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Case Study

Explain why the editor rejected Dr. Smith's manuscript in the context of the core purpose of APA style. How does Dr. Smith's formatting choice defeat the standard benefits provided to her potential audience?

Case context: Dr. Smith is submitting a new manuscript to a psychology journal. Instead of using the standard sections like Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion, she decides to write the article as a single, free-flowing narrative because she believes it will be more entertaining. The journal editor rejects the manuscript, citing issues with APA style.

Question: Explain why the editor rejected Dr. Smith's manuscript in the context of the core purpose of APA style. How does Dr. Smith's formatting choice defeat the standard benefits provided to her potential audience?

Sample answer: The editor rejected the manuscript because APA style relies on a standardized structure to facilitate scientific communication. By using a free-flowing narrative, Dr. Smith removes the expected format. This defeats the purpose of APA style because it makes it significantly harder for readers to quickly locate and comprehend the research details, as the information is no longer presented in a familiar way.

Key points:

  • APA style requires a standardized structure for research articles.
  • A free-flowing narrative lacks clarity of expression compared to standard scientific formats.
  • Readers struggle to comprehend research when it is not presented in a familiar and expected way.

Rubric: Full credit requires explaining that the rejection is due to a lack of standardization, and that non-standard formats prevent readers from easily comprehending the research.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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