How to Write a Journal Article Review APA Style

Reviewing journal articles is an ideal way to learn more about a specific area of interest and how research is conducted. Knowing how to do this according to American Psychological Association (APA) standards helps prepare you to be a professional.

Begin With Citation

Start by citing the article according to APA style. Begin with the last name(s) and initial(s) of the author(s). This is followed by the year of publication in parentheses. The article name comes next, followed by the title of the journal (in italics), volume number (in italics) and issue number in parentheses. End with the page numbers.

Citation Example

Punctuate the citation as follows:

Shofner, W. P., & Chaney, M. (2013). Processing pitch in a nonhuman mammal (Chinchilla laniger). Journal of Comparative Psychology (italicized), 127 (italicized), (2). 142-153.

Text of Review

The body of your review varies according to the type of article and your instructor's requirements. You may have to include the intended audience, the research question, methodology, results, implications and your own assessment of how it relates to what you are studying.

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