Guide to the Publication Manual of the

American Psychological Association

Special Education Program at SUNY New Paltz

 APA Tutorial

 This Powerpoint presentation is designed to

provide you with the basics of APA format and
other general writing guidelines. It is not to be
considered a comprehensive source. For
complete APA requirements, refer to the APA
publication manual (6th Edition).You also may
want to consult the resources provided at the
end of this tutorial, such as the Purdue Online
Writing Lab.
Why Use APA Format?
 Allows readers to
cross-reference your
sources easily
 Provides consistent
format within a
discipline
 Gives you credibility as
a writer
 Protects yourself from
plagiarism
Using a Consistent Format
Using a consistent
format helps your
reader understand
your arguments and
the sources they’re
built on.
It also helps you keep
track of your sources
as you build
arguments.
Finding Sources
 Peer-reviewed Articles

“Peer-reviewed or refereed journals are

publications that have their submitted articles
evaluated by outside experts (peers) in the
subject area (Bachand & Sawallis, 2003, p. 40).”
 Database Generated Citations
Example
Database generated:
Gresham, F. M. (1984). Social Skills and Self-Efficacy for
Exceptional Children. Exceptional Children, 51(3), 253-261.
Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Correct citation:
Gresham, F. M. (1984). Social skills and self-efficacy for
exceptional children. Exceptional Children, 51(3), 253-261.
doi:10.1108

Italic
Note: APA 6th edition does not require listing the database source (APA, 2010, p. 192)
Must list DOI if available (see slide no. 33)
Learning the Basics
of APA Style
 Getting Started
General Document Formatting
 Setting up a Word document
◦ Select Font/Font Size
 Times New Roman
 Font Size 12
◦ 1” margins all around
 Left justified with right ragged edge
◦ Double spaced
 All paper elements should be double spaced except
in-text table/figure notation
 Indent the first line of all paragraphs
 Indent paragraphs ½ inch
 Number pages consecutively beginning with the
title page
 Voice and Point of View
 Use an active voice not a passive voice
Example The participant stated…not…The participants were
asked

 Use third person point of view instead of first

person point of view.
Example The study supported ... not….I found out ……

◦ However, this depends on the journal and/or

the instructor. If in doubt, ask your instructor.
(American Psychological Association [APA], 2010, pg. 77)
Reporting verbs
 Argue  Note
 Assert  Object
 Assume  Observe
 Challenge  Persuade
 Claim
 Propose
 Contend
 Contradict  Prove
 Describe  Purport
 Dispute  Recommend
 Emphasize  Refute
 Establish  Reject
 Examine  Remark
 Find  Suggest
 Maintain  Support

11
 Language

 Use clear and concise language: avoid

interpretive language

 Studies do not prove, they support

◦ Do not say, “This study proved that ...”
◦ Instead say, “The study showed ...”

 Use simple, descriptive adjectives and plain

language

(APA, 2010, pg 65-67)

 Avoiding Bias in Language

1. Describe at the appropriate level of specificity.

• Not specific: over 15 years of age
• Specific: 15- to 20-year-olds
2. Be sensitive to labels.
• Refer to people in a culturally sensitive manner that
reflects their cultural preferences.
3. Acknowledge participation.
• State “The children completed the survey…” instead of
“The survey was administered to the children…”

(APA, 2010, p. 71-73)

 Avoiding Bias: Disabilities
 Do not focus on disability unless it is crucial to a story.

 Put people first, not their disability.

a child with a learning disability

Example not
a learning disabled child

 Emphasize abilities, not limitations. Do not use negative

language.

Do not write: Suffers from ______

Example Instead write: A child with _______

(APA, 2010, p. 73)

 Subject/Pronoun Agreement

 The student (singular)….his/her (singular)

 Students (plural)……their (plural)

To avoid gender bias use the plural form (students)

 The teacher who……. NOT…The teacher that

(A teacher is a person, not an object. )

(Onwuegbuzie, Combs, Slate, & Frels, 2009)

 Numbers Expressed in Numerals
Use numerals to express:
 All numbers 10 and above
Example 25 years old
 Numbers preceding a unit of measurement
Example a 5-mg dose
 Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, percentiles & quartiles
Examples a ratio of 16:1
the 5th percentile
 Time, dates, ages, scores and points on a scale
Examples 1 hour 15 minutes
scored 5 on a 8-point scale
(APA, 2010, p. 111-112)
 Numbers Expressed in Words

 Use words to express numbers below 10

 Use words anytime a number begins a sentence,

title, or heading

 Common fractions
Example one fifth of the class

(APA, 2010, pg.112)

Formatting
 Four Sections

 Ask instructor about assignment requirements.

 An APA paper may include four major sections:

Title Page
Abstract
Main Body
References
 Title Page
Running head Running head: APA FORMAT 1 Page number

(capital letters)
Title of paper
Title of paper
APA Format
Author’s name
Kathleen Golly
Institutional Affiliation
State University of New York at New Paltz

(APA, 2010, p. 41)

 Abstract
 Page header:
TITLE OF PAPER 2

 “Abstract” (centered, at the top of the page)

 Brief (between 150 and 250 words) summary of

your paper

 Accurate, concise, and specific language.

* Ask course instructor if abstract is required *

(APA, 2010, pg. 41)

 Headings
 Different levels of headings
 Use consecutively

Level Format

1 Centered, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Headings

2 Left-aligned, Boldface, Uppercase and Lowercase Headings

3 Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with period.

4 Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase heading with period.

5 indented, italicized, lowercase heading with period.

(APA, 2010, p. 62)

 Sample Headings
Methods (Level 1)

Site of Study (Level 2)

Participant Population (Level 2)

Teachers. (Level 3)

Students. (Level 3)

Results (Level 1)

Spatial Ability (Level 2)

Test one. (Level 3)

Teachers with training (Level 4)

(Angeli et al., 2010)

Citing Sources
 In-text Citations: Paraphrases

 You must cite anything that is not your original

idea or words

 Cite all paraphrases in the body of your paper

(Author’s last name, year).

Example
The study supported the finding that children learn best
through multisensory approaches (Smith, 2002).

Punctuation mark outside parentheses

(APA, 2010, p. 170-171)

 In-text Citations: Direct Quotes

 You must cite anything that is not your original

idea or words.
 Cite all direct quotes in the body of your paper.
 Write a lead-in phrase for direct quotes.
Lead in phrase “__________” (Last name, year, p. #).
OR
Lead in phrase Last name (year) “_________________” (p. #).
 Do not start a sentence with a direct quote.
Example According to Smith (2000) “___________”(p. 15).

(APA, 2010, p. 171-172)

 Direct Quote Formatting Examples
Include page number

Smith (2002) stated “___________”(p. 11).

OR
Children learn best by “______________”
(Smith, 2002, p.11).
Include page number

OR Citation right after quote

Children learn best through “______” (Smith, 2002, p.

11) and hands-on learning experiences.
 Direct Quotes: Forty Words or Less

 Use quotation marks

 Keep the quote within the paragraph

According to Jones (1998), "Students often had difficulty

Example
using APA style, especially when it was their first time citing

sources" (p.199).

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Direct Quotes: Forty Words or More
 No quotation marks
 Indent entire quote ½ inch from the left margin
 Do not indent the first line more than the rest of the quote
 Maintain double spacing
 Parenthetical citation comes after punctuation mark

Jones' (1998) study found the following:

Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was
Example their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to
the fact that many students failed to purchase a style manual or to
ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 In-text Citations
Parenthetical
Subsequent Parenthetical format,
citations in format, first subsequent
Type of citation First citation in text text citation in text citations in text

One work by one author Walker (2007) Walker (2007) (Walker, 2007) (Walker, 2007)
One work by two Walker and (Walker & Allen, (Walker & Allen,
authors Walker and Allen (2004) Allen (2004) 2004) 2004)
One work by three Gilsenan, Ramirez, and Gilsenan et al. (Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan et al.,
authors Smith (1999) (1999) & Smith, 1999) 1999)

One work by four Gilsenan, Ramirez, Soo, Gilsenan et al. (Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan et al.,
authors and Smith (2008) (2008) Soo, & Smith, 2008) 2008)
Gilsenan, Ramirez, (Gilsenan, Ramirez,
One work by five Hicks, Soo, and Smith Gilsenan et al. Hicks, Soo, & (Gilsenan et al.,
authors (2003) (2003) Smith, 2003) 2003)
One work by six or more Smith et al. (Smith et al.,
authors Smith et al. (2005) (2005) (Smith et al., 2005) 2005)
Groups (readily National Institute of (National Institute of
identified through Mental Health (NIMH, Mental Health
abbreviation) as authors 2003) NIMN (2003) [NIMH], 2003) (NIMH, 2003)
University of
Groups (no University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh (University of (University of
abbreviation) as authors (2005) (2005) Pittsburgh, 2005) Pittsburgh, 2005)
(Angeli et al., 2010)
 In-text Citations

• Remember to include page numbers for all

direct quotes
• For 1-2 authors: List both last names every time!
• For 3-5 authors: List all last names the first time,
then use the first author’s last name followed by
“et al.” for subsequent entries
• For 6+ authors: List the first author’s last name
and et al. (List all authors on the reference page)
 In-text Citations: No Authors
Unknown author: Cite by the title.
-Titles of books and reports are italicized or underlined
-Titles of articles, chapters, and web pages are in
quotation marks.
Example (“Behavior Management,” 2005).

Organization as author:
- Write out the organization’s full name the first time
with any abbreviation in brackets
Example (National Education Association [NEA], 2011).
- Subsequent citations: use abbreviation
Example (NEA, 2011).
(Angeli et al., 2010)
How to prepare a reference list?
 Reference General Guidelines

 Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of an

article or book title and subtitle, the first word
after a colon or a dash in the title, and proper
nouns.
Example Social skills and self-efficacy for exceptional children

Note: Do not capitalize the first letter of the second

word in a hyphenated compound word.

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Reference General Guidelines

 If multiple sources by the exact same author(s)

list them by date (earliest first) on the reference
page

 Capitalize all major words in journal titles.

Example Journal of Learning Disabilities
 References
1. First: Decide what type of source it is

2. Next: Refer to Purdue Online Writing Lab or the APA

manual (6th Edition)

3. Locate sample citation and copy format exactly

OR

1. Decide what type of source it is

2. Use the automatic citation feature of the database

AND
3. Adjust the citation based on the Purdue Online Writing Lab
or the APA manual (6th Edition)
 Common Reference Examples

Basic Format for Books:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital

letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.

Article from Database:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of article. Journal Title,

8(3), 120-125. doi: 000000001123

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Common Reference Examples
Newspaper Article
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Title of Newspaper.

Retrieved from http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/

Nonperiodical Web Page

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of

document. Retrieved from http://Web address

(See APA manual or Purdue OWL for more detailed explanations and
additional reference types)

(Angeli et al., 2010)

 Reference Page Sample
APA FORMAT 23
References

American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the

Hanging
American Psychological Association 6th ed. Washington, DC:
indent
American Psychological Association.

Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderland, L.,

& Brizee, A. (2010). APA format and styling guide. Retrieved from

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01

(Angeli et al., 2010)

Advanced APA
 Tables vs. Figures

 A table shows numerical values or textual

information “arranged in an orderly display of
columns and rows” (APA, 2010, p. 125).

 A figure can be a chart, a photograph, a graph, a

scatter plot, a drawing or any other illustration.

(APA, 2010, p. 125).

 Use only horizontal lines
Tables

when needed for clarity
 Do not use vertical lines
Example:  Title of table in italics
Double space
 Number tables
consecutively
Table 1  May include a “note”
under table if information
is needed to understand
Word list: Summary of performance
table.
(APA, 2010, p. 129)

Grade Sight Analysis Total Level

1 19 0 19 Independent
2 16 1 17 Instructional
3 12 4 16 Instructional

Note: Sight indicates the number of words read correctly on the first try. Analysis indicates
the number of missed words that were corrected when reread a second time. Total
indicates the total number of words read correctly.
 • Title of figure in italics
Figures
Example: •Number figures consecutively
Double space
•Include a note at the bottom if
Figure 1 information is needed for clarity
Graphic Similarity of Substitution Miscues
(Angeli et al., 2010)

Graphic Similarity of Miscues

80%
70%
60%
50%
Percent

40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Beginning Middle End
Graphic Similarity

Note. This figure shows the graphic similarity in the beginning,

middle, and end of substitution miscues.