Margins
- Use 1" margins for the entire document.
- Use a 1/2" indent for every paragraph and footnote.
- Indent set-off quotations 1/2" from the left margin.
Text Formatting
- Use 12 pt Times New Roman font.
- Do not justify the text or use hyphenation.
- Leave only one space after:
- commas, colons, and semicolons;
- periods that separate parts of a reference citation
- periods following the initials in personal names (e.g., J. R. Zhang) (American Psychological Association, 2010, pp. 87-88).
- Exceptions for single spacing after punctuation:
- Do not insert space after periods in abbreviations or around colons in ratios
- Space twice after punctuation marks at the end of a sentence
Page Header (Running Head)
- Include a running head on every page.
- Page number should be flush right.
- Type the entire title in capital letters. Title should be flush left.
- Shorten the title if necessary. It cannot exceed more than 50 characters.
- Actual words "Running head" only appear on title page
Title Page
- Title should not include abbreviations or exceed more than 12 words.
- Title should be typed using upper and lower case letters.
- Center the title and position in the upper half of the page.
- Center the author's name directly under the title.
- Format the name omitting titles (Dr, Prof, etc.) and degrees: First name, middle initial, last name.
- Center the institutional affiliation directly under the author's name.
- Author's notes are not required for dissertations and theses.
Introduction
- Begin introduction on a new page.
- Identify it with the running head or abbreviated title and the page number.
- Type the title of the manuscript in upper and lower case letters, centered, at the top of the page.
- The summary itself should be single spaced without indentation.
References (Reference Page)
- Starts on new page
- The word "References" should appear (without quotation marks) centered at the top of the page
- Double-space all reference entries
- Use a hanging indent for reference- first line of each reference is flush with the left margin while subsequent lines are indented.
Footnotes
- Use footnotes to provide additional content or acknowledge copyright permission
- Content footnotes convey just one idea and only include simple, relevant or essential information
- Use a footnote to acknowledge the source of lengthy quotes, scale adn test items, and figures or tables that have been reproduced or adapted
- Number all footnotes consecutively in the order they appear, use superscript Arabic numerals within the text
Appendices
- Begin each appendix on a new page.
- Center the word Appendix and the identifying capital letter (A, B, etc.) at the top of the page.
- Center the title of the appendix, and use upper and lower case letters.
- Begin the text of the appendix flush left, followed by indented paragraphs.
Adapted from American Psychologial Association (2010) Publication manual (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychologial Association