Case Study

Based on the APA-style guidelines for Method sections, explain why the authors of the second article chose to use three subheadings instead of the two used in the first article. In your explanation, identify the names of the two different organizational methods used by these articles.

Case context: A student is reviewing two published psychology articles to understand how to format their own paper. The first article's Method section uses only two subheadings: 'Participants' and 'Design and procedure.' The second article's Method section uses three subheadings: 'Participants,' 'Design,' and 'Procedure.'

Question: Based on the APA-style guidelines for Method sections, explain why the authors of the second article chose to use three subheadings instead of the two used in the first article. In your explanation, identify the names of the two different organizational methods used by these articles.

Sample answer: The authors of the second article chose to use three subheadings because the complexity of their study warranted breaking apart the combined 'Design and procedure' section into separate 'Design' and 'Procedure' sections. The first article uses a 'simple method' organization, which is appropriate for less complex studies. The second article uses a 'typical method' organization, which provides more distinct structure by separating the design from the procedure.

Key points:

  • Explains that subheadings are split due to differences in study complexity.
  • Identifies the two-subheading structure in the first article as the 'simple method'.
  • Identifies the three-subheading structure in the second article as the 'typical method'.

Rubric: The response must demonstrate an understanding that the choice of subheading organization depends on the complexity of the study, and correctly identify the names of the two methods described in the case.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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