APA style (American Psychological Association) provides a standard format for writing research results, including correlation results like Pearson’s r.
APA reporting ensures your findings are:
✅ Clear
✅ Professional
✅ Easily interpreted by readers
🔢 Basic APA Format for r
There was a [strength, direction] correlation between Variable 1 and Variable 2,
r(df) = r-value, p = p-value.
🧪 Example:
There was a strong positive correlation between study time and exam scores,
r(78) = .67, p < .001.
🧱 APA Template Breakdown
| Component | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| r | r(78) | Correlation coefficient, with degrees of freedom (N – 2) |
| = .67 | r = .67 | Effect size (strength & direction) |
| p < .001 | p = .003, p < .05 | Probability the result is due to chance |
📌 Degrees of freedom (df) for Pearson's r:
df = N – 2
→ If N = 80, then df = 78.
💡 Reporting Interpretation Tips
When writing, include:
✅ The direction: positive or negative
✅ The strength: weak, moderate, strong (use Cohen’s guide)
✅ The significance: Is p < .05?
✅ The context: What do the variables mean?
🧪 Example 1 (Significant result):
There was a moderate negative correlation between stress and sleep quality,
r(98) = –.42, p = .002.
🧪 Example 2 (Non-significant result):
The correlation between hours watching TV and GPA was not significant,
r(55) = –.08, p = .54.
🎨 Visual Guide
| Correlation | APA Statement Example |
|---|---|
| Strong, Positive | r(78) = .82, p < .001 → “Strong positive correlation” |
| Weak, Negative | r(45) = –.18, p = .23 → “Weak negative, not significant” |
| Moderate, Positive, Significant | r(66) = .39, p = .01 → “Moderate positive, significant” |
📦 Summary Box
| Element | APA Format Example |
|---|---|
| Statistic | r(78) = .45 |
| Significance | p = .02 |
| Direction | Positive / Negative |
| Strength | Weak / Moderate / Strong |
| Interpretation | Write full sentence including context |
✅ Checklist Before You Submit:
-
Have you reported r, df, and p?
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Did you describe the relationship (positive/negative)?
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Did you interpret the strength based on Cohen’s guidelines?
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Did you explain what the results mean in plain English?