How to Format a Dissertation in APA 7th Edition

How to Format a Dissertation in APA 7th Edition

When writing your dissertation, adhering to the correct format is essential for ensuring clarity and consistency. The APA 7th edition style provides a set of guidelines for formatting your dissertation, which is particularly important for maintaining professionalism and ensuring your work aligns with academic standards. Here’s how to format a dissertation in APA 7th edition:

1. General Formatting Guidelines

• Font: Use a readable font such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, or 11-point Arial.

• Line Spacing: Double-space the entire dissertation, including the title page, abstract, body, and references.

• Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.

• Page Numbers: Place page numbers in the top right corner, starting with the title page as page 1.

• Indentation: Use a half-inch indentation (0.5 inches) for the first line of each paragraph.

• Alignment: Align your text to the left (not justified).

• Title Case for Headings: Use title case for headings (capitalize major words).

2. Title Page

• Title: The title of your dissertation should be centered on the page, in bold, and in title case (capitalize the first letter of each major word). The title should be concise but descriptive.

• Author Name: Center your name under the title.

• Institution Name: Below your name, include the name of your university.

• Course Information (if applicable): Include the course number and name if required by your institution.

• Date: Include the submission date.

• Page Number: The title page should be labeled as page 1 in the top right corner.

3. Abstract

• Page Placement: The abstract starts on its own page (page 2) immediately following the title page.

• Length: An abstract should be between 150 to 250 words, summarizing the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions of your dissertation.

• Formatting: The abstract should be on a new page, centered at the top of the page (labeled “Abstract” in bold), and not indented.

• Keywords: After the abstract, include the word “Keywords” in italics, followed by 3-5 keywords or phrases related to your research.

4. Table of Contents

• Structure: Include a table of contents (TOC) starting on a new page after the abstract. This page lists the chapters and subsections of your dissertation with their respective page numbers.

• Headings and Subheadings: List the chapter titles and any major headings or subheadings. Use the correct APA formatting for each heading level (e.g., bold for level 1, italics for level 2).

• Alignment: Align the page numbers to the right, with the text left-aligned.

5. Main Body (Chapters)
The body of your dissertation is where you present the main content, divided into chapters. The key sections include:

• Introduction: This chapter presents the background and research questions. It sets up the purpose and context of the study.

• Literature Review: A review of existing research that situates your dissertation within the current knowledge.

• Methodology: Describes the research design, data collection methods, and analysis.

• Results: Presents the findings of your research, using tables, figures, and textual descriptions.

• Discussion: Analyzes the findings and discusses their implications.

• Conclusion: Summarizes the study, highlights key findings, and suggests future research areas.

6. Headings and Subheadings

• APA 7th edition uses five levels of headings:

  1. Level 1 (Centered, Bold, Title Case): Used for major sections (e.g., Introduction, Methodology).

  2. Level 2 (Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case): For subsections under major sections.

  3. Level 3 (Left-Aligned, Bold Italics, Title Case): For subsections under Level 2 headings.

  4. Level 4 (Indented, Bold, Title Case, Ending with a Period): For more detailed subsections.

  5. Level 5 (Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Ending with a Period): For the most detailed subsections.

7. Citations and References

• In-text Citations: Follow APA citation guidelines for in-text citations. This can be parenthetical (e.g., (Smith, 2020)) or narrative (e.g., Smith (2020)).

• Reference Page: The reference page begins on a new page, after the conclusion or any appendices. It should be titled “References” (centered, bold).

• Formatting References: References should be listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. Use a hanging indent (the first line of each reference is flush left, and all subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches).

8. Tables and Figures

• Placement: Place tables and figures after they are first mentioned in the text. Each table or figure should appear on its own page if it is too large to fit within the text.

• Labeling: Tables should be labeled with a number (e.g., “Table 1: Descriptive Statistics”) and a brief title in italics. Figures should be similarly labeled with “Figure” followed by the number and a description.

• Formatting: Each table and figure should be numbered sequentially (Table 1, Table 2, etc.). The number and title should be placed above the table/figure, and the caption should be placed below.

9. Appendices

• Appendices should be placed at the end of your dissertation after the reference list. Each appendix should begin on a new page and be labeled (e.g., “Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire”). If there is more than one appendix, use letters (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) to differentiate between them.