APA 7th edition literature review serves as the introductory section, providing essential details about the document. This page is crucial for identifying the work and its contributors, setting the tone for the reader. Key components include:

Title : Centered, bold, and in title case, the title should succinctly convey the main focus of the literature review in APA 7th edition.

Author(s) : Centered and double-spaced beneath the title, list the author's name(s) in title case in APA style literature review. This information establishes authorship and contributes to academic accountability.

Institutional Affiliation : Centered and double-spaced beneath the author's name(s), include the institutional affiliation. This indicates the academic or organizational association of the author(s), providing context for readers for APA style literature review.

The Abstract in an APA 7th edition literature review is a concise summary that provides a brief overview of the main points, methodology, and findings of the review. This crucial section helps readers quickly grasp the key elements without delving into the full document. Here are the key components

Centered at the top of the page, the word "Abstract" is specified as the heading, distinguishing it from other sections in APA literature review outline.

The abstract itself, limited to 150-250 words, encapsulates the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of the literature review. 

It serves as a standalone piece, offering a snapshot of the entire work in APA literature review outline.

Following the abstract, provide 3-5 keywords or phrases that highlight the main themes and concepts covered. 

This aids in searchability and categorization in literature review APA format 7th edition.

Introduction

The Introduction section in an lit review format is a crucial component that outlines the purpose, scope, and context of the review. This section establishes the groundwork for the reader, guiding them into the main body of the work. Here are key details to include:

Page Header

The word "Introduction" is centered at the top of the page, signaling the beginning of the document which is an APA format literature review example.

Purpose Statement

Clearly articulate the overarching goal of the literature review. 

Define the specific research question or thesis that the review seeks to address for APA 7th literature review.

Scope of the Review

Briefly outline the boundaries of the review by specifying the time frame, geographical focus, or particular themes under consideration which is also an APA format literature review example.

Significance

Explain the relevance and importance of the review in the broader academic context. 

Highlight the gaps or debates within the existing literature that the review aims to address for APA 7th literature review.

Body of the Review

The Body of the Review in an APA literature review is where the analysis and synthesis of relevant literature take place. This section is organized based on themes, concepts, or chronology, presenting a comprehensive overview of existing scholarly works which is an literature review APA 7th edition example. Key elements include:

Employ clear and logical organization, using headings and subheadings to structure the review by themes, concepts, or time periods in literature review APA format 7th edition.

Clearly label each section with informative headings that guide the reader through different aspects of the literature, helping them navigate the review efficiently in literature review APA 7th.

Critically analyze and synthesize the literature, evaluating the methodologies, findings, and contributions of each work. 

Identify patterns, trends, and gaps in the existing research in literature review format APA 7th edition.

Support statements and arguments with proper in-text citations, adhering to the author-date citation style in literature review APA 7th.

The Conclusion section in an APA literature review serves as the endpoint of the scholarly exploration, summarizing key findings and implications. It offers closure to the reader by synthesizing the main points and reflecting on the broader significance of the reviewed literature which is also a literature review APA 7th edition example. Key components include:

Page Header  

• The word "Conclusion" is centered at the top of the page, signifying the culmination of the literature review format APA 7th edition.

Summary  

• Recapitulate the main findings and contributions of the literature review, emphasizing key takeaways and insights.

Implications  

• Discuss the implications of the reviewed literature for the broader field of study. Address how the findings contribute to existing knowledge and potential applications which is also an APA 7th edition literature review outline example.

Gaps and Future Research  

• Identify any gaps or limitations in the current literature and propose avenues for future research. Suggest areas where additional inquiry or exploration is needed.

The References section in an APA edition literature review is a critical component, providing a comprehensive list of all the sources cited in the document. This section follows specific formatting guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. Key details include:

"References" is centered at the top of the page, serving as the title for this section.

Alphabetical Order

Sort the items according to the first author's last name in alphabetical order. Use hanging indents for each reference to enhance readability.

Ensure proper formatting for various source types, including books, journal articles, and online resources. 

Italicize book and journal titles, and use appropriate capitalization in APA 7th edition literature review outline example.

Author Information

Include the full names of all authors, initials for first and middle names, and publication dates.

Provide DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL for online sources when available.

In-text Citations

In-text Citations in an lit review format are essential for attributing information to its original source within the text. Proper citations lend credibility to the review and facilitate readers in locating the referenced material. Key aspects of in-text citations include:

Use the author-date citation system throughout the literature review.

Include the author's last name and the publication year within parentheses. 

For instance, (Smith, 2019) for a single author, or (Smith, Harris & Johnson, 2019) for two or three authors and (Smith et al., 2019) for more than three authors.

When quoting directly, include the page number after the publication year, separated by a comma (e.g., Smith, 2019, p. 45)

Distinguish between works by the same author and year using letters (e.g., Smith, 2019a; Smith, 2019b).

Final Thoughts

To wrap things up, getting the APA 7th edition literature review format right is super important. It's like a roadmap for your research story. Following these guidelines keeps your work organized and up to par with what the experts expect. No matter if you're new to this or a pro, nailing the APA edition literature review format matters.

So, take the time to check out the APA format literature review, use online guides, visit your university's writing help, and maybe try out formatting tools to know more about the format. Learn from examples in reputable journals too. Why? Because sticking to the correct literature review format doesn't just make you look good – it shows you take your research seriously. Keep at it, follow the rules, and let your literature review shine the right way in that APA 7th edition format!

Thesis india is a platform that provides comprehensive assistance to PhD researchers in their systematic literature review, including APA literature review format. The website offers a range of services, including writing, editing, and proofreading, to help researchers produce high-quality work. The platform’s experts have years of experience in academic writing and are well-versed in the requirements of PhD research.

They can help researchers identify gaps in the existing literature, develop a research question, and create a literature review that is both comprehensive and critical. Additionally, they can assist researchers in preparing a proposal that is well-structured and clearly outlines the research objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. 

Thesisindia.net’s systematic literature review service embarks on a comprehensive and meticulous journey into the vast realm of research. They leave no valuable stone unturned, employing a variety of robust methods for an exhaustive search. From scouring electronic databases to hand-searching journals and even consulting field experts, their approach ensures that all relevant studies are identified. With their unwavering commitment to precision and thoroughness, you can rest assured that your research endeavors will yield remarkable results.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to write a literature review paper in APA format?

   - Follow the guidelines outlined in the APA Manual, 7th edition, for structuring and formatting your literature review paper.

2. How long should an APA literature review be?

   - The length of an APA literature review varies, but it generally ranges from 15-30 pages, depending on the scope and requirements of your research.

3. How do you write a literature review in APA 7th edition?

   - Write a literature review in APA 7th edition by carefully following the guidelines for headings, citations, and references provided in the APA Manual.

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Writing Literature Reviews in APA Format

Literature reviews are writing assignments that investigate the research conducted on a particular topic. It summarizes what scientific literature has to say about your particular topic. APA format helps us to organize the references in a standardized form. As such, it is most commonly used while writing literature reviews. Knowledge of writing literature reviews in APA format is very essential, especially for students. Students are often assigned the task of writing literature reviews to get them prepared before they take on primary research assignments. Generally, writing literature reviews in APA format is considered to be a complex process. However, you must remember that though writing it might be a complicated task, it is easy for the reader to understand. A few useful tips for writing literature reviews in APA format are discussed below.

Tips for Writing Literature Reviews in APA Format

• As far as possible, avoid using direct quotes. You can summarize the basic idea in your own words, and give proper author citation for it. In case you have to use a direct quotation, enclose the quoted text in quotation marks, and provide the author name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses.
• Mention the most fundamental studies first. In other words, the most recent studies should be mentioned at last. In that way, the studies will be listed in a sequence. Therefore, the reader can easily understand the research conducted on a particular topic and what conclusions were put forth. Reading about a research and knowing how and why it leads to another research helps you to get a clear understanding of a particular topic.
• Based on your topic, try to include as many relevant references in your literature review as possible. That will help in preventing repetitive research. If some significant studies are omitted, readers might assume that research has not been conducted in that particular area and might take up the same. There is no point in people conducting the same type of research again and again. It is just a waste of time and effort.
• Avoid citing secondary sources as far as possible. It is always advisable to go through the original source yourself and decide whether it is relevant enough to be cited in your literature review.
• While presenting the sources, make it a point to evaluate them in the context of the topic. Present comparisons, point out flaws or loopholes that help in deciding the course of future research.

These are just a few general tips. For knowing more about the technical specifications of writing literature reviews in APA format, you can refer the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition.

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APA 7th Edition

• In-Text Citations
• Books/Book Chapters
• Social Media/Apps/Websites
• Video/TV/Podcasts
• Presentations/Dissertations
• Data/Unpublished Works
• Visual Works
• Legal Materials
• Biz Databases

This guide will provide information on how to cite your sources in-text and in your reference list using APA style & formatting. Click the tabs for an example of each. 

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

Examples of Reference Lists & In-text Citations

Additional resources:.

• Sample APA Papers from APA Style Download the Word Document and use the template for your APA papers.
• Sample Student Paper using APA from OWL Includes notes to explain the details. From APA Style. Use this sample paper as a guide for headings, in-text citations, references, & more.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) APA Guide

• No Date : if there isn't a date, the reference starts with the author. 

Lucas, T. (n.d.). Mother nature revolts.  U.S. News & World

Report.   https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-04-17/why-you-still-havent-gotten-your-coronavirus-stimulus-check

The in-text citation will look like this:

According to Lucas,  ... (n.d.).

It is hypothesized that Coronavirus was the planet's way of making a point (Lucas, n.d.).

• No Author : if there isn't an author, the reference starts with the title. 

Mother nature revolts. (2020, March 29). U.S. News & World

"Mother nature revolts" ... (2020).

It is hypothesized that Coronavirus was the planet's way of making a point ("Mother nature revolts", 2020).

• Exact quotes:  page numbers (or paragraph numbers) must be included for exact quotes: 

It was hypothesized that, "Coronavirus was the planet's way of making a point" (Lucas, 2017, p. 5.).

It was  hypothesized that, "Coronavirus w as the planet's way of making a point" (Lucas, 2017,  para . 5.).

• ​ ​ DOI = Digital Object Identifier.   If an item has a DOI, it must be included in the reference.  Not all articles and e-books will have a DOI.
• The research ... (Gonzalez & Perez., 2020).
• According to Perez, .... (2020).

If there are 2 authors, include both of them every time in the in-text citations.

• The research ... (Gonzalez et al., 2020).
• According to Gonzalez et al. .... (2020).
• Up to 20 Authors : names and initials for all 20 authors must be provided in the reference list. It will look like this:

The in-text citation will look like this: 

According to Smith et al. ... (2020). 

The research .... (Smith, et al., 2020).

• 21+ Authors : for sources with more than 20 authors, the first 19 are included in the reference list followed by an ellipses and the final author. It looks like this:

• Citing Multiple Works :  when referring to multiple works in-text, place the citations in alphabetical order, separating them with semicolons.

(Edwards, 2012; Flygare et al., 2019; Steba, 2015).

• Citing Multiple Works by the same author(s) in the same year:  when multiple references have identical author (or authors) and publication year, include a lowercase letter after the year. The year–letter combination is used in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry. Use only the year with a letter in the in-text citation, even if the reference list entry contains a more specific date.

Smith, J. & Ortiz, P. (2019a, February). Judge Judy and her impact on society.  Journal of Social Science, 15 (2), 16-25.

http://journsocscience.com

Smith, J. & Ortiz, P. (2019b, March). Judge Judy impacts social justice.  Journal of Social Science, 15 (2), 16-25.

Smith and Ortiz found ... (2019a).

...  (Smith & Ortiz, 2019b).

• Citing a Source within a Source :

Arpan, L. M., & Raney, A. A. (2003). An experimental investigation of news source and the hostile media effect. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 80 (2), 265-281.

(Gunther, 1992, as cited in Arpan & Raney, 2003);

The in-text citation gives credit to the source used. This is the same one included in the reference list.

• Citing Personal Communication (for example via email or messenger):

Because readers cannot retrieve the communication, it is not included in the reference list.   The communication is cited in the text of the paper only.  

S. Fernandez (personal communication, April 15, 2020) ...

... (S. Fernandez, personal communication, April 15, 2020). 

• Organizational Authors with Common Acronyms

If an organization or government entity is commonly known by it's acronym, it can be used in-text but the full name should be spelled out in the reference list.  

The first in-text citation will look like this: 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS, 2020), described ... 

... (The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS], 2020).

In-text citations that follow can use the acronym:

According to CMS ... (2020).

... (CMS, 2020).

The reference list will always include the spelled out organization (and not the acronym):

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servic e s. (2020).  ...

If you use Artificial Intelligence generated text such as ChatGPT, it needs to be cited.

However, before you get help from ai, check your syllabus and/or ask your professor whether it is allowed , example to model:.

When prompted “Why is toxic positivity a problem in the workplace,” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “toxic positivity can be harmful as it can lead to a dismissive attitude towards the concerns or struggles of employees” (OpenAI, 2023).

OpenAI. (2023).  ChatGPT  (Mar 23 version). [Large language model].  https://chat.openai.com/chat

• APA Style: How to cite ChatGPT We, the APA Style team, are not robots. We can all pass a CAPTCHA test, and we know our roles in a Turing test. And, like so many nonrobot human beings this year, we’ve spent a fair amount of time reading, learning, and thinking about issues related to large language models, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-generated text, and specifically ChatGPT. We’ve also been gathering opinions and feedback about the use and citation of ChatGPT. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and shared ideas, opinions, research, and feedback.

In-Text Citation Basics:

• APA uses author-date citation system
• Informs the reader where the information came from
• Refers the reader to the source information

• Use sparingly
• Page numbers (or paragraph numbers) must be included for exact quotes
• Only include relevant material
• Block quotes = 40+ words, no quotation marks, indented

Neu (2015) stated that “healthcare is a right” (p. 6).

In 2017, Smith argued that “healthcare is a privilege” (para. 3) and therefore should not be free.

The notion that healthcare is a right has been debated by many authors (Neu, 2105, p. 6; Smith, 2017, para. 3).

Blockquote:

Avoid Plagiarism

Indicate info. from various sources

Easily identify sources

Adds credibility to your writing

Expands breadth/depth of your writing

Acknowledge the sources that you have borrowed from

• The reference list starts on a new page with the word References , centered and bold

Double-spaced

Your reference list must match your in-text citations and vice versa

Alphabetical list by author’s last name

Use a hanging indent for every line after the first

For titles of books, articles, & websites in reference lists, capitalize only:

• the first word
• the first word after a colon
• proper nouns

In-Text Citation Examples:

General Reference Form :

Author Last Name(s), First Initial, Middle Initial. (Date). Title of article. Title of Source, volume number (issue number), page

numbers. DOI or URL.  

Reference Examples: 

Articles with a doi (digital object identifier):.

McConkey, S.M., & Christiansen, S.J. (2020). Language learning in Miami: A cross-linguistic model of diverse Spanish

dialects. Psychological Review , 128 (8), 25-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rev0000126

Articles without a DOI:

Andersen, J. (2020, March 30). Miami and Coronavirus. New York Times . C1

Pearsong, S., Padron, M., & Ortiz, J. (2020, January 1). What the New Year has in store for the U.S. The New

Yorker.  https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-homemade-insight-of-fetch-the-bolt-cutters

Article with an article number or eLocator

​ Smith, T. C., Castillo, M. J., Jackson, G. L., Simpson, B. B., Lantry, R. S., O'Reilly, S. T., Rosenberg, F., Lee, L. H., Cox,

G.,  Harris, H. L., Kass, P., Gonzalez, W. L., Hughes, W., Carter, D., Campbell, C., Baker, A. B., Flores, T., Gray, W. E., 

Green, G., ... Nelson, T. P. (2020).  Miami and Coronavirus. PLOS ONE, 14 (1), Article

e0209899.  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209899  

Reference Examples:

TIP: In the 7th edition, publisher location is no longer required when citing books.

Authored book with a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Example:

Nadler, J.T. & Voyles, E. C. (2020).  Stereotypes: The incidence and impacts of bias.  ABC-CLIO.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3389 /fpsyg.2015.0004

Authored book without a DOI (print or ebook) Example:

Johnson, D.W. (2020). The customer revolution in healthcare: Delivering kinder, smarter, affordable care for all. McGraw-Hill.

Edited book without a DOI Example:

Hacker Hughes, J. (Ed). (2017). Military veteran psychological health and social care: Contemporary approaches. Routledge.

Chapter in an edited book with a DOI Example:

Stone, C. (2020). Stereotypes of veterans. In J. T. Nadler & Voyles, E. C. (Eds.), Stereotypes: The incidence and impacts of

bias . (pp. 213-225). ABC-CLIO. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389 /fpsyg.2015.0004.

Chapter in an edited book without a DOI Example:

Weinstock, R., Leong, G. B., & Silva, J. A. (2003). Defining forensic psychiatry: Roles and responsibilities. In R. Rosner (Ed.),

Principles and practice of forensic psychiatr y (2nd ed., pp. 7-13). CRC Press.

Website Examples:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, January 23). People at high risk of developing flu-related complications.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm

Martin Lillie, C. M. (2016, December 29). Be kind to yourself: How self-compassion can improve your resiliency. Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/health-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-compassion-can-improve-your-resiliency/art-20267193

Boddy, J., Neumann, T., Jennings, S., Morron, V., Alderson, P., Rees, R., & Gibson, W. (n.d.). Ethics principles. The

Research Ethics Guidebook: A Resource for Social Scientists. http://www.ethicsguidebook.ac.uk/EthicsPrinciples

.... (Boddy, et al., n.d.).

... ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

Body et al. ...  (n.d.) ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ... (2018).

Tweet Example:

Obama, M. [@MichelleObama] (2020, April 18). Thank you to all the essential workers who are getting up every day and

risking their lives on our behalf. @LauraWBush and I were honored to show our support for their heroic efforts during

tonight's @GlblCtzn’s One World: #TogetherAtHome Special. [video attached] Tweet. Twitter

https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/1251695525017137159

.... (Obama, 2020).

Obama (2020) ...

Twitter Profile Example:

Bush, Laura. [@laurawbush]. (n.d.). Tweets . [Twitter profile] Twitter. Retrieved from April 18, 2020 from

https://twitter.com/laurawbush.

.... (Bush, n.d.).

Bush (n.d.) ...  

Facebook Page Example:

Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information Center. (n.d.). Home [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from

https://www.facebook.com/coronavirus_info/

.... ( Coronavirus  ( Covid-19 ) Information Center, n.d. ).

Coronavirus  ( Covid-19 ) Information Center (n.d.) ...

Facebook Post Example:

National institute of mental health. (2018, november 28). suicide affects all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. check out, these 5 action steps for helping someone in emotional pain [infographic]. facebook. http://bit.ly/321qstq.

.... ( National Institute of Mental Health, 2018 ).

The National Institute of Mental Health ...   (2018) ...

Instagram Video or Photo Example: APA Style [@officialapastyle]. (2018, December 5). Welcome to the official Instagram for #APAStyle! We’re here to help you

With your apa style questions [instagram photograph]. retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/bq-a-dvblih/.

.... (APA Style, 2018).

APA Style ...  (2018) ...

Instagram Profile: Star Wars [@starwars]. (n.d.). Posts [Instagram profile]. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from

Https://www.instagram.com/starwars/.

.... (Star Wars, n.d.).

Star Wars ...  (n.d.) ...

Instagram Highlight: APA Style [@officialapastyle]. (n.d.). FAQs [Instagram highlight]. Retrieved December 10, 2018, from

Https://www.instagram.com/s/aglnagxpz2h0oje3otc2odkwntk5mtc5mty1/.

.... (APA Style, n.d.).

APA Style ...  (n.d.) ...

Blog Post Example:

APA Style. (2020, March 19). What’s new in the seventh edition  Publication  Manual.  APA Style.

https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/ whats-new-7e

.... (APA Style, 2020).

The APA Style (2020) ...

Mobile App Examples:

Actual app:.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epocrates/id281935788?mt=8  

Entry in the App:

Epocrates. (2019). Interaction check: Aspirin + sertraline. In Epocrates medical references (version 18.12) [Mobile app]. App

Store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epocrates/id281935788?mt=8

.... (Epocrates, 2019).

Epocrates ... (2019). 

YouTube Example:

Cutts, S. (2017, November 24). Happiness [Video]. YouTube. ​ https:youtube.com/24455202929

.... (Cutts, 2017).

Cutts (2017) ...

Ted Talk Example:

Kowalski, C. (2017, November). The critical role librarians play in the

opioid  crisis  https ://www.ted.com/talks/chera_kowalski_the_critical_role_librarians_play_in_the_opioid_crisis

.... (Kowalski, 2017).

Kowalski (2017) ...

Film or Video Example:

Forman, M. (Director). (1975). One flew over the cuckoo’s nest [Film]. United Artists.

.... (Forman, 1975).

Forman (1975) ...

TV Example:

Wolf, D. (1999-present). Law & Order: Special Victims Unit  [TV Series].  Wolf Entertainment Productions; NBC.

.... (Wolf , 1999-present ).

Wolf (1999-present) ...

Podcast Example:

Poor, N., Woods, E. & Williams, A. (2016-present). Ear Hustle [Audio podcast]. PRX.   https://www.earhustlesq.com/

.... (Poor et al., 2016-present).

Poor et al. (2016-present) ...

Report Examples:

National Cancer Institute. (2018). Facing forward: Life after cancer treatment (NIH Publication No. 18-2424). U.S. Department

of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/life-after-treatment.pdf

Blackwell, D. L., Lucas, J. W., & Clarke, T. C. (2014). Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview

Survey, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_260.pdf

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2017). Agency financial report: Fiscal year 2017.

https://www.sec.gov/files/sec-2017-agency-financial-report.pdf

.... ( National Cancer Institute , 2018).

... (Blackwell, et al., 2014).

... ( U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2017).

National Cancer Institute (2018) ...

Blackwell, et al. (2014) ...

According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2017), ...

Presentation Example:

O'Reilly, P., Edwards, C., & Hamil, S. K. (2020, April 1-3).  How to cite properly in APA.  [Paper presentation]. Florida Library Association 100th Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, United States.

*Replace [Paper presentation] with [Conference presentation] or [Poster presentation] as needed. 

.... (O'Reilly, et al., 2020).

O'Reilly et al. (2020) ...

Dissertation Examples:

Unpublished:

Hodges, L. (2018). Instructional design perceptions and practices of faculty [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Florida

International University.

Sanderson, K. R. (2012). Time orientation in organizations: Polychronicity and multitasking (Publication No. 3554209)

[Doctoral dissertation Florida International University]. Proquest Dissertations & Theses.

.... (Hodges, 2018).

Sanderson (2012) ...

Unpublished Manuscript Example:

Yen, J., Chen, Y., Rigotti, A., & Deckard C. (2016). Linking good customer services to increased sales: An observational study

[Unpublished manuscript]. College of Business, Florida International University.

Include the department and institution where the work was published if possible. 

....  (Yen et al., 2016).

Yen, et al. (2016) ...

Data Set Examples:

Published Data:

Pew Research Center (2018).  Core Trend Survey  [Data set]. 

https ://www.pewresearch.org/internet/dataset/core-trends - survey/

Unpublished Unnamed Raw Data Set :

Baer,  R. A. (2015). [Unpublished raw data on the correlations between the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the

Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills]. University of Kentucky.

.... (Pew Research Center, 2018).

Baer (2015) ...

Infographic Example:

Florida Library Association. (2020, February). Federal funds in Florida  [Infographic]. https://www.flalib.org/advocacy ​

.... (Florida Library Association [FLA], 2020).

Florida Library Association [FLA] (2020) ...

Map Example:

Florida International University GIS Center. (2015). BIKE – Bicycle Knowledge Explorer (Palm Beach)  [Map].

https://maps.fiu.edu/gis/research/projects/255/bike-%E2%80%93-bicycle-knowledge-explorer-palm-beach

.... ( Florida International  University  GIS Center , 2015).

Florida International  University  GIS Center  (2015) ...

Photograph Example:

McCurry, S. (1985). Afghan girl [Photograph]. National Geographic.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/national-geographic-magazine-50-years-of-covers/#/ngm-1985-jun-714.jpg

.... (McCurry, 1985).

McCurry (1985) ...

PowerPoint or Lecture Notes Example:

Cana, E., & Vasilev, J. (2019, May 22). [Lecture notes on resource allocation]. Department of Management Control and

Information Systems, University of Chile. https://uchilefau.academia.edu/ElseZCanan

.... (Mack & Spake, 2018).

Cana and Vasiley (2019) ...

Museum Example:

Wood, G. (1930). American gothic [Painting]. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. https://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/6565

.... (Wood, 1930).

Wood (1930) ...

• APA 7th Edition Citation Guide for Business Resources This guide provides examples for citing business databases such as IBISWorld, Mergent Online, S&P, and other non-traditional article databases.

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APA format: Basic Guide for Researchers

The American Psychological Association (APA) is an official style format that is used by researchers and authors for academic and scientific writing. It is basically a standardized style guide used in psychology, education, and social science. It provides a framework for structuring research papers, presenting findings in a clear and concise manner and for accurately cite sources. The other commonly used style guides are the MLA and the Chicago style formats.  

How to write your research paper in APA format    

In the APA style, you need to adhere to specific formats and guidelines throughout the research paper. Some of these are explained below:  

The APA format allows different types of fonts. Some of the recommended ones include 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 11-point Calibri and 11-point Arial. The chosen font should be consistently used throughout the document. Figure images have to be in sans serif font with size between 8 and 14 points. Footnotes should be smaller than the text font and the line spacing will also be different.  

APA style provides for five levels of headings, each having its own format. Level 1 is the main heading, level 2 corresponds to the sub-heading of level 1, level 3 corresponds to the sub-heading of level 2 and so on. The headings should be double spaced and should not be numbered or lettered.  

Line spacing:

Generally, the APA format recommends double spacing throughout the text with few exceptions.  

A one inch margin is to be provided on each side of the paper. For dissertations and thesis, experts’ advice considering specific instructions provided by your institution.  

Paragraph alignment and indentation:

Text should be aligned to the left margin leaving the right margin uneven or “ragged”. The first line of each paragraph in the text should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin.  

Under the APA format , there are also certain guidelines to be followed while preparing different sections of the research paper. These include –   

• Title page: All manuscripts must have a title page. The title should be concise, and must accurately reflect the contents of the paper. The author’s name and institutional affiliation should be centred, and positioned just below the title.  
• Abstract: A key part of academic manuscripts, an abstract must provide a brief summary of the research paper, including the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions. It should be written within 250 words and should be the second page of your paper. The heading needs to be given as “Abstract” which is centred and bold. The text of the abstract should be written in a single paragraph, double spaced and must not be indented. Three to five keywords can be given one line below the abstract. These should not be italicized or bold but must be written in lower case. They should be separated by commas and there should not be any ending punctuation at the end of the keywords.  
• Introduction: The introduction is an essential part of scientific manuscripts and should be presented in an interesting and engaging manner. It should be able to convey clearly a critical overview of existing empirical knowledge and highlight knowledge gaps in the topic of study. Additionally, the aim of the research, a well formulated hypothesis, and a description of what you intend to address in the study must be clearly mentioned.  
• Methods: This is another critical part of an academic paper that requires researchers to describe the methods and procedures that were used during the study or experiment. Providing a detailed description contributes to ensuring the reproducibility and replicability of the study. The methods section should explain the research design that was adopted, details of the participants of the study, the equipment or materials used and the variables of the study.  
• Results: Here, researchers have to provide a brief summary of the results of their study. It is important that data is presented in a tabular format or in the form of graphs and figures to make it more interesting and to be easily understood by the reader. It is important to keep in mind that a clear narrative must accompany the statistics provided.  
• Discussion: Researchers must use the discussion section to provide their interpretation of the results of their research and explain its significance. Subsequently, it is in this section that they must present whether or not their results support their hypothesis.  
• References: Each and every source mentioned in a research paper must be referenced and accurately cited in this section.  

References and citations in APA format  

In the APA format, the author-date citation system is followed. Here, a brief in-text citation is provided in the text of your paper of a research paper. It can even appear in tables, figures, footnotes or appendix. Only the author and date of publication is provided here. The readers can refer to the corresponding entry in the reference list where the full citation is provided.   

While writing in-text citations, it is important to ensure that spelling of author names and publication dates are same in the in-text and reference list. The reference provides an alphabetical listing. Following are some examples of citations in APA format for different sources.  

• Books : The author surname with first and middle initials is written first. Only the title of the book is italicized. For eg.  
• Author Surname, A.B. (Publication Year). Title of the book . Publisher.  
• Journal article: Author surname, A.B. (Publication Year). Article Title: Subtitle. Journal title, Volume (issue), page range. URL or DOI.  
• Newspaper or magazine article : Surname. (Date of Publication). Title of the article. Title of the Newspaper or Magazine . URL.  

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