American Psychology Association (APA) Reference Guideline
Adapted from: http://www.gprc.ab.ca/library/Homepage/Help/LSC/LSC%20pdfs/APA%20Referencing.pdf
Why Cite Sources?
When writing a paper, we often build upon the information and ideas of others. When information is borrowed from
others, we must give them credit. Citing sources accomplishes the following:
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Provides a way to give proper credit to the sources used in writing the paper
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Enables the reader to find the information for themselves
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Adds credibility and provides strength for your arguments
When to Cite Sources?
Credit must be given whenever:
1. Quoting from a source (copying form the source word for word)
2. Summarizing or rephrasing information from a source into one‟s own words
How to Cite Sources?
APA style requires 2 elements:
1. In-text References
a. Located in the text of the paper
b. Tells the reader what information was borrowed and where it came from
2. References Page (Bibliography)
a. Located at the end of the paper
b. Tells the reader what sources were used to write the paper and provides complete information about the sources
The In-Text References and the References Page work together, to give complete credit to the sources used in writing
the paper. The In-Text Reference in the paper should correspond with the beginning of the citation in the list of
References.
Format of paper
12 size font in Times New Roman or Courier, double spaced, pages numbered (upper right hand corner),
Header (top left corner, 1st page only):
Student Name
Course Code
Teacher’s Name
Date
Headings underlined (and bold if you wish), submitted in following order: 1st page of report with header, appendices, list
of references (bibliography), visuals (images, maps, charts, graphs, etc.) with a title/brief description and citation
imbedded within paper or referenced to an appendix with labels indicating order, use of in-text citations a must (see
below for format), each new paragraph is to be indented.
Quotations of Sources
When using direct quotes always provide the author’s last name, year of publication and specific page number from
the text in parenthesis (Kot, 2009, p.12) at the end of the sentence or quote and include a complete reference in your
reference list at the end of the paper.
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Short quotes, under 40 words, must be in quotation marks
For example: In her lecture notes Kot specified that, “all in-text citations and sources of information for the
bibliography must be in the APA reference style” (Kot, 2009, p.2).
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Long quotes over 40 words must be in block format:
1. Quotation is word for word and double spaced
2. each line indented five spaces from the left margin
3. no quotation marks used
For example:
Referencing style for the grade 12 World Issues course at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School was made clear in the
following in a booklet prepared by the course teacher and provided to the students. It stated that,
All students are expected to write an research report on a world issue of global consequence wherein there is a
problem not only worthy of being discussed, but that also presents a problem to humanity that must be solved,
or at least be attempted to be solved with suggested steps or measures that must be taken to alleviate the problem
(Kot, 2009, p.2).
In-Text Citations
Whenever you are quoting a source or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas, information, research, etc., credit must be
given in the form of an in-text citation.
For paraphrased information (information put into your own words):
1. Use the authors’ surname within the sentence, immediately providing the year of publication in parenthesis
followed by punctuation at the end the sentence.
For example: Kot (2009) insists that her students use the APA reference style for their formal written work.
Or
2. Provide the author’s surname and year of publication in parenthesis at the end of the sentence, before the period.
For example: Students have been informed that they must use the APA reference style for their formal work (Kot,
2009).
Visuals
Figure 1.
List of References
The list of sources is titled “References” and is located at the end of the paper on a separate page.
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Alphabetize entries by last name of author
Entries are double spaced and the second line of an entry is a hanging indent of a half inch (standard tab space)
Use only initials for the first and middle names even if the full name is given
In titles of books and articles, capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word following a colon or dash,
and all proper nouns
In titles of periodicals, capitalize all significant words
Italicize the titles of books and periodicals
One space after all punctuation
List only works that were referenced in the text of the paper (except personal communications)
Examples:
Books
- by one author
Last name, first initial(s). (year of publication). Title of work. City of publication: Publisher.
Aronsson, L. (2001). The development of sustainable tourism. London: Continuum.
- by more than one author
Last name alphabetically, first initial(s). and subsequent author last name, first initial(s). (year of publication). Title of work. City of
publication: Publisher.
Cushing, C.E., and Allan, J.D. (2001), Streams: Their ecology and life. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
- Journal Article
Last name, first initial(s). (year of publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume#, page range.
Koopman, W. J. (2001). Research advances in rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(5),
648-650.
- Full text article from a database
Cite the source the same as for a journal article and include the retrieval information (date of retrieval and full name of database
used)
Brindle, P., and Fahey, T. (2002). Primary prevention of coronary heart disease. British Medical Journal, 325(7355), 56-57.
Retrieved August 26, 2002, from Academic Search Elite database.
- Magazine Article
Last name, First initial(s). (year, month date of publication). Title of article. Title of Magazine, page range.
Kluger, J., & Dorman, A. (2002, August 26). The challenge we face. Time, 32-38.
- Article with no author
Title of article. (year, month date of publication). Title of Magazine or Newspaper, page and section
Rotor blades fail inspection. (2002, July 27). Medicine Hat News, p. A1.
- Video
Provide the primary contributors such as producer and/or director
Last name, First initial(s). (title), and Last name, First initial(s). (title). (year of publication). Title of Video [recording type]. Place of
copyright: Production Company.
Gillespie, M. (Producer), and Ashworth, S. (Director). (2000). Faces of Reality [Videotape]. Alberta, Canada: Alberta Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Commission.
- Website – one URL
Provide as many of the bibliographic elements as are available. Include date of retrieval and the complete web address for the page
of information (cut and paste the web address to ensure accuracy)
Title of website. (date of latest update). Title of article. Retrieval month date, year, from website address
National Crime Prevention Council. (2000, June). Crime prevention through social development. Retrieved August 26, 2002, from
http://www.prevention.gc.ca/en/library/publications/fact_sheets/cpsd/F.Sheet-CPSD-Eng.final.pdf
- Visuals
Despite including the reference below the figure (or table), you should still list it on your reference page entry according to the type
of material you quoted from (i.e. book, journal article, website). If you are seeking to publish your paper and used a (figure or table)
from another source, you must get permission to reprint that particular material. You do not need to take this step for your
unpublished undergraduate papers.
Name of source. (year of publication). Title of graphic visual, year represented. Retrieved month date, year website.
Statistics Canada. (2007). Population Growth in G8 Countries , 2001 to 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2009 from
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85-002-XIE/85-002-XIE2006004.pdf