The American Psychological Association (APA) 6th edition format is a widely used citation and formatting style for academic papers, particularly in the social sciences. Here are the basic guidelines for APA 6th edition format:
- Title page:
- Title of the paper
- Name(s) of the author(s)
- Institutional affiliation(s)
- Running head (shortened title for the header)
- Abstract:
- A brief summary of the main points of the paper (usually between 150-250 words)
- Body:
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References:
- Alphabetical list of all sources cited in the paper
- Format for each reference depends on the type of source (book, journal article, website, etc.)
- In-text citations:
- Brief parenthetical citations within the text of the paper to indicate sources
- Include author’s last name and year of publication
- Formatting:
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Double-spaced throughout
- 1-inch margins on all sides
- Page number in the top right corner of each page
- Headings and subheadings to organize the paper (format varies depending on level of heading)
Note: These are just the basic guidelines for APA 6th edition format. Always check with your instructor or academic institution for specific formatting requirements.