APA REPORTING GUIDE
How to report chi-square results in APA style
An APA chi-square report names the test, gives χ² with its degrees of freedom and sample size, the exact p value, and an effect size such as Cramér's V, plus the counts or percentages that show the pattern.Explore research statistics & data analysis →FORMULA OR CORE IDEA
χ²(df, N = n) = value, p = .XXX, V = .XXWORKED EXAMPLE
A chi-square test of independence showed a significant association between study mode and exam outcome, χ²(1, N = 100) = 4.00, p = .046, V = .20. In-person students passed more often (60%) than online students (40%).QUICK REFERENCE
APA chi-square templates
Replace the numbers with your own results.| Situation | Template | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Test of independence, significant | χ²(1, N = 100) = 4.00, p = .046, V = .20 | Add the percentages per group |
| Test of independence, larger table | χ²(4, N = 210) = 11.73, p = .019, V = .17 | df = (rows − 1)(columns − 1) |
| Not significant | χ²(2, N = 150) = 1.84, p = .398, V = .08 | Still report the effect size |
| Goodness of fit | χ²(2, N = 100) = 14.00, p < .001 | Say what the expected proportions were |
| Small 2 × 2 table | Fisher's exact test, p = .071 | No χ² value is reported |
| Paired yes/no data | McNemar's χ²(1, N = 60) = 5.14, p = .023 | Same people measured twice |
STEP BY STEP
Name the test
Say whether you ran a chi-square test of independence (two categorical variables) or a goodness-of-fit test (one variable against expected proportions).
Give χ² with df and N
Write χ²(df, N = total) = value. For an r × c table, df = (r − 1)(c − 1). Including N is required by APA for chi-square.
Report the exact p value
Use p = .046 rather than p < .05, and p < .001 only for very small values.
Add an effect size
Cramér's V (or φ for 2 × 2 tables). For 2 × 2 tables, about .10 small, .30 medium, .50 large.
Describe the pattern
Give the percentages or counts that show where the difference lies, in the text or in a contingency table.
Say what you did about small expected counts
If expected counts were below 5, report Fisher's exact test for 2 × 2 tables or say which categories you combined.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to report N for a chi-square test?
Yes. APA asks for the sample size inside the brackets: χ²(1, N = 100) = 4.00.
How do I type the χ² symbol?
In Word, type the Greek letter chi (Insert → Symbol, or type 03C7 then Alt + X) followed by a superscript 2. Writing 'chi-square' in words is also acceptable.
Should I report the Yates continuity correction?
Most current guidance reports the uncorrected Pearson χ² and switches to Fisher's exact test when expected counts are small, rather than using Yates' correction.
What type of data is the chi-square test used for?
Counts of people or cases in categories. It cannot be run on means, percentages, or continuous scores.