16.2 General APA guidelines for writing style and format
Although your research report may eventually be published in a professionally formatted, two- or three-column journal, everyone must start with a typed or word-processed manuscript. The Publication Manual provides detailed information on the proper method of preparing a manuscript to be submitted for publication. The methods it presents are generally accepted and appropriate for most scientific writing. The goal of the Publication Manual is to establish a standardized style and format for scientific reports so that readers will know exactly where to find specific information within a report and will not be distracted by tangential topics or personalized writing styles.
Some Elements of Writing Style
A research report is not the same as creative writing. You are not trying to amuse, entertain, challenge, confuse, or surprise your reader. Instead, the goal is to provide a simple, straightforward description and explanation of your research study. The Publication Manual contains hundreds of guidelines and suggestions to help create a clear precise manuscript, and we do not attempt to repeat all of them here. Because we present only selected portion of the general guidelines, you would wise to consult the Publication Manual directly when you actually write a research report. In addition, you can access some of this information, along with helpful tutorials, at www.apastyle.org. In the meantime, this discussion of four general elements of style will help you get a good start.
Impersonal Style
A research report is different from other types of literature and should be written in an objective style. Your goal is to provide a clear and concise report of the research study and its results. Avoid distracting the reader with literary devices such as alliteration, rhyming, deliberate ambiguity, or abrupt changes in topic. You should avoid colloquial expressions such as “once in a blue moon” (in place of “rarely”), and jargon such as “left-winger” (in place of “politically liberal”). You may use personal pronouns to describe what you did as a researcher, “I instructed the participants,” but keep in mind that you are writing a research report, not a personal journal.
Verb Tense
When describing or discussing past events that occurred at a specific time, use the past tense (for example, “They demonstrated”). If the event did not occur at a specific time or is continuing into the present, use the present perfect tense (“Several studies have demonstrated”). This applies to the presentation of background material and previous research that is used to introduce your study and to the description of the methods used to conduct the study. When you present your results, always use the past tense (“the scores increased”). After you have described the study and presented the results, switch to the present tense to discuss the results and your conclusions (“the data suggest”).
16.2 General APA guidelines for writing style and format
Although your research report may eventually be published in a professionally formatted, two- or three-column journal, everyone must start with a typed or word-processed manuscript. The Publication Manual provides detailed information on the proper method of preparing a manuscript to be submitted for publication. The methods it presents are generally accepted and appropriate for most scientific writing. The goal of the Publication Manual is to establish a standardized style and format for scientific reports so that readers will know exactly where to find specific information within a report and will not be distracted by tangential topics or personalized writing styles.
Some Elements of Writing Style
A research report is not the same as creative writing. You are not trying to amuse, entertain, challenge, confuse, or surprise your reader. Instead, the goal is to provide a simple, straightforward description and explanation of your research study. The Publication Manual contains hundreds of guidelines and suggestions to help create a clear precise manuscript, and we do not attempt to repeat all of them here. Because we present only selected portion of the general guidelines, you would wise to consult the Publication Manual directly when you actually write a research report. In addition, you can access some of this information, along with helpful tutorials, at www.apastyle.org. In the meantime, this discussion of four general elements of style will help you get a good start.
Impersonal Style
A research report is different from other types of literature and should be written in an objective style. Your goal is to provide a clear and concise report of the research study and its results. Avoid distracting the reader with literary devices such as alliteration, rhyming, deliberate ambiguity, or abrupt changes in topic. You should avoid colloquial expressions such as “once in a blue moon” (in place of “rarely”), and jargon such as “left-winger” (in place of “politically liberal”). You may use personal pronouns to describe what you did as a researcher, “I instructed the participants,” but keep in mind that you are writing a research report, not a personal journal.
Verb Tense
When describing or discussing past events that occurred at a specific time, use the past tense (for example, “They demonstrated”). If the event did not occur at a specific time or is continuing into the present, use the present perfect tense (“Several studies have demonstrated”). This applies to the presentation of background material and previous research that is used to introduce your study and to the description of the methods used to conduct the study. When you present your results, always use the past tense (“the scores increased”). After you have described the study and presented the results, switch to the present tense to discuss the results and your conclusions (“the data suggest”).
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