The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used for citing references in student papers and manuscripts in fields like education, psychology, and social sciences. When writing a research paper for a class, it is important to properly cite any sources you use to avoid plagiarism. This guide will provide an overview of how to cite sources in APA style according to the 7th edition guidelines.
In-Text Citations
Any source used in a paper should be represented in an in-text citation. This gives credit to the original author and allows readers to locate the full reference in the reference list at the end of the paper. In-text citations typically include the last name of the author and year of publication. If quoting directly from a source, you must also include a page number. If no author is present, use the first couple words of the title instead.
For example:
(Smith, 2020)
or
(“Effects of Stress,” 2021, p. 38).
Parenthetical in-text citations with multiple authors look like:
(Johnson et al., 2019)
If two authors share the same last name, use their first initials:
(J. Smith & L. Smith, 2020)
Reference List Page
At the end of the paper, include a reference page that lists all sources cited in the text in APA format. References are double spaced and listed alphabetically by author’s last name. Italicize book and journal titles. Use sentence case capitalization. Include the following components as applicable:
Author(s) last name, first initial. (Year). Title. Publisher.
Author(s) last name, first initial. (Year, Month day). Title. Source. https://DOI or URL
Last name, first initial. (Year). Article title. Periodical Title, volume(issue), pages.
Some reference examples:
Smith, J. (2020). Best practices in APA citation. Publisher.
Miller, A., Brown, L., & Johnson, S. (2021, March 15). Effects of stress on learning. Journal of Education, 45(3), 38-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2021.1529583
Thompson, D. (2018). Citing sources [PDF]. https://www.ctheory.net/articles.aspx?id=995
Proper APA citations are important because they credit authors for their work and ideas. They also allow readers to conduct further research by locating the original sources. While it may seem tedious, citing sources avoids plagiarizing, supports arguments, and demonstrates academic integrity. Be sure to consult the APA manual or tutorial resources if you have any other citation questions as you complete your research papers. Understanding APA citation guidelines is crucial to writing high-quality assignments at the university level and beyond.