Why Is APA Documentation Important?

American Psychological Association (APA) Style is a method of formatting and referencing works in research papers and manuscripts. This style is most commonly practiced by academics within the social sciences, including the fields of nursing, psychology, and political science, and economics. APA style provides writers with a consistent formula for acknowledging the works of others using parenthetical in-text citations and a page listing all references. Additionally, APA style makes use of specific guidelines concerning the structure, content, and order of each page of a research paper or manuscript. Adhering to the uniform standards of APA style will enhance your paper’s organization and allow readers to review your work with greater clarity.

The APA articles and templates on this website were developed in accordance with the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Consult the Publication Manual (6th ed.) for more details about formatting and organizing your document.