The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used for academic writing in the social sciences. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to cite various sources in APA style, including in-text citations and references.

In-Text Citations

In APA style, in-text citations are used to give credit to sources within your text. They include the author’s last name and the year of publication. For direct quotes, you should also include the page number.

Basic Format:

– Paraphrasing: (Author, Year)

– Example: (Smith, 2020)

– Direct Quote: (Author, Year, p. Page Number)

– Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 15)

Examples:

– One author: (Smith, 2020)

– Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020)

– Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020)

Reference List

The reference list at the end of your document provides full details of all sources cited in your text. Entries should be listed alphabetically by the author’s last name.

Basic Format:

– Books: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of the book*. Publisher.

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). *Understanding Psychology*. Psychology Press.

– Journal Articles: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. *Title of the Journal, volume number*(issue number), page range. DOI/URL

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). Cognitive development in children. *Journal of Psychology, 10*(2), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123

– Websites: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of the webpage. Site Name. URL

– Example: Smith, J. (2020, June 10). Understanding cognitive development. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/understanding-cognitive-development

Common Source Types

Books

– Print Book: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of the book*. Publisher.

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). *Understanding Psychology*. Psychology Press.

– E-Book: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of the book*. Publisher. DOI/URL

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). *Understanding Psychology*. Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123

Journal Articles

– Print Journal Article: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. *Title of the Journal, volume number*(issue number), page range.

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). Cognitive development in children. *Journal of Psychology, 10*(2), 123-135.

– Online Journal Article: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. *Title of the Journal, volume number*(issue number), page range. DOI/URL

– Example: Smith, J. (2020). Cognitive development in children. *Journal of Psychology, 10*(2), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1000/xyz123

Websites

– Webpage with Author: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of the webpage. Site Name. URL

– Example: Smith, J. (2020, June 10). Understanding cognitive development. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/understanding-cognitive-development

– Webpage with Group Author: Group Name. (Year, Month Date). Title of the webpage. Site Name. URL

– Example: American Psychological Association. (2020, June 10). Understanding cognitive development. APA. https://www.apa.org/articles/understanding-cognitive-development

Formatting Guidelines

– General: Double-space all text, use a 1-inch margin on all sides, and apply a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman 12 pt).

– Title Page: Include the title, author’s name, and institutional affiliation.

– Abstract: Provide a brief summary of your paper (150-250 words).

– Main Body: Include an introduction, method, results, and discussion sections as applicable.

– Headings: Use a clear hierarchy for headings (e.g., Level 1: Centered, Bold; Level 2: Left-aligned, Bold).

By following this APA citation guide, you can ensure your academic writing is properly cited and adheres to the standards of the American Psychological Association.