Copyright 2003

The APA Style Paper

Format and Documentation of a Research Study

 

The Title PageThe Title Page•Page Header (5 spaces) Page number (1 inch margin)

•Running Head:

•Title

•Name

•Institution

These items are centered

& double-spaced!

complete title

right justified

Keep 1” margins on allsides throughout the

paper.

All pages are numberedin sequence beginning

with the title page(excludes figure page).

Use a standard type font such as Times New

Roman, 12 point size throughout

Do not use bold font for emphasis.

Schedule-Induced Attack 1

Running Head: SCHEDULE-INDUCED ATTACK IN MOUSE TRAPS

Schedule-Induced Attack in Mouse Traps:

Behavior Modification of Inanimate Objects

Michael Maus

Lunchburg College

Title Page ExampleTitle Page Example

The name(s) of the author(s) is/are given, followed by the name of the institution at which the research was done.

Double space this section.

Running Head: This is an abbreviated title,flush left at the top of the page. Write out the words

“Running Head:” as shown. The abbreviated title is writtenin all capital letters.

Header: The first 2 or 3 words from the title, followed by5 spaces, then the page number, flush right, 1” from the edge.

Schedule-Induced Attack 2

Abstract

Although aggression has repeatedly been observed in mousetraps in the

field , the variable controlling the aggression has not previously been

identified. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether

aggression in mouse traps could be induced by an intermittent schedule of

reinforcement. The necessary condition for concluding that attack is

schedule-induced is that more attack occurs during exposure to an

intermittent schedule of reinforcement (e.g. food) than in its absence.

The abstract is a brief, 100-150-word summary of the purpose, method, results, and conclusions of the study.

This section and the ones that follow are double-spaced.

Also, do not indent the first line of the abstract.

The abstract has its own page in the paper.No other information is to be included on this page.

The past tense is used throughout most of the manuscript including presentation of results. However, the present tense

is used when discussing results and presenting conclusions.

Schedule Induced Attack in Mouse Traps: Behavior Modification of Inanimate Objects

The introduction begins on the page following the abstract. The

introduction is never labeled. This is where you present the logic and

background research that suggested this study. The general problem area is

mentioned in the first paragraph, followed by a brief review of the relevant

published findings.

There are specific ways to cite previously published works (Miller,

1941). When there are two or more authors, they are cited this way (Looney &

Dove, 1978).

Schedule-Induced Attack 3

Completetitle

This is a typical citation for a single-author work. Notice the comma after the last name.

Also, initials are not used in in-text citations.

This is a typical 2-author in-text citation.Remember, use “&” instead of “and” when

the citation is parenthetical.

Continue to use double-spacing through-out the paper.When one section stops in the middle of a page,

the next section starts immediately. (DO NOT start a new page for each section!)

Introduction: The topic of study is stated, research relevant to your study is described, similarities and differences

between your study and others are noted as are hypotheses/predictions you have regarding the

outcome of your study.

Indent the first line of each paragraph from this point on.

The intro is not labeled in the paper

Introduction

Schedule-Induced Attack 4

However, Wallace and Singer (1976) noted that facillima saepe

non sunt optima accepit hoc. Also in similar studies it was observed

that blah blah blah blah blah (Flory & Everist, 1977; Gentry, 1968;

Killeen, 1979). Similarly, Flory (1969) pointed out the problem of

“plures viri quam appellabant” (p.384). Consistent with this view

Schaal, Shahan, Kovera and Reilly (1998) note that babble babble

babble pessimi copiis maius deum . For the present study I will look

at the phenomenon mentioned first by Flory (1969b).

When the authors are mentioned as part of the text,write out “and”.

When more than one work is cited in the same parenthetical reference,always order them alphabetically by the last name of the first author.

List all authors the first time a work is cited in you paper.Thereafter, works with 3 or more authors should be cited using the

first author with “et al” after it. Example: (Schaal, et al., 1998)

When you cite more than one article by the same author within the same publication year, use the lowercase letters to identify them in alphabetical

order by title.

Use direct quotes sparingly;indicate the page number as shown.

Schedule-Induced Attack 10

A similar avenue of research is suggested by recent work with blah

blah bla (Schaal, et al., 1998). The results of this study are consistent with

tristissiumus haec tibi scribo. Fundani nostri filia defuncta, qua puella nihil

umquam festivus, amabilius, nec longiore vita (Calvillo, 1999).

The conclusions of this study are limited by vicibus inhaerebat ut

nos officio quemque studiose intelligenter qua patientia valetudinem tulit.

Medicis obsequebatur, sororem, patrem adhortabatur; ipsamque se

destitutam corpis viribus vigore.Recall that this citation was seen on

p.4, therefore does not need eachauthor listed again.

The first line of each citation is left-justified; subsequent linesare indented.

Journal names and volume numbers are italicized; page numbers aren’t.

Schedule-Induced Attack 11

References

Calvillo, D. (1999). The theoretical development of aggression. Retrieved August 21,

2002 from: http://www.csubak.edu/~1vega/dustin2.html

Flory, R.K. (1969a). Attack behavior as a function of minimum inter-food interval.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior . 12, 825-828.

Flory, R.K. (1969b). Attack behavior in a multiple fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement.

Psychonomic Science, 16, 383-386.

Flory, R.K. & Everist, H.D. (1977). The effect of a response requirement on schedule-

induced aggression. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 9, 383-386.

Gentry, W.D. (1968). Fixed-ratio schedule-induced aggression. Journal of the Experimental

Analysis of Behavior 11, 813-817.

Start referenceson a new page!

Individual web page citation.If you cite more than one work from an author,list them in chronological order (i.e. by date) with the earliest first.

The word “References” is centered at the top of a new page.List citations in ABC order by author’s last name,

followed by initials for first and middle names.

If you have more than one work by the same author in the same year,

list in alphabetical order by title of the article.

In this section, do not write “and” between authors’ names; always use “&”.

Schedule-Induced Attack 12

Killeen, P. R. (1979). Arousal: Its genesis, modulation, and extinction. In M. Zeiler & P.

Harzen (Eds.), Advances in the experimental analysis of behavior (pp.31-78). New

York: Wiley.

Looney, T.A. & Dove, L.D. (1978). Schedule-induced attack as a function of length of

exposure to a fixed-time 90-sec schedule. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 12, 320-

322.

Moyer, K.E. (1976) The psychobiology of aggression. New York: Harper and Row Publishers.

Miller, N. E. (1941). The frustration-aggression hypothesis. Psychological Review 48, 337-342.

This is the standard format for citing a book.Chapter in a book with two editors different from the author of the chapter.

Schedule-Induced Attack 13

Pitts, R.C. & Malagodi, E.F. (1996). Effects of reinforcement amount on attack induced under fixed

interval schedule in pigeons. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 65, 93-112.

Article number A18506179. Retrieved 11 June, 2001 from Expanded Academic

ASAP/InfoTrac database.

Schaal, D., Shahan, T., Kovera, C., & Reilley, M. (1998). Mechanisms underlying the effects of

unsignaled delayed reinforcement on key pecking of pigeons under variable-interval

schedules. [Electronic Version] Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 69,

103-122.

Wallace, M. & Singer, G. (1976). Schedule-induced behavior: A review of its generality, determinants,

and pharmacological data. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 5, 483-490.

Everything in this section must be cited in the paper;Everything cited in the paper must be in this section;

No additional items are to be included.

Online journal article retrieved through Library subscription database with rolling URL.

Online journal article that is identical to the available print version..

Remember, all the authors are listed in citations in the reference section. Last names precede the initials.

Article titles are written in sentence format. The first word of the title, proper nouns, and the first letter

after a colon are capitalized. (See above for example).

Documentation

• Usually, you will summarize your research, putting it in your own words.

• You will use a parenthetical note to state where you got the information, but you won’t use quotation marks.

Direct Quotes• When you use a direct quote, introduce the quote

by first telling who or what is being quoted. Don’t just start the sentence off with a quote.

• Use direct quotes when:– you are giving the opinion of a recognized expert in the

field and you think his words can lend weight to your argument.

– your source makes the point in a very effective way (like a really good analogy).

– The particular word or way of stating something is important (like a poem or a book).

What needs to be documented?• Information and ideas that are “Common

Knowledge” do not need to be documented.

• You always need a parenthetical note for:– Direct quotes– Facts or statistics– Unusual or questionable ideas

• When in doubt, cite the source.

Make the paper yours, not just a summary of what you’ve read.

• In your research paper you are seeking the answer to a question you are interested in.

• The paper represents your answer to the question, what you think after researching the subject.

• Your THESIS states your opinion. Your paper gives facts, illustrations and arguments that back up your opinion.

• The Thesis, Topic Sentences and Conclusion are your opinion, so don’t cite sources there.