2. APA Citation Style 6th Edition
American Psychological Association (APA) style is
commonly used for citing references in science and social
science courses, such as Psychology, Nursing, and Social
Work.
The purpose of documentation is to:
Identify (cite) other people’s ideas and information used within
your essay.
Indicate the authors or sources of these in aReferences list at
the end of your paper.
The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your sources.
“Plagiarism: The submission by a student of the writings, ideas
or data of another individual as the student’s own in any essay
or assignment. Avoid the consequences of plagiarism by giving
proper references to your sources.”
--RDC Academic Terminology Glossary
3. Book with one Author or Editor
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase) -entry that appears in the body of your paper when you
express the ideas of a researcher or author using your own words.
In-Text Citation (Quotation) -entry that appears in the body of your paper after a
direct quote.
References - entry that appears at the end of your paper.
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book title:
Subtitle. Place of
Publication: Publisher.
4. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Franks, 2005)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Franks, 2005, p. 148)
References:
Franks, A. (2005). Margaret Sanger's eugenic
legacy: The control of female fertility.
Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.
5. Book with Two Authors or Editors
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname & Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Direct Quote):
(Author Surname & Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author
Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book
title: Subtitle. Place of Publication: Publisher.
6. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Burley & Harris, 2002)
In-Text Citation (Direct Quote):
(Burley & Harris, 2002, p. 153)
References:
Burley, J., & Harris, J. (Eds.). (2002). A
companion to genethics. Malden, MA:
Blackwell.
7. Book with Three to Five Authors
or Editors
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Author Surname, & Author Surname, Year)
NOTE: Although the first in-text citation for a work with three to five
authors/editors
includes all of the names of the authors/editors, subsequent citations include
only the first author's/editor's surname, followed by et al. and the year.
In-Text Citation (Direct Quote):
(Author Surname, Author Surname, & Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial.
Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book
title:
Subtitle. Place of Publication: Publisher.
8. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Johnson, Roberts, & Worell, 1999)
NOTE: A subsequent citation would appear as (Johnson et al.,
1999)
In-Text Citation (Direct Quote):
(Johnson, Roberts, & Worell, 1999, p. 72)
References:
Johnson, N. G., Roberts, M. C., & Worell, J.
(Eds.). (1999). Beyond appearance: A new look at
adolescent girls. Washington, DC: American Psychological
Association.
9. Article or Chapter in an Edited
Book
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year, page number)
References (Quotation):
Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], First Initial. Second
Initial. (Year). Article or chapter title. In Editor First Initial.
Second Initial. Surname (Eds.), Book title:Subtitle (pp.
page range of article or chapter). Place of Publication:
Publisher.
10. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Lawrence & Dodds, 2003)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Lawrence & Dodds, 2003, p. 526)
References:
Lawrence, J. A., & Dodds, A. E. (2003). Goal-directed
activities and life-span development. In J. Valsiner & K.
Connolly (Eds.), Handbook of
developmentalpsychology (pp. 517-533).
London, England: Sage Publications.
11. Article in a Reference Book
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname [of Article], Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname [of Article], Year, page number)
References (Quotation):
Author Surname [of Article], First Initial. Second Initial. (Year).
Article title. In Editor First Initial. Second Initial. Surname
(Eds.), Reference book title: Subtitle(# ed. edition, Vol.
Volume, pp. page range of article). Place
of Publication: Publisher.
12. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Lindgren, 1994)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Lindgren, 1994, p.468)
References:
Lindgren, H. C. (1994). Stereotyping.
In Encyclopedia of psychology (Vol. 3,
pp. 468-469). New York, NY: Wiley.
13. Book with no Author
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Book title [usually shortened], Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Book title [usually shortened], Year, page number)
References:
Book title: Subtitle. (Year). Place of Publication:
Publisher.
15. E-Book
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book
title: Subtitle [Version]. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxx OR
Retrieved
from URL of the home page of the e-book provider.
16. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Ochs, 2004)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Ochs, 2004, p. 55)
References:
Ochs, S. (2004). A history of nerve functions: From
animal spirits to molecular mechanisms [ebrary
Reader version]. Retrieved from
http://www.ebrary.com/corp/
17. Edition of a Book other than the
First
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book
title: Subtitle (edition). Place of Publication: Publisher.
18. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Harris, 2001)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Harris, 2001, p. 50)
References:
Harris, L. A. (2001). Canadian copyright
law (3rd ed.). Toronto, ON: McGraw Hill
Ryerson.
19. A Translation
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year Originally Published/Year of Translation,
page number)
References (Quotation):
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Book title:
Subtitle (Translator First Initial. Second Initial. Surname,
Trans.). Place of Publication: Publisher. (Original work
published Year).
20. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Laplace, 1814/1951)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Laplace, 1814/1951, p. 148)
References:
Laplace, P. S. (1951). A philosophical essay on
probabilities (F. W. Truscott & F. L.
Emory, Trans.). New York, NY: Dover. (Original
work published 1814).
21. JOURNAL/MAGAZINE ARTICLES
If a journal article has a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) listed, you will always
include this identifier in your reference. You will not have to include the
URL of the journal's home page or of the database from which you
retrieved the article if a DOI is available.
Journal Article with One Author
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article title:
Subtitle. Journal Title, Volume(issue), page range.
doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx OR Retrieved from URL of journal
home page [if available].
22. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Pettigrew, 2009)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Pettigrew, 2009, p. 61)
References:
Pettigrew, T. F. (2009). Secondary transfer effect of
contact: Do intergroup contact effects spread to
noncontacted outgroups? Social Psychology,
40(2), 55-65.
doi:10.1027/1864-9335.40.2.55
23. Journal Article with Two Authors
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname & Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname & Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author
Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article
title: Subtitle. Journal Title, Volume(issue), page
range.
doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx OR Retrieved from URL of journal
home page [if available].
24. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Paterson & Thorne, 2003)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Paterson & Thorne, 2003, p. 30)
References:
Paterson, B. L., & Thorne, S. (2003). Enhancing the evaluation of
nursing care effectiveness. Canadian Journal of Nursing
Research, 35(3), 26- 38.
References:
Sillick, T. J., & Schutte, N. S. (2006). Emotional intelligence and self-
esteem mediate between perceived early parental love and adult
happiness. E- Journal of AppliedPsychology, 2(2), 38-48. Retrieved
from http://ojs.lib.swin.edu.au/index.php/ejap
25. Journal Article with Three to Five
Authors
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Author Surname, & Author Surname, Year)
NOTE: Although the first in-text citation for a work with three to five
authors/editors includes all of the names of the authors/editors,
subsequent citations include only the first author's/editor's surname,
followed by et al. and the year.
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Author Surname, & Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial.
Second Initial., & Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article title:
Subtitle. Journal Title, Volume(issue), page range. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx OR
Retrieved from URL of journal home page [if available].
26. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Brinkworth, Noakes, Buckley, Keogh, & Clifton, 2009)
NOTE: A subsequent citation would appear as (Brinkworth et al., 2009)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Brinkworth, Noakes, Buckley, Keogh, & Clifton, 2009, p. 27)
References:
Brinkworth, G. D., Noakes, M., Buckley, J. D., Keogh, J. B., & Clifton, P.
M. (2009).
Long-term effects of a very-low-carbohydrate weight loss diet
compared with an
isocaloric low-fat diet after 12 mo. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, 90
(1), 23-32. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27326
27. Journal Article with Six or More
Authors
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname et al., Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname et al., Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial. Second
Initial., Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial.
Second Initial., Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial., & Author Surname,
First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article title: Subtitle. Journal
Title, Volume(issue),
page range. doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxx [if available] OR Retrieved from URL of journal
home page [if available].
NOTE: If an article has more than seven authors, list the names of
the first six authors followed by ... and then the last author's name in the
reference entry (p. 198).
28. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Dietz et al., 2007)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Dietz et al., 2007, p. 1517)
References:
Dietz, P. M., Williams, S. B., Callaghan, W.
M., Bachman, D. J., Whitlock, E. P., & Hornbrook, M.
C. (2007). Clinically identified maternal depression
before, during, and after pregnancies ending in live
births. American Journal of
Psychiatry, 164(10), 1515-1520. Retrieved from
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
29. Magazine Article
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year, Month
Day). Article title: Subtitle. Magazine
Title, Volume(issue), page range. Retrieved from URL
of magazine home page [if viewed online].
30. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Henry & Mehta, 1990)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Henry & Mehta, 1990, p. 30)
References:
Henry, W. A., & Mehta, N. S. (1990, April 9). Beyond the
melting pot. Time, 135, 28-31.
References:
Kuttner, R. (2003, September 8). The great American
pension- fund robbery. Business Week, 24-26.
Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/
31. Newspaper Article
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year, Month
Day). Article title: Subtitle. Newspaper Title, page
range. Retrieved from URL [if viewed online]
32. Example
Example 1
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Wallace, 2007)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Wallace, 2007, p. A8)
References:
Wallace, K. (2007, December 4). Passport applicant finds
massive privacy breach. The Globe and Mail, pp. A1, A8.
References:
Severson, K., & Martin, A. (2009, March 3). It's organic, but
does that mean it's safer? The New York Times. Retrieved
from http://www.nytimes.com
33. WEBSITES
When citing sources that you find on the Internet you only need to
include a retrieval date if the information you viewed is likely to change
over time (p. 192). If you reference an article from Wikipedia, for
example, you would want to include a retrieval date because
information in a wiki can be subject to a lot of change.
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page or paragraph number [if available])
References:
Personal or Corporate Author. (Last update or copyright date; if not
known, put n.d.). Title of specific document. Retrieved from URL of
specific document
34. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Browning, 1993)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Browning, 1993, para. 12)
References:
Browning, T. (1993). A brief historical survey of women
writers of science fiction. Retrieved from
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/tonya/Tonya/sf/history.html
35. Web page from a University site
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page or paragraph number [if
available])
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Last update or
copyright date; if not known, put n.d.). Title of specific
document. Retrieved from Name of Universitywebsite: URL
of specific document
36. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Johnson & Becker, n.d.)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Johnson & Becker, n.d.)
References:
Johnson, K. A., & Becker, J. A. (n.d.). The whole
brain atlas. Retrieved from Harvard University
Medical School website:
http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/
37. Document from a Web site with
no Author
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Title of specific document, Year)
NOTE: If the title of a document is long, use a shortened version for the
in-text citations.
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Title of specific document, Year, page or paragraph number [if
available])
References:
Title of specific document. (Last update or copyright date; if not known,
put n.d.). InTitle of website. Retrieved from URL of specific
document
38. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Neurology, n.d.)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Neurology, n.d.)
References:
Neurology. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved
August 8, 2007, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology
39. Blog Post
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. OR Author screen name
{as it appears on the blog}. (Year, Month Day {of post}). Title
of
specific post [Web log post].Retrieved from URL of specific post
NOTE: If it is the original blog post use [Web log post]. If it is a reply or
comment made to the original post, use [Web log comment].
40. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(MiddleKid, 2007)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(MiddleKid, 2007)
References:
MiddleKid. (2007, January 22). Re: The unfortunate
prerequisites and consequences of partitioning
your mind [Web log comment]. Retrieved from
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/01/the
_unfor tunate_prerequisites.php
41. Entry in an Online Reference
Work
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year, page number [if available])
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year; if not
known, put n.d.). Title of entry. In Editor First
Initial. Second Initial. Surname (Ed.), Title of
reference work (edition, Vol. #). Retrieved from URL
42. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Graham, 2005)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Graham, 2005)
References:
Graham, G. (2005). Behaviorism. In E. N. Zalta
(Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Fall
2007 ed.). Retrieved from
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries
/behaviorism/
43. AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA
Motion Picture/Video Recording
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Producer Surname & Director Surname, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Producer Surname & Director Surname, Year)
References:
Producer Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Producer), &
Director Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. (Director).
(Year). Title of movie [Format e.g. Motion picture or
DVD]. Country where movie was produced: Name of Studio.
44. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Davidson & Davidson, 1999)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Davidson & Davidson, 1999)
References:
Davidson, F. (Producer), & Davidson, J. (Director).
(1999). B. F. Skinner: A fresh appraisal [Motion
picture]. United States: Davidson Films.
45. Youtube Video
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. OR Author
screen name. (Year, Month Day {of video post}). Title
of video [Video file]. Retrieved from URL of specific
video
46. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Norton, 2006)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Norton, 2006)
References:
Norton, R. (2006, November 4). How to train a cat to
operate a light switch [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs
47. OTHER SOURCES
An Interview
Personal interviews are not included in the reference list because they do not provide
recoverable data. Cite them in text only.
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day,
Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day,
Year)
References:
Not included.
48. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Y. Martel, personal communication, April 15, 2005)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Y. Martel, personal communication, April 15, 2005)
References:
Not included.
49. Secondary Sources
Sometimes an author writes about research that someone else has done, but you are unable
to track down the original research report.
In this case, because you did not read the original report, you will include only the source you
did consult in your References.
The words “as cited in” in the parenthetical reference indicate you have not read the original
research.
General Format
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
(Author Surname, Year qtd. as cited in Author Surname [of the source you read], Year)
In-Text Citation (Quotation):
(Author Surname, Year qtd. as cited in Author Surname [of the source you read],
Year, page number)
References:
Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial [of the source you read]. (Year). Book title:
Subtitle. Place of Publication: Publisher.
50. Example
In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):
Fong’s 1987 study (as cited in Bertram,
1996) found that older students’ memory
can be as good as that of young people,
but this depends on how memory is tested.
References:
Do not include Fong (1987) in your
References; do include Bertram (1996).