Chapter 1: Content and Organization of a Manuscript

Note: The numbers before the headings refer to chapter sections in the fifth edition.

1.01: Designing and reporting research: The fifth edition lists the failure to report effect sizes and the lack of congruence between a study's operations and the discussion as defects in reporting research.

1.04: Types of articles: Methodological articles and case studies are now described.

1.07: Abstracts:

• The length requirements have been simplified to a maximum of 120 words.
• Content requirements have been added for methodological articles and for case studies.

1.09: Method section: The section on description of subjects includes special mention of issues concerning informed consent. Race/ethnicity is now included among the list of major demographic variables to report.

1.10: Results section:

• Statistical presentation: The description notes that the field of psychology is not of one mind about the reporting of "null hypothesis significance testing."
• Informationally adequate statistics: This section has been expanded to provide more guidance on reporting sufficient descriptive statistics.
• Statistical significance: In general and where appropriate, the exact probability, p value, should be reported.
• Effect size and strength of relationship: This section includes new information on multiple degree-of-freedom effect indicators and effect indicators.

See also changes to chapter 3's tables and figures sections.

1.11: Discussion section: Authors are encouraged to report the importance of their findings and discuss their problem choice, levels of analysis, and application and synthesis.

1.12: Author note section: This section describes a new APA requirement that authors complete a conflict of interest form.

Quality of presentation section (end of chapter): This new section alerts authors to the need to present their techniques of data analysis clearly enough for replication.

Chapter 1: The Manuscript
Chapter 2: Expression of Ideas
Chapter 3: APA Editorial Style
Chapter 4: Reference List
Chapter 5: Manuscript Preparation
Chapter 6: Material Other Than Journal Articles
Chapter 7: Manuscript Acceptance and Production
Chapter 8: APA's Journals Program
Appendix