APA style research papers follow the style guidelines recommended in the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. It is important to note the importance of using the current APA style handbook edition for your APA style research papers because all style guidelines change from time to time. You should also consult your instructor to verify the edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association he or she prefers because some institutions recommend using older APA style editions. You can find a copy of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association in the library or at your local bookstore. If you intend to write several APA style research papers in the future, it may be best to go ahead and purchase a copy of your own.
When writing APA style research papers you will need to create a References Page at the end of the paper. The References section should be listed in alphabetical order (according to the author’s last name) on a separate page from the actual body of the research paper, with the heading “References.” APA style research papers will also contain a documentation technique referred to as “parenthetical citation.” This will help your reader to easily discover the source of any idea you have used in any APA style research papers.
In parentheses, and at the end of the borrowed idea, key words and page numbers should be placed to refer the reader back to the Reference Page. The reader will then be able to find the information necessary to discover the resources you choose to use while conducting research for your paper. One of the biggest differences between all of the styles is the formation of this final citation page. APA style research papers must follow the APA rules strictly. A combination of APA with MLA style will not result in proper APA style research papers and your grade will reflect the error.