APA Style in Citing Sources
Why Cite Sources?
To avoid plagiarism
• Plagiarism is the act of taking
the words– written or spoken
–or the ideas of someone else
and using them off as your
own.
• The purpose of citing sources is to be
as clear as possible in showing where
your information comes from.
• To cite means that you state where
you found the information so that
others can find the exact item.
• By citing, you enable others, who see
your work, to also look at those
peoples’ ideas that have contributed to
your project paper.
• When you integrate other people’s
ideas and work into your own, it is
important to give those authors credit
for their hard work.
6 Steps to Proper Citation
1. Read the work you want to cite
2. Identify an idea you want to
put in your paper
3. Write a sentence about that
idea
4. Write a reference list entry for
that work
5. Add in the corresponding
in-text citation
6. Repeat as needed for more
works and ideas
What is APA?
APA stands for AMERICAN
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
A standard documentation
style used in citing sources.
Two Ways of Citing Sources
In-Text Citation
Refers to the citations which
appear in the body of your
paper. It gives indication to the
reader that the information you
are presenting is taken from
another source.
Reference List
The Reference list, sometimes
referred to as a bibliography. A
separate section at the end of
your paper that includes
bibliographic information for
every source you cited in your
paper.
In-Text Citation
When to Cite?
Cite only works that you have
read and ideas that you have
incorporated into your paper
•Summaries or Paraphrases
•Quotations
Two (2) Forms of In-text Citation
● Narrative Citation (Author
named in the sentence)
● Parenthetical Citation (Author
named in parentheses)
In-Text Citation Format for Summary
or Paraphrase
Rules:
In-text citation is an author-date
citation system.
● The author-date method of
citation requires that the
surname of the author (do not
include suffixes such as Jr.)
and the year of the publication
be inserted in the text at the
appropriate point. (Using
Narrative or Parenthetical
Citation format).
Work with One Author
Narrative Citation Format.
• If the name of the Author
appears as part of the narrative
or sentence, cite only the year
of publication in parentheses.
Example
• Smith (2009) conducted research
showing that cats like to nap.
• According to Jones (2017), the best
way to live a ...
Parenthetical Citation Format.
• If it is not part of the narrative
or sentence, place the source
after the statement. Enclose
both the Author and year,
separated by a comma, in
parentheses and ends with a
period.
Example
• Research has shown that cats like to
nap (Smith, 2009).
• Early onset results in a more
persistent and severe course (Kessler,
2003).
Work with Two (2) Authors
• When a work has two (2)
authors, cite both names
separated by and every time
the reference occurs in text.
• If you put the names of the
authors in parentheses, use an
ampersand (&) instead of and.
Example (Narrative Citation)
• Smith and Jones (2018) stated that ...
Example (Parenthetical citation)
• Global warming is a phenomenon...
(Smith & Jones, 2018).
Book with Three or More Authors
• When a work has three or
more authors, cite only the
surname of the first author
followed by et al. (with period
after et al.) and the year of
publication.
Example: (Narrative Citation)
• Potter et al. (2018) stated that ...
Example: (Parenthetical Citation)
• COVID 19 is a pandemic ... (Turner
et al., 2018).
Groups as Authors (Readily Identified
Through Abbreviation)
• The names of groups that
serve as an authors (e.g.,
corporations, associations,
government agencies, and
study groups).
• The name of group authors
are spelled out in the first
citation and if the abbreviation
is familiar or readily
understandable, you may
abbreviate the name in the
subsequent citations.
Example (Narrative Citation)
First Citation: Department of Science
and Technology (DOST,2020)
Subsequent Citation: DOST (2020)
Example (Parenthetical Citation)
First Citation: (Department of Science
and Technology [DOST], 2020)
Subsequent Citation: (DOST, 2020)
Note: If the abbreviation is not readily
understandable, spell out the name of
the group each time it occurs.
Groups (No Abbreviation as Author)
Example (Narrative Citation)
First Citation: Stanford University
(2020)
Subsequent Citation: Stanford
University (2020)
Example (Parenthetical Citation)
First Citation: (Stanford University,
2020)
Subsequent Citation: (Stanford
University, 2020)
Work with Missing Information
(No Authors)
• When a work has no
identified author, cite in text
the first few words of the
reference list entry (usually the
title) and the year.
Note:
• Use double quotation marks around
the title of the article, chapter or the
web page
• Italicize the title of the periodical, a
book, a brochure, or a report.
Example (Narrative Citation Format)
> Example using title of the book:
• The book College bound seniors
(2008) ...
> Example using title of the article:
• According to “Indiana joins federal”
(2009) ...
Example (Parenthetical Citation
Format)
> Example using title of the book:
• ... (Introduction to Anthropology,
2015).
> Example using title of the article:
• on free care ... (“Study finds”, 2007).
Work with Missing Information
(No Date)
• Write “n. d.” for no date
Example (Narrative Citation)
• Smith and Jones (n.d.) stated that ...
 Example (Parenthetical citation)
• Global warming is a phenomenon...
(Smith & Jones, n.d).
In-Text Citation Format for
“Quotation”
Rules:
• Use quotation marks when
directly stating other person’s
work.
• In citing references in text,
the same rules may apply, just
add a page reference.
• Put p. or pp. before the page
number. Example: (p. 25) ; (pp.
10-12)
Example of Narrative Citation:
• Purcell (2003) considers death metal
a “philosophical response, whether
conscious or subconscious, to
terrifying questions about nebulous
human nature” (p. 188).
Example of Parenthetical Citation:
• Death metal is considered as a
“philosophical response,
whether conscious or subconscious, to
terrifying questions about nebulous
human nature” (Purcell, 2003, p. 188).
Work with Missing Information
(No Page Number)
Rules:
• If the source does not have
page number (as with many
online sources), do your best to
direct readers towards the
specific part of the text you are
citing (example, citing the
section or paragraph number of
the online source).
Example: (Chapter 2) ; (para.
5)
Example: (Narrative Citation)
• Smith (2014) has shown, “plagiarism
is a serious issue for universities”
(para. 3).
Example: (Parenthetical citation)
• The author claimed that “plagiarism
is becoming a bigger problem” (Jones,
2014, Chapter 7).
In-Text Citation Format for “Block
Quotation”
Rules:
• If your quote is longer than
forty (40) words, set it off in a
block text by beginning a new
line, indenting one inch, and do
not add quotation marks. At the
end of the quote put the period
after the last word of the
sentence followed by the
parentheses.
Example:
• Levine et al. (1994) describe the
child care practices of Gusii people of
Kenya in regard to cultural
assumptions:
Gusii mother devoted to the
welfare and development of
their infants, and their sense of
what is best for them is framed
in terms of indigenous cultural
models that assume high
infant mortality, high fertility (but with participation in household food
protective birth spacing), and a production. (pp. 2-3).
domestic age-hierarchy in which
young children acquire useful skills
and moral virtues through

REFERENCING
Book/Ebook References
Use the same formats for both
print books and ebooks. For
ebooks
The format, platform, or device
(e.g., Kindle) is not included in
the reference.

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

SOURCES OF QUANTITATIVE INCONSISTENCIES OR
RESEARCH PROBLEM DISCREPANCIES
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COULD 4. PRESENT POLITICAL
GIVE RISE TO A QUANTITATIVE SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC
RESEARCH PROBLEM (EDMONDS ISSUES IN SOCIETY
2013; PUNCH 2014): 5. REVIEW OF RELATED
1. AGENCIES OF THE LITERATURE
GOVERNMENT, OR ANY
NON-GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES IN FORMULATING A
INSTITUTIONS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
2. YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE PROBLEM AND RESEARCH
OR GENUINE INTEREST IN QUESTIONS
SOMETHING 1) FORMULATE A RESEARCH
3. PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROBLEM THAT IS
FINDINGS WHICH YOU RESEARCHABLE;
WANT TO VALIDATE OR MEANING, OPEN TO
CONSIDER AS STUDIES EMPIRICAL
SUFFERING FROM SOME INVESTIGATION.
2) SEE TO IT THAT YOU STATE STATEMENT TO PRESENT
YOUR QUANTITATIVE YOUR RESEARCH
RESEARCH PROBLEM PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE
CLEARLY, CONCISELY, AND MAIN PROBLEM OF YOUR
POSSIBLY, IF UNDER APA RESEARCH.
REFERENCING STYLE, NOT 7) STATE YOUR RESEARCH
BEYOND 12 WORDS. QUESTIONS OR
3) HAVE YOUR RESEARCH SUB-PROBLEMS, NOT IN
PROBLEM FOCUS ON A THE FORM OF YES-OR-NO
GENERAL QUESTIONS, BUT IN
UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR INFORMATIVE
RESEARCH TOPIC. QUESTIONS.
4) CONSTRUCT A RESEARCH 8) EXPRESS YOUR
PROBLEM THAT MIRRORS RESEARCH PROBLEM AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
CARRYING OUT THE EITHER IN AN
RESEARCH FOR FINDING INTERROGATIVE OR
ANSWERS OR SOLUTIONS DECLARATIVE MANNER,
TO A PROBLEM. BUT SOME RESEARCH
5) LET YOUR QUANTITATIVE BOOKS SAY THAT THE
RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMER IS MORE
STATE THE VARIABLES EFFECTIVE THAN THE
AND THEIR LATTER FORM. (BABBIE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH 2013; PUNCH 2014;
ONE ANOTHER. WALLIMAN 2014)
6) CONSTRUCT AN
INTRODUCTORY

Designing a Research Topic

❖ The first and foremost step ❖ A well-defined research
in the research process is topic is essential for a
selecting and properly successful research.
defining a research problem.
 ❖ Hence, choosing a topic must what important findings they
undergo proper and thorough shared.
planning and designing. 3. Define the problem.
➔ At this stage, you should be
Steps in Developing Research Topic able to narrow down broad
Developing a research problem can topics into feasible and
be done in four (4) steps: manageable research
1. Choose a broad topic. questions. A broad topic can
➔ Choose an interesting topic. be narrowed down by limiting
➔ Select a significant topic. the population, place, period,
➔ Choose a topic relevant to or a certain characteristic.
your field. ➔ However, be very mindful
In the event, that the three that your problem may not be
tips above do not shed some too narrow, that it becomes
light on your minds, do not very simple and does not
despair; other sources of need to collect unique data or
ideas like the ones below may does not generate new
be available for you: information.
• Review of Literature 4. Refine the question.
• Field Experts ➔ What specific questions
• Brainstorming should you ask?
2. Do preliminary research. ➔ How should you gather your
➔ The second step is much data sufficient to answer
more time-consuming. Once the questions?
you have chosen a broad ➔ Are the questions too
topic, you need to have a narrow, or does it need to be
better understanding of it trimmed down?
by reading some more ➔ How much time are you given
articles, journals, and related to finish the research?
research studies. ➔ What resources do you need
➔ Find out how other and are they available?
researchers gathered their
data, what research
instruments were used, how
the data were analyzed, and
Basic Guidelines in Making the research paper has a title
Research Title which is not casual, or
The following are the basic informal, or does not contain
guidelines in making a research humor.
study title:
• Use an accurate description The following steps can guide you
of the subject and scope of in writing your research title.
the study instead of using ➢ Determine what it is that
general terms. you wish to accomplish or
• Do not use abbreviations know from your study. Write
except for commonly known one to two sentences to
ones like DNA and ICT. state the main objectives of
• Do not include words like your research project.
“The study of,” “analysis of,” ➢ Include important keywords
“an investigation of” or and variables. Revise the
similar construction as these sentences into one complete
would only lengthen the title. sentence that includes
• Include the main important keywords and
dependent and independent variables of the study.
variables. ➢ Shorten the title by
• Be mindful of the proper eliminating unnecessary
use of grammar and words. You may also shrink a
punctuation. phrase into a simpler phrase
• Capitalize all nouns, or a single word.
pronouns, verbs, adjectives, ➢ In doing this, make sure that
adverbs as well as the first the main thought of the
letter of the first and last research study is retained.
words.
• Use the common name *Correct Grammar And Punctuation
instead of chemical formula Errors If There Is Any.
(e.g., NH4). *Observe Proper Formatting. The
• Write and italicize the full Format May Vary According To The
scientific names. Requirements Of The Course Or
• Must reflect the tone of School. Please Seek Guidance From
the paper. An academic Your Teacher.
 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH
When introducing your study
to the readers, you must
bridge the gap from what is
known to what is unknown.
Establishing the importance
of finding the answer to the
question makes the reader
feel the need to answer such
a question. Thus, it makes the
research project more
meaningful and valuable.
● The background of the
study is the part of your
paper where you inform
the reader of the
context of the study.
● When we say context, it
means the situation or
circumstances within
which your research
topic was
conceptualized.
● Ideally, this part is
written when you have
already conducted a
literature review and
have a good perception
of the topic so you can
articulate the
importance and validity
of the research problem.
● It is also in this part of
the paper where you
justify the need to
conduct a research
study about the topic
selected by establishing
the research gap.
A research gap is an under or
unexplored area of a topic
that requires further
exploration.
★ The gap can be in a
form of other variables,
conditions, population,
methodology, or test
subject.
★ To identify research
gaps, an exhaustive
literature review
regarding the topic is
required.
★ You may have to look
for similar or related
studies employing
quantitative, qualitative,
or mixed-methods from
legitimate sources and
examine the gray areas.
Reading
Reading through the
Discussion, Conclusion,
or the
recommendations
sections of the articles
will help you know
potential areas of study
that need further
attention.
Identifying
Identifying research
gaps sometimes would
even make researchers
modify their research
problem as they get
noteworthy ideas from
fellow researchers.
Moreover, the background of
the study will answer the
following questions:
Research Questions
Nature of Quantitative Research
Problem
A research problem is as simple
as a problem you would like to
research.
Quantitative Research Problem
dealt more with the precision and
specificity of the problem.
Furthermore, the quantitative
research problem describes trends
and patterns of a phenomenon.
In your written paper, this can be
found as Statement of the
Problem, where it formally
introduces the problem that you
want to investigate or address.
1) What is already known
about the topic?
2) What is not known
about the topic?
3) Why do you need to
address those gaps?
4) What is the rationale of
your study?
Then you will start specifying what
you want to answer in your study.
Research Problem and Research
Questions
❖ The research questions help
to clarify and specify the
research problem.
❖ Research questions are also
considered as sub problems
of your research problem.
❖ These questions are
informative in nature.
❖ It specifies the method of
collecting and analyzing
data and the type of data to
be collected since you are
exploring a quantitative
research problem.
Characteristics of Good Research
Questions
A. Feasible
➔ Consider the amount of
time, energy, money,
respondents, and even your
current situation as
student- researcher.
➔ Is the research problem
possible? Will it not spend
an unreasonable amount?
B. Clear
➔ The clarity of how the
questions stated lead to
agreement of meaning of
the readers of your study.
➔ Since your research
questions are also
considered as the main
focus in the gathering and
analyzing the data, it is
therefore very important
that these are stated clearly.
C. Significant
➔ At this point, you do not
just consider the time and
money that you will spend,
but more importantly, the
value of what you are trying
to investigate.
➔ So aside from the reason
that your chosen research
problem is within your
interest, you should also provide a
sound justification of your choice
as a researcher.
D. Ethical
➔ Always consider the welfare
of people, animals or who
a so ever involve in your
study.
➔ Look into ways of
answering the research
questions without inflicting
physical and psychological
harm to persons involved.
Formulating Research Questions
Research questions can be
generally classified into two:
general and specific.
• The general question of the study
is derived from the research
problem;
• While the specific questions are
anchored on the general research
problem.
Research Questions for
Descriptive Research
• Research Questions for
Descriptive Research
focuses on observing and
reporting factors or aspects
of the research problem.
 • Phrases such as how
often/frequently, how
many/much, what is/are, to
what extent/degree, and the
likes are used in these
questions.
variable has been done in
order to cause the effect.
• It is understood that the
cause of the problem
already exists before you
conducted your study.

Research Questions for Research Questions for

Correlational Research Experimental and Quasi-
• Research Questions for experimental Research
Correlational Research aim • research questions for
to determine the experimental and quasi-
relationships among two or experimental research
more variables in your suggests that answers to
research problem. these questions are brought
• Correlational research about by manipulation or
questions usually begin control of a certain variable
with the phrases “Is there a during the conduct of the
significant relationship” or study.
“What is the relationship • these questions provide
between/among”. explanation to the causal
relationship of variables.
Research Questions for Ex Post
Facto
• Research attempt to
identify the causes of the
phenomenon in the context
of your research problem.
• It is also assumed that no
control or manipulation of
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE
STUDY
The scope specifies the coverage IV. Locale of the Study.
of your study such as variables, Where are you going to
population or participant, and gather your data?
timeline. V. Characteristics of the
Delimitation cites factors of your Respondents.
study that are not included or Who will be your
excluded or those you will not deal respondents?
in your study. VI. Method and Research
Instruments.
● In this section of your How are going to collect the
research paper, you may data?
also state the reasons why
you did not include the Difference between Delimitation
variables. and Limitation of the Study
● A clearly written scope and ➢ The delimitation of the study
delimitation of the study will describes the various
make it easier to answer limitations that arose during
questions which are related the design and conduct of
or not related to your study. the study.

Components of Scope and Variables not included in your

Delimitation
I. Topic of the Study.
What are the variables to be
included and excluded?
II. Objectives or Problems to
be Addressed.
Why are you doing this
study?
III. Time Frame.
When are you going to
conduct this study?
study are also determined by
delimitation of your study.
While on the other hand, limitation
of the study are those variables
included in your study.
Hence, limitation of the study is the
identified scope of the study.
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION SEEKING A PROBLEM
I. Background of the What are good resources of
Study researchable problems?
II. Statement of the 1. Theories to be
Problem validated, extended,
III. Significance of the or modified Other
Study studies, particularly
IV. Scope andDelimitation through research
recommendations
Distinguishing among 2. National or
Topic, Research Problem, international trends
Purpose, and Research or situations to be
Questions described or improved
TOPIC- broad subject 3. Real-life problems,
matter addressed by the issues,experiences,
study. or situations of SHS
RESEARCH PROBLEM- a students
general educational issue, FRAMING THE TITLE
concern, or controversy What are the standards in
addressed in research that writing the research
narrows the topic. title?
PURPOSE STATEMENT- the A research title must...
major intent or objective 1. list key variables
of the study used to 2. be written in
address the problem scientific or
RESEARCH QUESTION- narrows technical style
the purpose into specific 3. be concise (no more
questions that the than 12 words) and
researcher would like non-repetitive
answered or addressed in 4. reflect SHS students’
the study. context
 5. not explicitly III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
provide reference to STUDY
the research design States the audience who
will benefit from a study
I. BACKGROUND OF THE of the problem and
STUDY explains how exactly will
This is the description the results be significant
that leads the reader to to them.
understanding the research
questions and appreciate IV. SCOPE AND
why they are asked. DELIMITATION
This presents the
NARRATIVE HOOK coverage of the research
It serves the in terms of location,
important function of time, respondents, etc.,
drawing the reader into a and the potential
study. weaknesses or problems
cause the reader to; with the study identified
✓pay attention by the researcher.
✓elicit emotional or
attitudinal
responses,
✓spark interest, and
✓encourage the
reader to continue
reading.

II. STATEMENT OF THE

PROBLEM
This section contains the
purpose statements and the
research question(s).