Other APA Guidelines:

Anthropomorphism

Consider the follow example of anthropomorphism and possible revisions for greater clarity. Note that APA style recommends avoiding anthropomorphism but notes that "many acceptable constructions in widespread use do not constitute anthropomorphism because they do not impede understanding or mislead readers" (APA, 2020, p. 117).

Problematic usage: The study concluded that increased screen time contributed to children's inability to perform higher-order cognitive tasks.

• This phrasing suggests that the study, an inanimate object, can draw conclusions.

Possible revision: The study addresses the impact of increased screen time on children's ability to perform higher-order cognitive tasks.

• This revision uses common phrasing in academic writing, "The study addresses." In this phrase, the verb "addresses" is acceptable because it is not an active verb that is better suited to human actors.

Possible revision: In this study, I concluded that increased screen time contributed to children's inability to perform higher-order cognitive tasks.

• This revision clearly identifies "I" as the person drawing the conclusions. Whenever possible, use the first-person pronoun "I" for clarity in describing your study.

Theories, studies, results, and other aspects of research can take certain verbs in common usage without leading to confusion:

• address
• contribute
• find
• focus on
• indicate
• present
• provide
• show
• suggest

Some examples are

• The results showed a relationship between time spent in the intervention program and student standardized test scores.
• The table presents information on the demographics of this study.
• The theory indicates that societies work much like ecological systems, with different groups playing different and necessary roles in the larger system.

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Theories, studies, results, and other aspects of research are sometimes paired with other kinds of actions that obscure the clarity of who is doing the action, though. For example, consider the active verbs here and whether it would be best if a person or group of people took the action described by the verbs:

• Less clear phrasing: The theory concluded that transformational leadership style influences follower job satisfaction.
• Revised for clarity: The theorists concluded that transformational leadership style influences follower job satisfaction

 

• Less clear phrasing: The theory determined that society operates based on a type of ecology analogous to a biological ecosystem.
• Revised for clarity: Through their research, population ecology theorists have determined that society operates based on a type of ecology analogous to a biological ecosystem.

 

• Less clear phrasing: The study explored the effect of retention strategies on RNs in an urgent care center.
• Revised for clarity: In the study, I explored the effect of retention strategies on RNs in an urgent care center.

 

• Less clear phrasing: The study examined the relationship between childhood bullying experiences and later life friendship attachments.
• Revised for clarity: In this study, I examined the relationship between childhood bullying experiences and later life friendship attachments.

Organizations, as groups of people, can take actions that are appropriate for human actors:

• Johnson & Johnson recalled products from Target store shelves.
• The school board voted to require school uniforms.
• The Society of Professional Journalists issued new ethics guidelines.
• The hospital implemented new procedures regarding RN staffing requirements.

However, avoid ascribing actions to organizations when it is important to understand which specific people within the organization performed the action.

• Problematic phrasing: The factory walked out on strike.
• Possible revision: All nonmanagement employees of the factory walked out on strike.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).