Frequently asked questions

• What is APA Style Jars?
• How do I know which Jars tables to use for reporting my research?
• What are Jars–Rec?
• I’m already using the Jars–Quant, Jars–Qual, and/or Jars–Mixed tables in my research. How do Jars–Rec fit with those sets of standards?
• Can I share the Jars articles with my students or colleagues?
• Will adherence to Jars affect the length of a paper?
• Will adherence to Jars add to the workload of authors, reviewers, and editors?
• Why do the Jars articles refer to other sets of standards? Does APA endorse these other standards? What about standards not mentioned in the JARS articles?
• How is JARS different from other sets of reporting standards?
• Who should use Jars?
• Can Jars be used to write a thesis or dissertation?
• Can Jars be used by instructors to teach research methods classes?
• When do I apply Jars in my research and report writing?
• Is Jars relevant for research in other fields?
• I’ve published without using Jars. How will it affect my work going forward?
• Should I use Jars in the future? Is it required?
• Who updated the standards, and what was that process like? Who worked on the Jars–Rec standards?
• How can I participate in the process in the future?
• How can I suggest something for inclusion in the next APA Style Jars?

APA Style Jars is a collection of journal article reporting standards for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research developed by the American Psychological Association (APA).

The standards were originally published as articles in APA’s flagship journal, American Psychologist, and are now included as a chapter in the seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

APA Style Jars helps authors communicate important and relevant aspects of their research. The standards are available for different research and study types.

As shorthand, we refer to the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods standards as Jars–Quant, Jars–Qual, and Jars–Mixed, respectively.

• Editorial: Journal Article Reporting Standardsopens in new window
• Journal Article Reporting Standards for Quantitative Research in Psychologyopens in new window
• Journal Article Reporting Standards for Qualitative Primary, Qualitative Meta-Analytic, and Mixed Methods Research in Psychologyopens in new window

APA Style Jars also includes reporting standards for race, ethnicity, and culture (Jars–Rec) to promote research transparency and methodological rigor in how we analyze race, ethnicity, and culture in behavioral science research.

• Executive summary: Journal Article Reporting Standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

The tables are clearly labeled with the type of research design presented and are ADA-compliant and free to use.

• Quantitative Research Design (JARS–Quant)
• Qualitative Research Design (JARS–Qual)
• Mixed Methods Research Design (JARS–Mixed)
• Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (JARS–REC)

Because of the complexity of the Jars–Quant article, we have also included the JARS-Quant Decision Flowchart (PDF, 133KB)opens in new window to help you determine which tables best suit your research.

These are a set of standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture meant to be used in all types of research. The standards focus on best practices related to the manner in which race, ethnicity, and culture are discussed within scientific manuscripts in psychological science.

Yes—the APA Style Jars articles are open access and can be shared freely.

• Editorial: Journal Article Reporting Standardsopens in new window
• Journal Article Reporting Standards for Quantitative Research in Psychologyopens in new window
• Journal Article Reporting Standards for Qualitative Primary, Qualitative Meta-Analytic, and Mixed Methods Research in Psychologyopens in new window
• Executive summary: Journal Article Reporting Standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

The APA Style Jars homepage also includes freely available tables, flowcharts, an infographic, and videos about Jars.

Jars–Rec should be applied to all types of research, whether it be qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. These new standards are meant to be used along with the previous APA Style Jars tables.

Following APA Style Jars should not significantly affect the length of a paper; information to be reported is routinely collected by many authors when they conduct research.

Also, not everything in APA Style Jars needs to go into a published article.

Although there is clearly a balance to be struck between transparency in research reporting and space limitations in a published article, authors may use supplemental materials for items that are too detailed or complex for inclusion in the main article.

APA Style Jars recommend supplemental materials be open to all those who read the journal article. Jars–Qual also acknowledges the additional content sometimes needed to report the methods and findings of qualitative studies and provides guidance for authors and reviewers.

APA Style Jars should lighten the load for authors, reviewers, and editors as it provides a clear guide for identifying relevant information.

Authors, reviewers, and editors can use APA Style Jars as a tool when writing and reviewing manuscripts and quickly point to important content within the research manuscript.

The jars articles refer to other standards (e.g., Arrive, consort, coreq, enreq, Scribe, Trend, etc.) as examples of related and influential work. The jars working group examined some of these standards when developing jars.

APA, the APA Publications and Communications Board, and the jars Working Groups do not endorse any particular standards referred to in the APA Style jars articles.

Similarly, APA does not oppose any standards that were not mentioned in the jars articles. These standards may also be used when applicable. .

When drafting jars, the jars working group examined existing standards including consort and trend. The group developed a list of important elements absent from the current standards, and revised remaining items to better fit the needs of an audience comprised of psychologists and behavioral scientists.

While jars differs from other standards in its primary focus on the social sciences, it also differs in purpose. The standards are not meant to serve as just a checklist: above all, they are meant to encourage authors to think deeply about the rationale of their study.

APA Style jars benefits anyone interacting with published research in psychology or behavioral science journals.

Students can use APA Style jars to learn about how to conduct research and to determine which information is important to report.

Educators can use APA Style jars as a teaching tool to communicate the importance of conducting high quality research and the need for transparency. As a part of APA Style, the standards should be included when teaching research methods. Additionally, instructors can use jars to show students how an article should be structured and what information is important to include. For additional information on how instructors and students can use jars, refer to our APA Style Blog posts:

• APA Style JARS: Resources for instructors and student
• APA Style JARS for high school students

Although JARS are designed to guide the writing of journal manuscripts, students can use the standards to learn how to conduct research and to determine which information is important to report. JARS can help students better organize their work.

Because of their applicability to behavioral sciences, APA Style Jars can be useful for various audiences, regardless of their career stage.

Educators can use APA Style Jars as a teaching tool to communicate the importance of conducting high quality research and the need for transparency and may find Jars a beneficial guide for teaching research methods.

APA Style Jars can be used at all stages of research.

Use APA Style Jars in the planning process to help you identify important information to consider capturing for specific designs.

Use APA Style Jars in the writing process to organize your thoughts and make your paper clear to all readers.

For reviewers, editors, and readers, APA Style Jars help ensure the information communicated in a manuscript is clear and understandable.

APA Style Jars was developed specifically to focus on psychology and the behavioral and social sciences.

Authors reporting research that is outside the scope of APA Style Jars should refer to the Equator Networkopens in new window and work with the editorial team of your journal.

If you didn’t follow APA Style Jars with your previous submission, that’s okay. The standards only apply to manuscripts released after publication of the APA Style Jars articles in January 2018.

Check with your journal’s editorial team about their policies regarding using APA Style Jars .

Each journal’s editorial team will determine how APA Style Jars will be applied to manuscripts going forward, so when considering publication, check the journal’s submission guidelines for policies on adherence to APA Style Jars .

Even if a journal does not require APA Style Jars, following the standards will help improve the quality of your published work and make it more transparent. It will also be easier for editors, reviewers, and readers to evaluate your work.

In 2016, the APA Publications and Communications Board tasked two working groups with revising and expanding the Jars quantitative research reporting standards and creating a new set of qualitative and mixed methods research reporting standards.

Members of the working groups represent experts in the field of psychology (research and clinical), epidemiology, family and brain health, and education.

In 2023, Journal Article Reporting Standards for Race, Ethnicity, and Culture were released. The working group involved development of Jars–Rec included experts in psychology methodology, cross cultural studies, intersectionality, and the application of psychological knowledge to marginalized communities Jars–Rec were created in cooperation with seven liaison organizations, representing a spectrum of psychological associations with diverse perspectives.

If you are interested in participating in a future iteration of APA Style Jars, please email the APA Style team.

Please send any suggestions or recommendations for topics to cover in future APA Style Jars articles to APA Style Expertopens in new window.