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APA Citation & Format (7th ed.)

References List Basics

The APA reference list is a section at the end of a research paper or academic document that provides full bibliographic information for all the sources cited or referenced within the text. It allows readers to locate and retrieve the sources used by the author.

Here is an example of how the APA reference list should be formatted:

  1. Book: Author's Last Name, Author's First Initial. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle of book. Publisher.
    Example: Smith, J. (2021). The psychology of human behavior: Connections and correlations. ABC Publishers.
     
  2. Journal article: Author's Last Name, Author's First Initial. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range. DOI or URL (if available).
    Example: Johnson, A. B., & Davis, C. D. (2020). The impact of exercise on mental health. Journal of Applied Psychology, 25(4), 123-145. DOI: 10.xxxxxx
     
  3. Website: Author's Last Name, Author's First Initial. (Year). Title of webpage or document. Site Name. Retrieved from URL.
    Example: Smith, J. (2022). How to write a research paper. Research Tips Website. Retrieved from https://www.researchtips.com/how-to-write-a-research-paper
     
  4. In-text citation: When citing a source within the text, the author's last name and the publication year are usually included, enclosed in parentheses. For example: (Smith, 2021).

It's important to note that specific formatting rules may vary depending on the type of source, number of authors, online sources, and other factors. Always refer to the latest APA style guidelines or the APA Publication Manual for comprehensive instructions on formatting the reference list and citing different types of sources.

A reference list entry generally has four elements: the author, date, title, and source. Each element answers a question:
  • author: Who is responsible for this work?
  • date: When was this work published?
  • title: What is this work called?
  • source: Where can I retrieve this work?

Answering these four questions will help you create a reference entry for any type of work, even if you do not see a specific example in the Publication Manual that matches it. Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to understand the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements with ease.

To learn more about content and format of the author, date, title, and source, visit the page on APA reference elements.