APA 7th Edition Guide

Reporting Statistical Results

A comprehensive guide to reporting t-tests with clarity and consistency. Master descriptive statistics, p-values, and effect sizes.

Why This Matters

When writing research papers or theses, it’s crucial to report statistical results clearly and consistently. This guide focuses on t-tests, covering descriptive statistics, p-values, and effect sizes.

1

The Standard Formula

The Anatomy of a Result

t (df) = test statistic, p = value, d = effect size

t

t-statistic

The calculated value from your t-test analysis.

df

Degrees of Freedom

Usually related to sample size (N - 1 or N - 2).

p

Significance

Probability that results occurred by chance.

d

Cohen's d

The magnitude (strength) of the effect.

2

Real-World Examples

Independent Samples

"Students who used AI tools scored significantly higher (M = 78.2, SD = 4.5) than those who did not (M = 71.6, SD = 5.1), t(58) = 4.21, p < .001, d = 1.10."

  • Report M and SD before the stats.
  • Use italics for stats symbols.
Paired Samples

"After using the chatbot, students’ post-test scores (M = 82.4, SD = 6.2) were significantly higher than pre-test scores (M = 75.0, SD = 5.9), t(29) = 5.13, p < .001, d = 0.94."

  • Note the degrees of freedom changes.
  • Round to 2 decimal places.
3

Table Format

Table 2

Independent Samples t-Test Results for Test Scores

Group M SD t(df) p d
AI Group 78.2 4.5
Control Group 71.6 5.1 4.21 <.001 1.10
Tip: In APA style, vertical lines are rarely used. Focus on horizontal lines to separate the header and the footer of the table.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the effect size

Always report Cohen's d alongside p-values.

Too many decimal places

p = 0.0000345
p < .001

Reporting p = 0.000

A p-value is never exactly zero. Use p < .001.

Wrong emphasis

Do not use bold or underline for stats. Use italics for symbols (t, p, M, SD).

Summary Cheat Sheet

Element Format
Mean M = [value]
Standard Deviation SD = [value]
t-statistic t(df) = [value]
p-value p = [val] or < .001
Effect Size d = [value]