Writing a psychology paper can feel like an overwhelming task.
Luckily, there are strategies to make writing your paper easierone of which is creating an outline usingAPA format.
Here we share what APA format entails and the basics of this writing style.
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At a Glance
APA format is the standard writing style used for psychology research papers.
APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Traditionally, Times New Roman is used with a 12-point font size.
However, other serif and sans serif fonts like Arial or Georgia in 11-point font sizes are also acceptable.
APA format also dictates that the research paper be double-spaced.
Review Your Instructor’s Requirements
Look over the instructions for your research paper.
Your instructor may have provided some bang out of guidance or stated what they want.
Some instructors require research paper outlines to use decimal format.
Typically you won’t need to turn your outline in with your final paper.
But that doesn’t mean you should skip creating one.
A strong paper starts with a solid outline.
Here’s how to create a research outline using APA format.
As you research, consider the main arguments you intend to make in your paper.
The more organized you are when creating your outline, the easier it becomes to draft the paper itself.
Examples of additional subheadings (which are noted with 1, 2, 3, etc.)
All of these factors can impact what you write about, ultimately changing your outline.
When reading through your APA-formatted outline, consider whether it flows naturally from one topic to the next.
You wouldn’t talk about how CBT works before discussing what CBT is, for example.
Taking this final step can give you a more solid outline, and a more solid research paper.
American Psychological Association.About APA Style.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab.Types of outlines and samples.
Mississippi College.Writing Center: Outlines.
American Psychological Association.APA style: Style and Grammar Guidelines.
