Use 7th edition APA (2020)
Double space between lines and no added spaces between paragraphs
Left justify instead of full justify i.e., leave ragged right margin
Standard times new roman or arial font 12. One inch margins. Paragraphs are indented
Page number as part of the header in the upper right hand corner. Do not use abbreviations. Avoid first person
In text citation ? Note: no page number, first initials, journal, etc.
Components needed:
Title page
Running head
Title with every word capitalized
Page number
Author
Author affiliation
Introduction ? 4 5 pages. Hypothesis and prediction should be very last thing
Title of proposal capitalized and centered on 1st line
Begin text on next line (no extra lines)
Note: NO word Introduction
Page number, running head
First paragraph:
Introduce topic and its significance
Avoid:
Definitions
From the beginning of time
Statements About Behaviour Without Citations
Then discuss relevant past research
Include information about the articles purpose, methods, and results
Flow and organization of ideas are important
Operationally define your variables in terms of measurement
Identify relevant articles, take notes on them
Decide which ones are most useful
Decide which details from each one should be included
Plan the ordering of topics
Plan transitions between paragraphs
Method
Location in report: immediately after Intro.
Pagination: NOT on a new page
Section heading
Method appears centered on first (double-spaced) line after Intro section ends
Bold Font: Method
Only the M is capitalized
Method (NOT Methods)
3 subsections
Participants
Number of individuals, including number of males/females
Expected mean age
Relevant demographic characteristics (e.g., undergraduate students, ethnic or cultural breakdown if necessary)
Procedures For Selecting Participants
How They Will Be Assigned To The Separate Groups (if applicable)
Will Participants Be Compensated For Their Time? e.g., $ or course credit
Materials
Info about the things you will use to test
For pre-existing Instrument, give name(if it has one),
cite reference where it is published
If something will be created for this study, state that
Include materials in an Appendix
Procedure
A step-by-step account of what will happen
Include: LOI, informed consent, and debriefing
Description of the setting of the study
Instructions given to participants orally
What the participants will do
Exclude things that are irrelevant:
Exact Time, date, location of test sessions.
Décor of testing area, paper color (unless important), how computers will be turned on.
Specifics of debriefing session.
Subsection headings are:
Left justified and bolded
First line under subsection heading:
indented 5 7 spaces
Enough detail for replication
Future tense for a proposal
Expected results ? ~1 page
Location: immediately after Method
Pagination: NOT on a separate page
Section heading: Expected Results
centered on first double-spaced line after method
Bold font
Capitalize E and R
No figure required
Of experiment is done
Mean for each group
Summarize Pattern Of Results
e.g., group A higher than both groups B and C, but B and C about equal
If correlational study done
Mean For each Variable
Strength, direction of relationship Expected Value
Reference section ? ~1 page
Location: after Expected Results
Pagination: on a new sheet
Centre the word References on 1st line (no bold)
Works should appear in alphabetical order based on the first author of the work.
Same first author? Go by second author
Do not alter the order in which the authors names
appear on the paper
Include doi (digital object identifier) if available
Appendices (if necessary)
Location: after references
Pagination: new page/new document
Note: Do not continue page numbering or running head
Labeled as:
Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C
refer to as such in text
Type the appendix label (e.g., Appendix A) on first page of a given appendix
At very end:
full questionnaires, surveys, stimuli, etc.
Ethics document
Letter of Information
Describes the study
Informed Consent
Participant signs as agreement to participate
Purpose:
By signing, participants acknowledge reading letter of information, understanding it, and having questions answered.
Should contain:
Printed name, signature, date for both the participant and researcher
Debriefing sheet
Purpose
Participants must be more fully informed about the study in which they participated and know whom to contact with further questions or complaints.
Vital if study has involved deception
More information about the study, hypotheses, suggestions for further reading
Basic guidelines for study
Avoid harm
Collect informed consent
(Letter of Information + Informed Consent form)
Give full debriefing (Debriefing sheet)
Use deception only when necessary
Guarantee confidentiality/anonymity
Minimize invasiveness (i.e., value participants time & collect only the necessary information)
