An appendix is a section at the end of a report, research paper, dissertation, or thesis that contains supplementary material that is not an essential part of the text itself but which may be helpful in providing a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem. The information in the appendices is relevant but is too long or too detailed to include in the main body of the work. Appendices are always supplementary to the research paper, and the study must be able to stand alone without them. The key point to remember when including an appendix or appendices is that the information is non-essential; if it were removed, the reader would still be able to comprehend the significance, validity, and implications of the research.

When considering whether to include content in an appendix, keep in mind the following points:

• The information is non-essential.
• The information is too long or too detailed to include in the main body of the work.
• The information is relevant to the research problem.
• The information is helpful in providing a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.

Appendices may include some of the following, all of which should be referred to or summarized in the text of the paper:

• Surveys
• Interviews
• Non-textual items (e.g., graphs, tables, figures, illustrations, photos, or charts)
• Statistical data

It is important to note that any appendices should be listed in the papers table of contents, and it is necessary to refer to each of them at least once in the main body of the paper. The format of an appendix will vary based on the type of citation style used, as well as the guidelines of the journal or class for which the paper is being written.