Quantitative Research Paper Guide

This guide explains how to write a quantitative research paper in APA 7th Edition format.

Sample Paper

Here is an example of a published quantitative research paper you can reference:

  1. CCSM Paper - Title Page with Author Info
  2. CCSM Paper - Manuscript (Word)

Note: The title page and manuscript are in separate files because academic journals require a “blind review” process, where reviewers do not see author information. When you write your own paper, combine them into one document with the title page (including author info) as the first page.

Paper Structure

  1. Title Page
  2. Abstract
  3. Introduction
  4. Method
  5. Results
  6. Discussion
  7. References
  8. Tables and Figures

1. Title Page

Example:

The Impact of Leadership Style on Employee Well-Being

John Smith and Jane Doe
California State University, Bakersfield

APA Sample Papers:

2. Abstract

3. Introduction

Components

  1. Opening - Introduce the research topic
  2. Literature Review - Review relevant prior research
  3. Research Gap - Limitations of existing research
  4. Hypotheses - Present research hypotheses

Hypothesis Writing Examples

Simple Direct Effect:

Hypothesis 1: Variable A is positively related to Variable B.

Mediation:

Hypothesis 2: Variable B mediates the relationship between
Variable A and Variable C.

Serial Mediation:

Hypothesis 3: Variable A has an indirect effect on Variable D
through the sequential mediation of Variable B and Variable C.

4. Method Section

The Method section consists of the following subsections.

4.1 Participants

Information to include:

Example:

Participants were 115 working students recruited from a public
university in the western United States. Eligibility criteria
required that participants be currently employed and enrolled
in college courses at the time of the study. The sample was
80% female, with an average age of 24.91 years (SD = 6.98).
Regarding race and ethnicity, 55.7% identified as Hispanic or
Latino, 15.7% as White, 7.0% as Asian, 3.5% as Black or
African American, and 18.1% as multiracial or other.
Participants worked an average of 37.05 hours per week
(SD = 22.68) and were enrolled in an average of 14.20
credit hours (SD = 2.57).

4.2 Procedure

Example:

Data were collected via an online survey hosted on Qualtrics.
Participants were recruited through the university's participant
pool. After providing informed consent, participants completed
measures assessing [describe measures]. All procedures were
approved by the university's Institutional Review Board.

4.3 Measures

For each measure:

Example:

**Job satisfaction.** Job satisfaction was measured using five
items from the Job Satisfaction Scale (Smith et al., 2020).
A sample item is "I am satisfied with my current job."
Responses were rated on a 5-point scale ranging from
1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree; α = .89).

**Work engagement.** Work engagement was assessed using nine
items from the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (Schaufeli et al.,
2006). A sample item is "At my work, I feel bursting with
energy" (α = .92).

4.4 Analytic Strategy

Example:

Analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 28. First, we
computed descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations
among all study variables. Second, we assessed the reliability
of multi-item scales using Cronbach's alpha. Third, we tested
hypotheses using hierarchical ordinary least squares regression,
entering control variables in Step 1 and the focal predictor
in Step 2. Mediation was tested using PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2022)
with 5,000 bootstrap resamples.

5. Results Section

5.1 Preliminary Analyses

Example:

Means, standard deviations, reliabilities, and intercorrelations
among study variables are presented in Table 1. All multi-item
scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability
(α > .70). Consistent with our theoretical expectations,
Variable A was positively correlated with Variable B (r = .25,
p = .011) and Variable C (r = .26, p = .008).

5.2 Hypothesis Tests

For each hypothesis:

Example:

Hypothesis 1 predicted that Variable A would be positively
related to Variable B. After controlling for age, gender,
and tenure, Variable A was positively related to Variable B
(B = 0.36, SE = 0.12, t = 2.93, p = .004, 95% CI [0.12, 0.60]).
Hypothesis 1 was supported.

5.3 Mediation Results (if applicable)

Example:

Hypothesis 2 predicted that Variable B would mediate the
relationship between Variable A and Variable C. Results from
PROCESS Model 4 indicated that the indirect effect was
statistically significant (indirect effect = 0.11, SE = 0.05,
95% CI [0.04, 0.20]). Because the bootstrap confidence interval
excluded zero, Hypothesis 2 was supported.

6. Tables

Table 1: Correlation Table

Format:

Example:

Variable M SD 1 2 3 4
1. Age 24.91 6.98 —      
2. Variable A 2.91 1.08 .05 (.93)    
3. Variable B 2.69 1.41 .10 .25* —  
4. Variable C 3.19 1.22 −.07 .26** .39** (.94)

Note. N = 105. Cronbach’s alpha in parentheses.

**p < .01. *p < .05.

Table 2: Regression Results

Predictor B (SE) 95% CI p
Constant 1.76 (0.47)   < .001
Variable A 0.36 (0.12) [0.12, 0.60] .004
R² .143    

7. APA Numbers and Statistics Formatting

Basic Rules

Statistical Reporting Formats

Correlation:

r = .25, p = .011
r = .39, p < .001

t-test:

t(103) = 2.93, p = .004

Regression:

B = 0.36, SE = 0.12, t = 2.93, p = .004, 95% CI [0.12, 0.60]

Mediation (Bootstrap):

indirect effect = 0.11, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.04, 0.20]

R-squared:

R² = .143, ΔR² = .074

8. References Format

APA Reference Guides:

Journal Article

Clark, M. A., Smith, R. W., & Haynes, N. J. (2020). The
    Multidimensional Workaholism Scale: Linking the
    conceptualization and measurement of workaholism.
    Journal of Applied Psychology, 105, 1281-1307.
    https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000484

Book

Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation,
    and conditional process analysis: A regression-based
    approach (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

Book Chapter

Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. C. (2021). Understanding workplace
    behavior. In C. D. Editor (Ed.), Handbook of organizational
    psychology (pp. 45-67). Academic Press.

9. Common Mistakes

  1. p-value notation error
    • ❌ p = .000
    • ✅ p < .001
  2. Leading zero
    • ❌ r = 0.25 (correlation)
    • ✅ r = .25
    • ✅ M = 2.91 (values > 1 include zero)
  3. Missing italics
    • ❌ M = 2.91, SD = 1.08
    • ✅ M = 2.91, SD = 1.08
  4. Missing reliability
    • Report α for all multi-item scales
  5. CI format
    • ❌ CI = 0.12-0.60
    • ✅ 95% CI [0.12, 0.60]
  6. Inconsistent decimal places
    • Keep consistent (usually 2 decimal places)

10. Checklist

Method Section

Results Section

Tables

Resources

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