APA Types of ArticlesDr. Gustafson

Multiple Styles of Journal Articles

•Empirical Studies•Literature Reviews•Theoretical Articles•Methodological Articles•Case Studies•Other Types of Articles

Empirical Studies

•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.01•Reports of original research (quan. or

qual.)•Content not contained in previous reports•Include distinct sections

▫Introduction▫Method▫Results▫Discussion

Literature Reviews

•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.02•Synthesis of previous research on a topic

▫Meta-Analysis (sub-type of a literature review)

•Purpose: ▫synthesize previous work▫define and clarify the problem▫identify relationships, gaps, inconsistencies▫suggest next steps

•Various strategies of organization and structure

Theoretical Articles

•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.03•Use existing research to advance theory

▫Examine theory over time▫Examine external validly of theory▫Highlight flaws in theory

•Various strategies of organization and structure

Methodological Articles

•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.04•Present new methodological approaches

to the study of a topic▫Modify existing strategies of inquiry▫Discuss methodological approaches – for

research community•Should include enough detail to be well

understood and accessible to the research community

Case Studies•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.05•Reports of case material (from work with an

individual or group)•Purpose is to indicate a problem and

provide a possible solution to the problem•Confidentially must be carefully considered•Although there are some parallels, this type

of article should not be confused with the case study strategy of inquiry in the qualitative research design.

Other Types of Articles

•APA Manual 6th Edition 1.06•The APA recognizes other types of articles

included in journals. Examples include:▫Brief reports▫Comments and replies on previously

published work▫Book reviews▫Obituaries▫Letters to the editor▫Monographs

Additional Information• Included in this PowerPoint are the types of articles

recognized by the APA as journal articles in the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

• As a student, you will also be asked to engage in additional types of writing assignments that are not included here (response papers, online forums, book reports, annotated bibliographies, analysis papers, clinical reports, grant proposals, thesis, dissertations, etc.)

• Regardless of assignment style, always follow the instructions provided by your instructor and in your course syllabus. This PowerPoint is only intended as a general guide of APA journal articles types.