Writing Quantitative Results in APA 7th Style

Why It Matters

When writing your thesis or research paper, reporting findings clearly and consistently is key. APA 7th provides the guidelines for reporting quantitative data like reliability, t-tests, and factor analysis.

General APA Guidelines

Italics

Use italics for statistical symbols:
t, p, M, SD, r, F.

Decimals

Round numbers to two decimal places (e.g., 4.21).

Leading Zeros

No leading zeros for values that cannot exceed 1.00 (like p or r).
Correct: p = .04

P-Values

Report exact values (p = .023), unless p < .001.

Descriptive Statistics

N, M, SD

Report Mean (M) and Standard Deviation (SD). Mention Sample Size (N).

The mean score for student engagement was M = 4.21, SD = 0.78.

Reliability

Cronbach’s α

Use the Greek letter alpha (α). Optional: Include number of items.

The Academic Support construct (5 items) showed high reliability (α = .91).

T-Test Results

t, df, p, d

Independent Samples

There was a significant difference in motivation scores between groups, t(58) = 2.34, p = .023, d = 0.61.

Paired Samples

Students scored significantly higher after the intervention, t(29) = 3.45, p = .002, d = 0.79.

Tip: Include degrees of freedom in parentheses t(df). Report Cohen’s d for effect size.

Advanced Statistics

Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA)

Always include Chi-square (χ²), degrees of freedom, and p value. For CFA, add fit indices (CFI, TLI, RMSEA).

EFA: Bartlett’s test was significant, χ²(120) = 802.35, p < .001.

CFA: CFA indicated good model fit, χ²(124) = 201.43, p < .001; CFI = .96; TLI = .95; RMSEA = .045 [90% CI: .034, .056].

Pearson's Correlation (r)

There was a moderate positive correlation between engagement and motivation, r(78) = .52, p < .001.

Putting it All Together

Example of a summary paragraph combining reliability, descriptive stats, and a t-test.

The three subscales showed good internal consistency (Academic Support: α = .88; Motivation: α = .91; Engagement: α = .86). Descriptive statistics indicated moderate to high scores across all constructs (Ms = 4.01–4.35, SDs = 0.60–0.85). An independent samples t-test revealed a significant group difference on motivation, t(78) = 2.58, p = .012, d = 0.58.

✏️ Common Mistakes vs. Correct Style

❌ Incorrect

✅ Correct

p = 0.000

p < .001

SD = 1.25

t-test = 3.5

t(48) = 3.50

alpha = .75

α = .75

M=4.2, SD=.8

M = 4.20, SD = 0.80

Summary Checklist

Click the rows below to check them off as you review your work.

Mean and SD Format

M = 3.52, SD = 0.67

Cronbach’s Alpha

α = .87

t-Test Reporting

t(48) = 2.91, p = .005

EFA (KMO/Bartlett)

χ²(120) = 900.12, p < .001

CFA (Model Fit)

CFI = .95; RMSEA = .045