Research Paper Structure

Research Paper Structurestructure
Whether you are writing a B.S. Degree Research Paper or completing a research
report for a Psychology course, it is highly likely that you will need to organize
your research paper in accordance with American Psychological Association (APA)
guidelines. Here we discuss the structure of research papers according to APA
style.
Major Sections of a Research Paper in APA Style

A complete research paper in APA style that is reporting on experimental research
will typically contain a Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results,
Discussion, and References sections.1 Many will also contain Figures and Tables and
some will have an Appendix or Appendices. These sections are detailed as follows
(for a more in-depth guide, please refer to "How to Write a Research Paper in APA
Style”, a comprehensive guide developed by Prof. Emma Geller).2
Expand All
Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Tables and Figures
Appendix
Expand All
Variations of Research Papers in APA Style
Although the major sections described above are common to most research papers
written in APA style, there are variations on that pattern. These variations
include:
Literature reviews – when a paper is reviewing prior published research and not
presenting new empirical research itself (such as in a review article, and
particularly a qualitative review), then the authors may forgo any Methods and
Results sections. Instead, there is a different structure such as an Introduction
section followed by sections for each of the different aspects of the body of
research being reviewed, and then perhaps a Discussion section.
Multi-experiment papers – when there are multiple experiments, it is common to
follow the Introduction with an Experiment 1 section, itself containing Methods,
Results, and Discussion subsections. Then there is an Experiment 2 section with a
similar structure, an Experiment 3 section with a similar structure, and so on
until all experiments are covered. Towards the end of the paper there is a General
Discussion section followed by References. Additionally, in multi-experiment
papers, it is common for the Results and Discussion subsections for individual
experiments to be combined into single “Results and Discussion” sections.
Departures from APA Style
In some cases, official APA style might not be followed (however, be sure to check
with your editor, instructor, or other sources before deviating from standards of
the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association). Such deviations
may include:
Placement of Tables and Figures – in some cases, to make reading through the paper
easier, Tables and/or Figures are embedded in the text (for example, having a bar
graph placed in the relevant Results section). The embedding of Tables and/or
Figures in the text is one of the most common deviations from APA style (and is
commonly allowed in B.S. Degree Research Papers and Honors Theses; however you
should check with your instructor, supervisor, or editor first).
Incomplete research – sometimes a B.S. Degree Research Paper in this department is
written about research that is currently being planned or is in progress. In those
circumstances, sometimes only an Introduction and Methods section, followed by
References, is included (that is, in cases where the research itself has not
formally begun). In other cases, preliminary results are presented and noted as
such in the Results section (such as in cases where the study is underway but not
complete), and the Discussion section includes caveats about the in-progress nature
of the research. Again, you should check with your instructor, supervisor, or
editor first.
Class assignments – in some classes in this department, an assignment must be
written in APA style but is not exactly a traditional research paper (for instance,
a student asked to write about an article that they read, and to write that report
in APA style). In that case, the structure of the paper might approximate the
typical sections of a research paper in APA style, but not entirely. You should
check with your instructor for further guidelines.
Workshops and Downloadable Resources
Workshops
For in-person discussion of the process of writing research papers, please consider
attending this department’s “Writing Research Papers” workshop (for dates and
times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).
Downloadable Resources
How to Write APA Style Research Papers (a comprehensive guide) [PDF]

Tips for Writing APA Style Research Papers (a brief summary) [PDF]
Example APA Style Research Paper (for B.S. Degree – empirical research) [PDF]
Example APA Style Research Paper (for B.S. Degree – literature review) [PDF]
Further Resources
How-To Videos
Writing Research Paper Videos

APA Journal Article Reporting Guidelines
Appelbaum, M., Cooper, H., Kline, R. B., Mayo-Wilson, E., Nezu, A. M., & Rao, S. M.
(2018). Journal article reporting standards for quantitative research in
psychology: The APA Publications and Communications Board task force report.
American Psychologist, 73(1), 3.
Levitt, H. M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J.

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Research Paper Structurestructure

Major Sections of a Research Paper in APA Style

How to Write APA Style Research Papers (a comprehensive guide) [PDF]

Writing Research Paper Videos

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