THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF APA

An Introduction to the

American Psychological Association’s

Style of Citation

Adapted from Medicine Hat College Library Services

WHY USE APA?

It will help you to:

Organize your ideas.

Communicate more effectively with your audience.

Develop consistent documentation/writing style.

Avoid issues regarding plagiarism.

PLAGIARISM

What is it? It is intellectual theft – the conveyance of another

person’s ideas or words as your own. Includes: art, lyrics, music, photography, programming,

research material (graphics and statistics) Consequences?

Failure of assignment or class. Removal from program or institution.

How can I avoid it? Take accurate and complete notes. Cite all borrowed information. Use quotation marks around borrowed phrases and

words.•What is Plagiarism?

BASIC RULES (PT. 1)

Use standard 8.5 x 11 inch good quality white paper.

Font Style: 12-pt Times Roman Double space throughout the paper. Use a 1 in. (2.54 cm) margins on all sides of each

page. Left justify your margins Indent the first line of every paragraph five– seven

spaces (½ in. [standard <Tab> key]). 2 spaces following the conclusion of a sentence. 1

space after other punctuation marks.

BASIC RULES (PT. 2)

Paper is single sided. All pages are numbered and have a running head. Visuals may include graphs, photographs, tables,

etc. Clearly label each visual with a title that concisely describes its subject. In the text of your paper refer to the visual by the title.

BASIC RULES (PT. 3)

There is an order to the paper:1. Title page

2. Abstract

3. Text

4. References

5. Footnotes

6. Tables

7. Figures

8. Appendices

HEADINGS

Used to organize the content of a paper. Provides a visual cue to the reader – allows them to

recognize the idea(s) that are to follow. The 5 headings:

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Centered, Bold, Title Case Heading [Level 1]

Flush Left, Bold, Title Case Heading [Level 2]

Indented, bold, sentence case, paragraph heading ending with a period. . . . . [Level 3]

1”Margin Indented, bold, italicized, sentence case, paragraph heading

ending with a period. . . . . [Level 4]

Indented, italicized, sentence case, paragraph heading ending with a period. . . . . [Level 5]

CITING MATERIAL

Two major components: In-text/parenthetical citation

Placed in narrative of paper (when information is borrowed) Directs reader to “References” page

“References” page citation (bibliographic information) Contains the detailed bibliographic information about borrowed

source material Allows readers to verify source material

QUOTING

When employing a quote, you must display the author, year of publication and page number in your narration.

Sample:

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Klein (2000) noted that some management theorists suggest, “that successful

corporations must primarily produce brands, as opposed to products” (p. 3).

[Version 2]

Some management theorists suggested, “that successful corporations must

primarily produce brands, as opposed to products” (Klein, 2000, p. 3).

[Version 1]OR

When block quoting, you must display the author, year and page number in your narration.

Sample:

BLOCK QUOTING

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½”

Klein (2000), in the book No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, wrote:

The astronomical growth in the wealth and cultural influence of

multinational corporations over the last fifteen years can arguably be

traced back to a single, seemingly innocuous idea developed by

management theorists in the mid-1980s: that successful corporations

must primarily produce brands, as opposed to products. (p. 3)

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PARAPHRASING

When paraphrasing, you must display the author and year of publication in your narration.

Sample:

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It is suggested that management theories, developed in the mid-1980s, put forth

the idea that branding is as important to corporate success as the actual product

that is produced (Klein, 2000). [Version 1]

Klein (2000) suggested that management theories, developed in the mid-

1980s, put forth the idea that branding is as important to corporate success as

the actual product that is produced. [Version 2]

OR

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Where do I find it? Books

Title and publisher page Online Public Access/Library Catalogues (OPACs)

Periodicals (journals, magazines, & newspapers) Cover, table of contents, or publication page in periodical Database’s (a.k.a. Online Periodical Index) abstract or citation

Web Pages Scour the page and/or site (it will rarely be in one place)

Others (pamphlets, posters, audiovisual media, etc.) Search carefully and provide as much information as possible

CITATION – ONE AUTHOR

Example:

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Klein, N. (2000). No logo: Taking aim at the brand bullies. Toronto,

Canada: Vintage Canada. Hanging indent.

Double spaced.

CITATION – TWO AUTHORS

Example

In-text: Cushing and Allan (2001) compared… (Cushing & Allan, 2001)

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1”MarginCushing, C. E., & Allan, J. D. (2001). Streams: Their ecology and life.

San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

CITATION – THREE TO FIVE AUTHORS Example:

In-text: First time citing work:

Hayes, Strosahl and Wilson (1999) found… (Hayes, Stroshal, & Wilson, 1999)

Subsequent Citations: Hayes et al. (1999) discovered…. (Hayes et al., 1999)

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Margin

Hayes, S. C., Stosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance

and commitment therapy. New York, NY: Guilford

Press.

CITATION EXCEPTIONS Six or More Authors

In text: Cite only the surname of the first author then et al. and the year Example:

Wasserstein et al. (2005) found… (Wasserstein et al., 2005)

Eight or more Authors in REFERENCE LIST Use the first six authors, then three ellipses and last authors

name Example:

Gilbert, D. G., McClernon, J. F., Rabinovich, N. E., Sugai, C., Plath, L. C.,

Asgaard,G., …Botros, N. (2004). Effects of quitting smoking on

EEG activation and attention last for more than 31 days and are

more severe with stress, dependence, DRD2 A1 allele, and

depressive traits. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 6, 249-267.

CITATION – COMPANY/ORGANIZATION AS AUTHOR

In-text: :

Example:

In-text: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009)

.1”Margin 1”

Margin

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). CDC recommendations for the amount of time persons with influenza-like illness should be away from others. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm

CITATION – MULTIPLE WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Example:

In-text: (Koriat, 2008a) and (Koriat, 2008b)

References are alphabetized by title

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Margin

Koriat, A. (2008a). Easy comes, easy goes? The link between learning and

remembering and its exploitation in metacognition. Memory &

Cognition, 36, 416–428. doi:10.3758/MC.36.2.416

Koriat, A. (2008b). Subjective confidence in one’s answers: The consensuality

principle. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory,

and Cognition, 34, 945–959. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.34.4.945

BOOKS & EBOOK CITATION

Entire Book - Print Version Greenburg, B.H. (2010). Management of heart failure. West Sussex,

London: Wiley-Blackwell.

Electronic Version of Print Book Greenburg, B.H. (2010). Management of heart failure. Retrieved from

http://www.ebrary.com/corp/

PRINT JOURNAL ARTICLE CITATION

Example:

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Sockett, H. T. Harvard

Educational Review,

(1987). Has Shulman got the strategy right?

57(2), 208– 219.

Hanging indent.

Double spaced.

WEB SITE CITATION

Example:

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(2004). Garth, P. E. Research advances in the nursing sciences.

from http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/usersurveys/

survey1997-10/

Retrieved

Hanging indent.

Double spaced.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Chapter/Section of a Book

In-text: Regulus (1995) determined . . . . . . . (Regulus, 1995).

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Regulus, T. A. (1995). Gang violence. In R. L. Edwards (Ed.),

Encyclopedia of social work (19th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 1045–1055).

Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Journal Article with DOI

In-text: Yu et al. (2009) discovered that . . . . It was discovered that . . . (Yu et al., 2009).

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Yu, H., Zhou, Y.-J., Li, G.-X., Zhang, G.-H., Liu, H.-L., Yan, . . . &

Tong, G.-Z. (2009). Further evidence for infection of pigs with

human-like influenza viruses in China. Virus Research, 140,

85–90. doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2008.11.008

WHERE CAN I FIND THE DOI?

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Journal Article with no DOI

In-text: According to Sillick and Schutte (2006) . . . . . . . (Sillick & Schutte, 2006).

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Sillick, T. J., & Schutte, N. S. (2006). Emotional intelligence and self-

esteem mediate between perceived early parental love and adult

happiness. E-Journal of Applied Psychology, 2(2) 38-48. Retrieved

from http://ojs.lib.swin.edu.au/index.php/ejap

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Newspaper Article – no author

In-text: In the article “Rotor Blades Fail Inspection” (2002) . . . . . . . (“Rotor Blades Fail Inspection,” 2002).

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Rotor blades fail inspection. (2002, July 27). Medicine Hat News,

p. A1.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Wikis

In-text: The article titled “American Psychological Association”

(2009) suggests that . . . . It has been suggested that . . . (“American Psychological

Association,” 2009).

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American Psychological Association [Wiki article]. (2009, July 9).

Retrieved July 20, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

American_Psychological _Association

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Video Blogs (e.g., YouTube)

In-text: Simon Cowell, a notoriously difficult judge, said that Paul

Potts's performance on Britain's Got Talent, "was a complete breath of fresh air" (myredroom, 2007). Cowell went on to say that, "I thought you were absolutely fantastic."

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myredroom. (2007, June 10). Paul sings Nessun Dorma high

quality video/sound widescreen 16:9 [Video file]. Retrieved

from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k08yxu57NA

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Brochure

In-text: In the brochure by Travel Alberta (2002) . . . . . . . (Travel Alberta, 2002).

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Travel Alberta. (2002). Official Alberta vacation guide [Brochure].

Edmonton, Canada: Author.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Video

In-text: In the video Faces of Reality produced by Gillespie and

directed by Ashworth (2000) . . . . . . . (Gillespie & Ashworth, 2000).

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Gillespie, M. (Producer), & Ashworth, S. (Director). (2000). Faces of

reality [Videotape]. Edmonton, Canada: Alberta Alcohol and Drug

Abuse Commission.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

No Date

In-text: In the text by Rosenthal (n.d.) . . . . . . . (Rosenthal, n.d.).

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Rosenthal, R. (n.d.). Social research procedures. Newbury Park, CA:

Sage.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

American Psychological Association. (2010).Publication

manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychological Association. (2010). Concise rules of APA style (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

APA Style.org - http://apastyle.org/