What is the guideline for using bullet points in an APA paper?

Using bullet points in an APA paper is most appropriate when the order of the items is not significant and the points presented are brief. This aligns with the intent of bullet points, which is to provide clarity and facilitate easy reading without implying a hierarchical structure or sequence to the information being presented. Bullet points are effective for summarizing key points or highlighting important concepts succinctly, allowing readers to grasp the main ideas quickly.

In contrast to this guideline, options suggesting that bullet points should be used for all types of lists or that they must always include numbered items or full sentences would limit the effectiveness of bullet points. Numbered lists are typically reserved for when the sequence of items matters, and complete sentences can detract from the succinct nature that bullet points are intended to convey.