A.    Title Page – GOAL: To provide identifying information for the study

Ø  Running head – Provide shortened version of title as header; include page

Ø  Title – Create title that is accurate, informative, specific, self-contained, and concise.

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B.     Abstract – GOAL: To summarize the study

Ø  Purpose  – Accurately, briefly, clearly explain study’s purpose

Ø  Method  – Accurately, briefly, clearly describe method; include sample size, gender, age

Ø  Findings – Accurately, briefly, clearly report main findings as they relate to study’s purpose

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C.    Introduction – GOAL: To provide empirical context and explain why the study was done

Ø  General orientation – Introduce topic/define variables being studied

Ø  Empirical Context – Provide focused literature review based on primary source information

Ø  Logical Premise – Establish logical premise for the study based on empirical background

Ø  Purpose – Accurately and clearly, state the purpose of the study.

Ø  Hypothesis (es) – Accurately and clearly state hypothesis (es) tested, with obvious rationale.

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D.    Method – GOAL: To describe how the study was conducted in enough detail

Ø  Participants –    Describe sample (how many, gender, age, etc.); how recruited; if/how compensated.

Ø  Apparatus/Materials -Describe equipment and/or materials used to carry out the study

(If survey/test, note topics addressed; include sample items. If published instrument, cite source.)

Ø  Procedure – Describe procedures/steps followed in the collection of data; include use of informed consent; note that participants were debriefed

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E.     Results – GOAL: To report findings and the data upon which they are based

Ø  Findings – Accurately, clearly, and precisely state findings in words (e.g., girls scored higher than boys)

Ø  Data: Descriptive Statistics – Accurately report the descriptive statistics (e.g. %) upon which the statement of findings is based.

Ø  Tables and Figures – Use tables and figures as aids to communicating findings.

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F.     Discussion – GOAL: To integrate findings into the literature, consider implications, suggest next steps

Ø  Recap – Accurately and clearly, recap study’s purpose and main findings.

Ø  Empirical Context – Compare findings to other studies’ findings; integrate into empirical context

Ø  Implications – Fully consider and discuss possible impact of findings,

•         especially as they pertain to a current issue, theory, or “real-world” problem

Ø  Limitations – Briefly note methodological limitations (other than small sample size); consider boundaries beyond which findings may not generalize

Ø  Future Research – Suggest logical directions for future research on the topic

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G.    References – GOAL: To provide source information for all work cited

Ø  Inclusive/Exclusive Sourcing – Include source information for all, and only, cited work

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A.    Organization of Ideas – GOAL: Coherence: To present ideas in a logical sequence

Ø  Between Paragraphs – Order ideas/thoughts in a logical way from one paragraph to the next

Ø  Within Paragraphs – Organize paragraphs using topic sentence and supporting details

B.     Mechanics – GOAL: Clarity:  To convey thoughts clearly

Ø  Follow rules of grammar; use correct punctuation, spelling

C.    Tone – GOAL: Professionalism: To use a tone that is appropriate for a professional audience

Ø  Report – Do not talk to the reader (no “you”); do not use contractions or informal phrases

D.    Appearance – GOAL: Professionalism: To create a neat, professional-quality document

Ø  Proofread several times for spelling, stray marks, formatting, etc.

III.             FORMATTING OUTCOMES – GOAL: To achieve consistency with APA formatting guidelines

A.   Title Page

1.        Running Head: Use lower-case ; colon; caps; 50-space max; page #; “Running head:” first page only

2.        Title: Center; double-space; use title case

3.        Student Name(s): Center (first name, middle initial, last name); place two lines below title

4.        Student Affiliation: Center, place two lines below author name

5.        Title/Author/Affiliation Placement: Place immediately above horizontal midline of page

6.        Author Note : Center title (Author Note); indent first line; 4 blank lines between paragraphs

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B.     Abstract

7.        Paragraph format: Center title (Abstract), no bold; double space; do not indent first line

8.        Numbers: Express quantities less than 10 as numerals, except at start of sentence

9.        Length: Do not exceed 120 words

C.    Introduction

10.     Section Title: Center title (the title of the study), no bold type; use title case

11.     Citations: Use proper Modified Harvard (name, date) citation format

D.    Method

12.     Section Title: Center title (Method); use bold type

13.     Subsections: Label subsections (Participants, Materials or Apparatus, Procedure), left justified, bold type

E.     Results

14.     Section Title: Center title (Results); use bold type

15.     Statistical Symbols: Italicize all statistical symbols (M, SD, p, z, t, r, etc.)

16.     Inferential Test Results: Report in APA style (i.e., value of test statistic, df, p-value, effect size)

17.     . Tables: Format as per APA guidelines (e.g., no vertical lines)

18.     Figures: Use correct graph type for data; scale & label axes appropriately; include figure caption

F.     Discussion

19.     Section Title: Center title (Discussion); use bold type

20.     Citations: Use proper Modified Harvard (name, date) citation format

G.    References

21.     Section Title: Center title (References), no bold

22.     Hanging Indent: Format each reference with hanging indent

23.     Alphabetized: Alphabetize list by last name of first author

24.     Author Name(s): Format as last name, first initial (period), middle initial (period); use “&” before last

25.     Year of Publication: Type year in parentheses; follow with a period

26.     Title of Article: Format in sentence case; follow with a period

27.     Journal Name: Format in title case; italicize; follow with a comma

28.     Volume (issue): Format volume # in italics, issue # in parentheses (no italics); follow with a comma

29.     Page Numbers: Provide inclusive page numbers; separate with a dash; follow with a period

30.     Digital Object Identifier (doi): Include after page numbers, no period at end

H.    Other

31.     Manuscript Spacing: Set 1” margins, double-spacing; no additional space between paragraphs

32.     Section/Page Order: Title Page; Abstract (new page); Introduction (new page); Method; Results; Discussion; References(new page); Tables & Figures (one per page)