---
name: format-apa-report
description: >
  Format a Quarto or R Markdown report following APA 7th edition style.
  Covers apaquarto/papaja packages, title page, abstracts, citations,
  tables, figures, and reference formatting. Use when writing an academic
  paper in APA format, creating a psychology or social science research
  report, generating reproducible manuscripts with embedded analysis,
  or preparing a thesis or dissertation chapter.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash Grep Glob
metadata:
  author: Philipp Thoss
  version: "1.0"
  domain: reporting
  complexity: intermediate
  language: R
  tags: apa, academic, psychology, quarto, papaja
---

# Format APA Report

Create an APA 7th edition formatted report using Quarto (apaquarto) or R Markdown (papaja).

## When to Use

- Writing an academic paper in APA format
- Creating a psychology or social science research report
- Generating reproducible manuscripts with embedded analysis
- Preparing a thesis or dissertation chapter

## Inputs

- **Required**: Analysis code and results
- **Required**: Bibliography file (.bib)
- **Optional**: Co-authors and affiliations
- **Optional**: Manuscript type (journal article, student paper)

## Procedure

### Step 1: Choose Framework

**Option A: apaquarto (Quarto, recommended)**

```r
install.packages("remotes")
remotes::install_github("wjschne/apaquarto")
```

**Option B: papaja (R Markdown)**

```r
remotes::install_github("crsh/papaja")
```

**Expected:** The chosen framework package installs successfully and is loadable with `library(apaquarto)` or `library(papaja)`.

**On failure:** If installation fails due to missing system dependencies (e.g., LaTeX for PDF output), install TinyTeX first with `quarto install tinytex`. For GitHub installation failures, check that the `remotes` package is installed and that GitHub is accessible.

### Step 2: Create Document (apaquarto)

Create `manuscript.qmd`:

```yaml
---
title: "Effects of Variable X on Outcome Y"
shorttitle: "Effects of X on Y"
author:
  - name: First Author
    corresponding: true
    orcid: 0000-0000-0000-0000
    email: author@university.edu
    affiliations:
      - name: University Name
        department: Department of Psychology
  - name: Second Author
    affiliations:
      - name: Other University
abstract: |
  This study examined the relationship between X and Y.
  Using a sample of N = 200 participants, we found...
  Results are discussed in terms of theoretical implications.
keywords: [keyword1, keyword2, keyword3]
bibliography: references.bib
format:
  apaquarto-docx: default
  apaquarto-pdf:
    documentmode: man
---
```

**Expected:** File `manuscript.qmd` exists with valid YAML frontmatter containing title, shorttitle, author affiliations, abstract, keywords, bibliography reference, and APA-specific format options.

**On failure:** Verify YAML indentation is consistent (2 spaces) and that `author:` entries use the list format with `name:`, `affiliations:`, and `corresponding:` fields. Check that `bibliography:` points to an existing `.bib` file.

### Step 3: Write APA Content

````markdown
# Introduction

Previous research has established that... [@smith2023; @jones2022].
@smith2023 found significant effects of X on Y.

# Method

## Participants

We recruited `r nrow(data)` participants (*M*~age~ = `r mean(data$age)`,
*SD* = `r sd(data$age)`).

## Materials

The study used the Measurement Scale [@author2020].

## Procedure

Participants completed... (see @fig-design for the study design).

# Results

```{r}
#| label: fig-results
#| fig-cap: "Mean scores by condition with 95% confidence intervals."
#| fig-width: 6
#| fig-height: 4

ggplot(summary_data, aes(x = condition, y = mean, fill = condition)) +
  geom_col() +
  geom_errorbar(aes(ymin = ci_lower, ymax = ci_upper), width = 0.2) +
  theme_apa()
```

A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of condition,
*F*(`r anova_result$df1`, `r anova_result$df2`) = `r anova_result$F`,
*p* `r format_pvalue(anova_result$p)`, $\eta^2_p$ = `r anova_result$eta`.

# Discussion

The findings support the hypothesis that...

# References
````

**Expected:** Content follows APA section structure (Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References) with inline R code for statistics and proper cross-references using `@fig-` and `@tbl-` prefixes.

**On failure:** If inline R code does not render, verify backtick-r syntax is correct (`` `r expression` ``). If cross-references show as literal text, check that the referenced chunk labels use the correct prefix and that the chunk has a corresponding caption option.

### Step 4: Format Tables in APA Style

```r
#| label: tbl-descriptives
#| tbl-cap: "Descriptive Statistics by Condition"

library(gt)

descriptive_table <- data |>
  group_by(condition) |>
  summarise(
    M = mean(score),
    SD = sd(score),
    n = n()
  )

gt(descriptive_table) |>
  fmt_number(columns = c(M, SD), decimals = 2) |>
  cols_label(
    condition = "Condition",
    M = "*M*",
    SD = "*SD*",
    n = "*n*"
  )
```

**Expected:** Tables render with APA formatting: italicized column headers for statistical symbols, proper decimal alignment, and a descriptive caption above the table.

**On failure:** If `gt` table does not render in APA style, ensure `gt` package is installed and that `cols_label()` uses markdown-style italics (`*M*`, `*SD*`). For papaja users, use `apa_table()` instead of `gt()`.

### Step 5: Manage Citations

Create `references.bib`:

```bibtex
@article{smith2023,
  author = {Smith, John A. and Jones, Mary B.},
  title = {Effects of intervention on outcomes},
  journal = {Journal of Psychology},
  year = {2023},
  volume = {45},
  pages = {123--145},
  doi = {10.1000/example}
}
```

APA citation styles:
- Parenthetical: `[@smith2023]` -> (Smith & Jones, 2023)
- Narrative: `@smith2023` -> Smith and Jones (2023)
- Multiple: `[@smith2023; @jones2022]` -> (Jones, 2022; Smith & Jones, 2023)

**Expected:** `references.bib` contains valid BibTeX entries with all required fields (author, title, year, journal) and citation keys match those used in the manuscript text.

**On failure:** Validate BibTeX syntax with an online validator or `bibtool -d references.bib`. Ensure citation keys in the text exactly match `.bib` keys (case-sensitive).

### Step 6: Render

```bash
# Word document (common for journal submission)
quarto render manuscript.qmd --to apaquarto-docx

# PDF (for preprint or review)
quarto render manuscript.qmd --to apaquarto-pdf
```

**Expected:** Properly formatted APA document with title page, running head, and correctly formatted references section.

**On failure:** For PDF rendering failures, verify TinyTeX is installed (`quarto install tinytex`). For DOCX output issues, check that apaquarto's Word template is accessible. If references do not appear, ensure the `# References` heading is present at the end of the document.

## Validation

- [ ] Title page formatted correctly (title, authors, affiliations, author note)
- [ ] Abstract present with keywords
- [ ] In-text citations match reference list
- [ ] Tables and figures numbered correctly
- [ ] Statistics formatted per APA (italicized, proper symbols)
- [ ] References in APA 7th edition format
- [ ] Page numbers and running head present (PDF)

## Common Pitfalls

- **Inline R code formatting**: Use backtick-r syntax for inline statistics, not hardcoded values
- **Citation key mismatches**: Ensure .bib keys match exactly in the text
- **Figure placement**: APA manuscripts typically place figures at the end; set `documentmode: man`
- **Missing CSL file**: apaquarto includes the APA CSL; papaja users may need to specify `csl: apa.csl`
- **Special characters in abstracts**: Avoid markdown formatting in the YAML abstract block

## Related Skills

- `create-quarto-report` - general Quarto document creation
- `generate-statistical-tables` - publication-ready tables
- `build-parameterized-report` - batch report generation


---
Source attribution: pjt222
Original project: https://github.com/pjt222/agent-almanac/blob/cabe7834815765f915822ba1f361aa4623398871/skills/format-apa-report/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 Development Guides Contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
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The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
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# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: pjt222
Original project: https://github.com/pjt222/agent-almanac/blob/cabe7834815765f915822ba1f361aa4623398871/skills/format-apa-report/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Education & Research, Marketing
Roles: Academic Writer, Content Marketer, Researcher
Specialties: API
Tools: Quarto, R Markdown
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 09ea551b7ede3d20065be5a6bbbecf4ed00721c2578d8df20ea114b257cd6b03