In academic writing, citing sources using the American Psychological Association (APA) style is essential for providing proper credit to authors and researchers whose work contributes to your own scholarly projects.
This style not only ensures that credit is given where it’s due but also helps readers locate the sources you’ve consulted.
Here are examples of APA style citations across various types of sources, demonstrating how to format references accurately according to the APA guidelines.
Journal Articles
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Journal Article from a Database with DOI | (Cottle & Ashton, 1999) | Cottle, T. J., & Ashton, M. P. (1999). Hard earned wisdom: Explorations in narrative psychology. Journal of Narrative and Life History, 1(4), 297-321. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327795jcd0104_2 |
Journal Article from a Database without DOI | (Earp et al., 2019) | Earp, B. D., Lewis, J., & Hart, C. L. (2019). Rethinking the use of ‘hard drugs’ for spiritual experiences. Journal of Ethics, 123(2), 245-263. |
Journal Article in Print | (Parker, 1999) | Parker, S. (1999). Schools and grief. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 4(1), 31-42. |
Journal Article in Print with 3-20 Authors | (Schneider et al., 1999) | Schneider, S. M., Norris, S., Zamboni, B. D., & Gade, P. (1999). Crisis intervention strategies. Journal of Crisis Intervention, 2(3), 209-221. |
Journal Article in Print with More than 20 Authors | (Author et al., Year) | Include the first nineteen authors’ names, then insert three ellipses and follow with the final author’s name. |
Conference Papers
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Paper Presentation from the Internet | (Balakrishnan, 2006) | Balakrishnan, R. (2006, March 25-26). Why aren’t we using 3d user interfaces, and will we ever? [Paper presentation]. IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces, Alexandria, VA. https://doi.org/10.1109/VR.2006.148. |
Unpublished Paper Presentation | (Brown & Caste, 1990) | Brown, S., & Caste, V. (2004, May). Integrated obstacle detection framework [Paper presentation]. IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium, Detroit, MI. |
Paper Presentation in Print Proceedings | (Rowling, 1993) | Rowling, L. (1993, September). Schools and grief: How does Australia compare to the United States [Paper presentation]. In Wandarna coowar: Hidden grief. 8th National Conference of the National Association for Loss and Grief (Australia), Yeppoon, Queensland (pp. 196-201). National Association for Loss and Grief. |
Assignments
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Assignment from Another Unit | (Reid, 2016) | Reid, S. F. (2016). The importance of scientific method [Unpublished manuscript], BSC100: Building Blocks for Science Students, Murdoch University. |
Books
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
E-book | (Eckes, 2000) | Eckes, T. (2000). The developmental social psychology of gender. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. https://prospero.murdoch.edu.au:443/record=b1600608 |
Book: Including Page Numbers | (Wells, 2009, pp. 225-226) | Wells, A. (2009). Metacognitive therapy for anxiety and depression in psychology. Guilford Press. |
Book: Single Author | (Matthews, 1999) | Matthews, J. (1999). The art of childhood and adolescence: The construction of meaning. Falmer Press. |
Book: Two Authors | (Colclough & Colclough, 1999) | Colclough, B., & Colclough, J. (1999). A challenge to change. Thorsons. |
Book: 3-20 Authors | (Rosenthal et al., 2000) | Rosenthal, R., Rosnow, R. L., & Rubin, D. B. (2000). Contrasts and effect sizes in behavioral research: A correlational approach. Cambridge University Press. |
Book: More than 20 Authors | (Author et al., Year) | Include the first nineteen authors’ names, then insert three ellipses and follow with the final author’s name. |
Book: Different Works by Same Author in Same Year | (Kubler-Ross, 1993a) | Kubler-Ross, E. (1993a). AIDS: The ultimate challenge. Collier Books. |
(Kubler-Ross, 1993b) | Kubler-Ross, E. (1993b). Questions and answers on death and dying. Collier Books. | |
Book: Organisation as Author | (American Educational Research Association, 1985) | American Educational Research Association. (1985). Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Psychological Association. |
Book: Government Agency as Author | (Department of Health and Aged Care, 1998) | Department of Health and Aged Care. (1999). Mental health: A report focusing on depression, 1998. Australian Government Publishing Service. |
Book: No Author | (The Blackwell Dictionary of Cognitive Psychology, 1991) | The Blackwell dictionary of cognitive psychology. (1991). Blackwell. |
Book: Editor | (Snyder, 1999) | Snyder, C. R. (Ed.). (1999). Coping: The psychology of what works. Oxford University Press. |
Book: 2 or More Editors | (Binstock & George, 1990) | Binstock, R. H., & George, L. K. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of aging and the social sciences (3rd ed.). Academic Press. |
Book: Different Editions | (Howitt & Cramer, 2008) | Howitt, D., & Cramer, D. (2008). Introduction to research methods in psychology (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. |
Book Chapters
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Chapter or Article in Edited E-book | (Jones & Gagnon, 2007) | Jones, N. A., & Gagnon, C. M. (2007). The neurophysiology of empathy. In T. F. D. Farrow & P. W. R. Woodruff (Eds.), Empathy in mental illness. Cambridge University Press. https://prospero.murdoch.edu.au:443/record=b2130403 |
Chapter or Article in Edited Print Book | (Payne, 1999) | Payne, S. (1999). ‘Dangerous and different’: Reconstructions of madness in the 1990s and the role of mental health policy. In S. Watson & L. Doyal (Eds.), Engendering social policy (pp. 180-195). Open University Press. |
Article from an Electronic Encyclopaedia | (Lai, 1999) | Lai, M. C. C. (1999). Hepatitis delta virus. In A. Granoff & R. Webster (Eds.), Encyclopedia of virology (2nd ed.). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012374410-4.00417-9 |
Article in an Encyclopaedia | (Ford-Martin, 2003) | Ford-Martin, P. (2003). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. In E. Thackery & M. Harris (Eds.), Gale encyclopedia of mental disorders (Vol.1, pp. 226-228). Gale. |
Course Materials
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Lecture (recordings accessed via LMS) | (Jones, 2023) | Jones, A. (Presenter). (2023, April 1). The business of healthcare provision: Strategies for management [Lecture recording]. Moodle. https://moodleprod.murdoch.edu.au |
PowerPoint slides (accessed via LMS) | (Brown, 2023) | Brown, A. (2023). 5 strategies for effective leadership for healthcare provision [PowerPoint slides]. Moodle. https://moodleprod.murdoch.edu.au |
Reports
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Company/Organisation Report | (MarketLine, 2020) | MarketLine. (2020). Company profile: Apple Inc. MarketLine. |
Theses
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
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Unpublished Doctoral Thesis | (Baker, 2020) | Baker, J. (2020). Climate change adaptation strategies (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Murdoch University. |
Unpublished Works
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
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Unpublished Manuscript | (Johnson, 2020) | Johnson, A. (2020). Migration and climate change. Unpublished manuscript. |
Works in Progress
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
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Work in Progress | (Smith, 2023) | Smith, J. (2023). The future of robotics [Manuscript in preparation]. |
AI Generated Content
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
AI generative tools | (Microsoft, 2023) | Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/ |
A-V Materials
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
DVD | (Moore, 2003) | Moore, M. (Writer/Director). (2003). Bowling for Columbine [DVD]. AV Channel. |
Radio Programme | (Browning, 2006) | Browning, D. (Presenter). (2006, June 9). Black soccer heroes. Message Stick [Radio programme]. Guest speaker Dr. John Maynard. ABC Radio. |
Sound Recording | (St. Laurence Chamber Choir & McEwan, 2005) | St. Laurance Chamber Choir (Performers), & McEwan, N. (Director). (2005). Commemoration, ritual and performance: the Iberian connection : medieval and renaissance music from the St Laurence Chamber Choir [Album]. Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Sydney. |
Television Series Episode | (Masters, 2006) | Masters, C. (Presenter). (2006, March 27). Big fish, little fish. Four Corners [Television series episode]. ABC Television. |
Video Recording | (Russell & Wiseman, 1995) | Russell, G. (Writer, Producer and Narrator), & Wiseman, P. (Producer). (1995). Tackling bullies: An Australian perspective [Video recording]. Video Classroom. |
YouTube/Vimeo Video | (NRK, 2007) | NRK. (2007, February 26). Medieval helpdesk with English subtitles. [Video]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ |
Datasets
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Dataset | (Evans, 2019) | Evans, G. (2019). PopGAMER [Dataset]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3253779 |
Government Documents
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Act of Parliament (Aust.) | (Mental Health Act 2007, s. 29) | Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) s. 29. |
Act of Parliament (Cwlth) | (Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, s. 3) | Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cwlth) s. 3. |
Case (Aust.) | (Mabo v Queensland (No 2), 1992) | Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1. |
Government Report (Aust.) | (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008) | Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008). Childhood education and care, Australia, June 2008 (No. 4402.0). |
Law Reports | (AG v Dean, 1990) | Attorney General v Dean [1990] 1 All ER 513 (CA). |
Senate Committee Report (Aust.) | (Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2008) | Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (2008). A national literacy policy. Commonwealth of Australia. |
Maps and Charts
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Google Maps/Google Earth | (Google, 2020) | Google. (2020). Sydney. https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Sydney/@-33.86785,151.20732,12z/data=!4m5!4m4!1m0!1m2!1m0!1m0 |
Chart | (Smith & Tan, 2020) | Smith, J., & Tan, P. (2020). Climate change over time [Chart]. In P. Tan (Ed.), Climate change. Oxford University Press. |
Patents
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Patent | (Smith, 2010) | Smith, J. (2010). U.S. Patent No. 8,108,238. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. |
Websites
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Website | (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2020) | Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2020, April 17). Aboriginal leader calls for ‘voice to parliament’. https://abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/aboriginal-leader-calls-for-voice-to-parliament/12148556 |
Social Media
Material Type | In Text Citation | Reference List Entry |
---|---|---|
Facebook Post | (Hawking, 2016) | Hawking, S. (2016, October 6). There is nothing like the thrill of discovering something no one knew before [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/stephenhawking/posts/10153928515509022 |
Instagram Post | (NASA, 2018) | NASA. (2018, November 26). The @NASAInSight mission has landed on Mars! [Instagram post]. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/BqmUfgDhTNe/ |
APA 7th Edition vs 6th Edition
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual introduces some changes in the way references are formatted compared to the 6th edition. Here’s a brief summary of key differences:
- Up to 20 authors: List up to 20 authors in a reference list entry (use “et al.” after the first author only when there are 21 or more authors).
- Publisher location: Omit the publisher location from the reference list entry.
- DOI and URL: Present DOIs and URLs as hyperlinks (e.g., https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000126).
- Website names: Include the name of the website in the reference entry when it differs from the author (e.g., American Psychological Association).
- E-books: Specify the type of e-book version in brackets (e.g., Kindle, etc.).
Here is an example of how the same reference would be formatted in the 6th and 7th editions:
APA 6th Edition:
- In-text citation: (Britt, 2020)
- Reference list entry: Britt, R. R. (2020). Climate change. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
APA 7th Edition:
- In-text citation: (Britt, 2020)
- Reference list entry: Britt, R. R. (2020). Climate change. Penguin Books.