Guide to Formatting Psychology Papers: APA Style
Abstract
All research papers and many other written papers will begin with an abstract page that is numbered as page 2. The abstract is a brief summary of the paper or research project and should be about 100 to 120 words long. Like the rest of the paper, it should be double-spaced. Your professor will tell you if a course paper should include an abstract page. If you need to include an abstract in your paper, you would use the heading shown above. Do not use the title of your paper as the heading for the abstract page. Start the introduction of your paper on a new page.
Guide to Formatting Psychology Papers: APA Style
If you have used an abstract, the third page of the paper will start with the introduction section. If you have not used an abstract, then page two will be the beginning of your paper. You will use the title of your paper as the first-level heading (see above for example).
APA Style Headings
Headings and subheadings are used to help organize the paper into coherent sections that guide the reader from topic to topic. The heading style you use is dependent upon the number of headings you will be using in your paper. Most papers will have 1-3 levels of headings.
One Level Headings
If you are only using one level of heading (you have no subheadings under a main heading), then each heading is centered, with the first letter of each main word capitalized. The text starts on the next double-spaced line and is indented. Do not underline this heading.
Two Level Headings
If you will have subheadings under a major heading, you use headings that are flush with the left margin, have the first letter of each main word capitalized, and are italicized. The text begins on the next-double-spaced line, indented. When you are ready to go on to your next major section, you would once again return to using a main heading (centered).
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