Researching Like a Scientist Using APA Style What

Researching Like a Scientist Using APA Style

What is APA Style? APA (American Psychological Association) Style originated in 1929, when a group of scientists convened to create a set of procedures, or style rules, that would make reading/writing scientific papers easier.

Who Uses APA Style? • All science classes • Other fields are adopting APA style

Why Use APA Format? • Provides consistent format • Allows readers to easily find & verify your sources • Gives you credibility as a writer • Protects you from plagiarism

Avoiding Plagiarism • What is plagiarism? • using someone else’s words or ideas as if they were your own • stealing

Avoiding Plagiarism • Consequences of plagiarism: • • • Fail a paper/project Fail a course Expulsion from school Lawsuits Fines Jail time • Proper citation of your sources in APA style can help you avoid plagiarism

Selecting Sources Good sources are: • Scholarly • author works in field they write about • Author is respected in their field • Author cites sources • Peer-reviewed • The source is vetted by other scientists in the field • Credible • Is there an obvious slant to the information? • Does it have an author’s name & citations? • Age sensitive • sources are generally no more than 5 years old for scientific research

What are good sources? • • Peer-reviewed scientific journals Current library books Magazines & newspapers (sometimes) GALILEO is the best source! • For home access: www. galileo. usg. edu • Password: puddle

General Rules for APA Style • 1” margins on all sides • 12 pt. font • Times New Roman font or Courier font • Double-space • Indent the first line of each paragraph • Include page number & running head on all pages

Main Parts of an APA Paper • • Title page Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References Makes up the BODY of your paper

Title Page • Title page counts as page 1! • Include the paper’s full title, your name & school’s name centered on top half of page. • Your teacher may require additional info on the title page such as date or class period. • The running head should appear on each page of your paper--even page 1—and it includes short version of title (ALL CAPS) & page number • NOTE: on page 1 only the shortened title is preceded by “Running head: ”

Title Page

Abstract • A brief summary of the paper • Quickly shows reader the main points of your paper • Summarizing each section of your paper is an easy way to create your abstract • Don’t indent the beginning of the abstract paragraph • Page is titled “Abstract” & title is centered

Abstract

Introduction • Begins on page 3 of your paper & begins the body of your paper • Type the full title of your paper (centered) on the first line & begin your intro on the next line • Usually the first few paragraphs of your paper • Presents the problem and main ideas that the paper addresses • State your hypothesis here • Give background info on your topic

Introduction

Method • Detailed explanation of HOW you did your research • Usually contains the following subsections: • Participants: who or what is in your study? • Research Design: variables, controls, blind studies? • Measures: tests or instruments you used to collect data • Procedures: describe each step of your experiment in great detail

Results • This is the area where you describe the results of your research • Don’t interpret results here, just give the facts • You should state whether your hypothesis was supported by the research—just don’t try to explain why in this section

Discussion • This is where you explain why your hypothesis was/wasn’t supported by the research • Were the results what you predicted? • How do your results compare to the rest of the research on this topic?

Method, Results & Discussion • Headings for these sections are bold and centered Method • Headings for any sub-sections (participants, research design, measures & procedure) are bold and left justified Participants

Method, Results & Discussion

References • A list of ALL sources that you get information from. • Provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any sources cited in your paper. • Sources are alphabetical by author’s last name • Page is titled “References” and title is centered • Use hanging indent for each new source

References

References: Some Examples • Book Coleman, L. (2010). Researching like a pro: apa style. Atlanta, Ga: Rampage Publications. • Article from database Goffman, E. (2010). Running on algae. E - The Environmental Magazine, 21(1), 15 -33. Retrieved from Environment Complete database. • Article from print journal Jacoby, W. G. (1994). Public attitudes toward GMOs. American Journal of Science, 38(2), 336 -361.

Citation Creation Resources • Citation Machine • ww. citationmachine. net • Easy. Bib • www. easybib. com • School subscription allows extra features like APA style, digital notecards, and more!

Parenthetical Citations • In-text citation • Crediting your sources where you use their info in the body of your paper • Used when you paraphrase or quote another person in your paper

Parenthetical Citations • Paraphrasing a source. To use an idea from another source but put it in your own words. • Quoting a source. To repeat another source word for word using quotation marks.

Quote “The study clearly shows that National Football League physicians adopted a more conservative approach to concussion management in the second six-year period of the study’s 12 year examination of concussions of NFL players. ” vs. Paraphrase NFL doctors were more cautious in their treatment of concussed NFL players in the second half of the study.

Parenthetical Citation Examples • Author’s last name and publication year must appear in the parenthetical citation. • Kessler (2003) found that among epidemiological samples… • Researchers found that early onset results in a more persistent and severe case (Kessler, 2003). • In 2003, Kessler’s study of epidemiological samples showed that…

Parenthetical Citation - Quotes • When QUOTING you must include the page number, as well as the author’s name and publication year. • Rogers (1961) once wrote that two important elements of a helping relationship are “genuineness and transparency” (p. 37). • Punctuation is always outside the parenthesis.

Block Quotes • If your quote is more than 40 words, you should • • • create a block quote Quote begins on new line Place a colon at the end of your regular text and begin the block quote on the next line Entire quote is offset 1 tab No quotation marks Parenthetical citation goes OUTSIDE the closing punctuation mark

Block Quotes

Where can you go for additional help with the APA style? �Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6 th ed. �Official APA website: http: //www. apastyle. org/ �Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) http: //owl. english. purdue. edu/ �Mrs. Coleman in the Learning Commons https: //newton. instructure. com/courses/16

Galileo • www. galileo. usg. edu • Password: puddle (Check Canvas for updates)

My Sources • American Psychological Association. (2010, February). Basics of the apa style tutorial. Retrieved from http: //flash 1 r. apa. org/apastyle/basics/index. htm • Jeffrey Kahn. (2009). Sample apa paper for students interested in learning apa style 6 th edition. Retrieved from http: //my. ilstu. edu/~jhkahn/APAsample. pdf • Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2008). Apa formatting and style guide. Retrieved from http: //owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/560/01/ • Larrimore, A. (2016, August 18). APA Style [Telephone interview].