Can You Use First Person in APA 7? Dissertation Rules and Examples
By Dr. Patricia N., DNP, PhD in Nursing Science. Reviewed by Dr. Amanda R.. 2026-10-13.
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Key takeaways
- APA 7 permits first person to describe what you, the researcher, did.
- Use "I" for a single author and "we" only when there are co-authors.
- Your program handbook and committee chair can override the APA default.
- First person fits methods and reflexivity best; keep it rare in the literature review.
- Avoid the editorial "we" that means people in general.
Quick answer
Yes. APA 7 explicitly allows first person pronouns when you describe your own work, for example "I interviewed 14 principals." Use "I" if you are the sole author and "we" only with co-authors. APA discourages the anthropomorphic third person ("the researcher") because it can be ambiguous. Your university handbook still takes precedence.
What APA 7 actually says
The APA Publication Manual (7th edition) recommends first person to avoid ambiguity and to keep sentences in clear, active voice. Writing "the author" or "the researcher" when you mean yourself is described as unnecessary formality.
APA also warns against the editorial "we" that refers to people in general, such as "we often ignore attrition." Replace it with the specific group: "school leaders often overlook attrition."
Chapter-by-chapter rules
Chapter 1 (Introduction): acceptable for stating purpose, for example "In this study, I examine..." Keep it to a few sentences.
Chapter 2 (Literature Review): use sparingly. Your synthesis should foreground the literature, not you. One use to announce your organizing logic is enough.
Chapter 3 (Methodology): the strongest case for first person. "I recruited," "I coded," "I ran a hierarchical regression" are clear and honest.
Chapter 4 (Results): report findings neutrally. "The model explained 31% of variance" reads better than "I found the model explained..."
Chapter 5 (Discussion): acceptable when interpreting, recommending, or reflecting on limitations.
Qualitative positionality and reflexivity statements: first person is expected, not just allowed.
Before and after rewrites
Before: The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews. After: I conducted semi-structured interviews.
Before: It was decided that purposive sampling would be used. After: I used purposive sampling because...
Before: We know that burnout affects retention. After: Researchers have shown that burnout affects retention (citation).
Before: The author believes the findings are significant. After: These findings suggest... (interpretation stated through evidence, not belief).
When your committee may still say no
Some programs, particularly in nursing, engineering, and some EdD templates, still require third person. Online programs often publish their own style rules in addition to APA. If your handbook or chair asks for third person, follow it and keep the voice active: "This study used..." rather than "It was decided...".
If you are unsure, ask your chair one direct question in writing: "Does the program allow first person in Chapter 3?" Save the answer in your dissertation folder.
FAQ
Can I use "I" in an APA 7 dissertation?
Yes. APA 7 allows first person to describe your own actions as the researcher. Check your program handbook, which can override APA.
Should I write "we" in a single-author dissertation?
No. Use "we" only when there are co-authors. A dissertation has one author, so use "I".
Is "the researcher" wrong in APA 7?
It is not forbidden, but APA 7 discourages it because it can be ambiguous. First person is clearer.
Can I use first person in the literature review?
Sparingly. One sentence to explain your organization is fine; the synthesis itself should focus on the literature.