Steps to Write a Research Paper in APA Format

Step 1: Search the Literature for Research on a Topic of Interest

Step 1. Use the library and other sources to search the literature (e.g., PsycINFO) for research on a topic of interest to you.

Step 2. Find and read the “primary” references or primary research material in the psychology journals on your topic.

Step 3. Organize, summarize, and draw conclusions regarding the information in the primary references.

Step 4. Think critically about the information in the primary references. Were there any problems with the research? What needs/should to be done next?

Step 5. From the critical thinking in step 4, develop a specific hypothesis regarding your primary references.

Step 6. Design a methodologically sound study to answer your specific hypothesis.  Remember, the focus of this research paper is on methodology.  Thus you should write the methodological part of the paper first.  This will ensure that you have the correct focus.  Once the method section is complete, write a 2-3 page introduction to your topic that logically leads the reader to your detailed methodology.  The final paragraph in your introduction should include a testable hypothesis.  The methodological section should be followed by a brief results section (just a sentence or two outlining the major statistical technique used and the main finding of your study - e.g., mean group differences or correlation).  Once you report the main results, you will need a discussion/conclusion section and finally the reference section.  The fictional data and statistical analysis that you will perform to test your hypothesis are to be presented in more detail in the poster component of this assignment (i.e., showcase/graph group differences, correlations, etc.).