Faculty Technology Days 2009
Updates to the APA Citation Style
By:
Katrina Montgomery
Presented by:
Jo-Anne Andre
Katrina Montgomery
Tuesday May 5, 2009
University of Calgary
Updates to APA Citation Style
What we will cover:
• What are the changes to the APA style guide for citation?
•
Impacts and challenges of recent changes to APA style
•
Examples of citing less common forms of electronic
sources
•
Resources available at the U of C
•
Questions
What are the changes to APA?

Response to the vast amount of authoritative
information now available electronically; widespread use
of new technologies and modes of communication.

Section regarding electronic resources in the 5th edition
(2001) of the APA style manual no longer adequate

APA style guide to electronic references (2007)
– an addendum that updates the section (section
4.16) of the 5th edition of the APA Manual that
deals with electronic sources
What are the changes to APA?
1. Guidelines for referencing and citing
information sources available electronically
and via new technologies
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Online journal articles, books, encyclopedias
Online dissertations
Computer software
Podcasts (audio and video)
Online discussion groups
Electronic mailing lists
Weblogs
Wikis
Abstracts
What are the changes to APA?
2. Retrieval date
◦ “is important if the content you are citing is likely
to be changed or updated” (APA, 2007, p. 2).
◦ Include the retrieval date for undated or
changeable content obtained from the open web,
preprint articles, etc.
◦ No retrieval date is necessary if the content is
unlikely to be changed or updated, for example a
journal article or book.
What are the changes to APA?
Examples:
Johnston, M.A. (2007). A review of the application of event
studies in marketing. Academy of Marketing Science
Review, 11(4), 1-31. Retrieved from
http://www.amsreview.org/articles/johnston04-2007.pdf
(Open access journal article)
Andrijiw, A., & Hyatt, C. (2009). Using optimal distinctiveness theory to understand identification with a nonlocal
professional hockey team. Journal of Sport Management,
23 (2), 156-181. Retrieved from
http://www.humankinetics.com/jsm/
(Article retrieved from an online database)
What are the changes to APA?
Examples:
Canadian Physiotherapy Association. (2006). What is
evidence-based and best practice in physiotherapy?
Retrieved December 12, 2007, from
http://www.physiotherapy.ca/pulbic.asp?WCE=C11|K=2
23245|RefreshS=Container|RefreshT=223245|A=Body
(Article on an organization’s website – content
could be changed)
Corporate social responsibility. (2008). In E. Heery &
M. Noon (Eds.) A Dictionary of Human Resource
Management. Retrieved April 29, 2009, from
http://www.oxfordreference.com
(Online encyclopedia – content could be updated)
What are the changes to APA?
Examples:
Jang, B. (2009, April 30). Seasonal factors will blunt Mexico
economic effects . The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com
(Newspaper article retrieved from online
database)
What are the changes to APA?
3. Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
◦ “When a DOI is available, include the DOI instead of the url in the reference” (APA, 2007, p.
4).
◦ A unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to an object of intellectual property accessible
online. The identifier includes information about the publisher and the particular item, and is
paired with its location on the Internet.
◦ DOI’s are assigned (by registration agencies) to scholarly literature, i.e. journal articles,
e-books, encyclopedia entries, conference proceedings, music . Popular or trade
magazines and newspaper articles will not have DOI’s
◦ A persistent link that does not change regardless of ownership or location of the item.
Search DOI in Google.
◦ Using technology provided by CrossRef, users are able to navigate scholarly literature and
move seamlessly from one article to another across journals and between publishers.
What are the changes to APA?

CrossRef
◦ Not-for-profit publisher membership organization; an
official DOI registration agency and a cross-publisher
citation linking network
◦ Functions as a “digital switchboard” directing researchers
to scholarly literature available in
electronic format through DOIs
◦ CrossRef DOI’s link to publisher response pages which
provide the full citation and abstract as well as full text
access for authenticated users, or options to obtain the
full text.
◦ Libraries can join CrossRef at no cost to take advantage of
the reference linking network
What are the changes to APA?

Example of reference including DOI:
Ritchie, B., & Brindley, C. (2007). Supply chain risk
management and performance: A guiding framework for
future development. International Journal of Operations &
Production Management, 27(3), 303-322. doi:
10.1108/01443570710725563

Where do I find the DOI?
◦ Online databases
◦ On the first page of a full text article
◦ May be hidden under a button labeled “Article” or “Full
text” or “CrossRef” that links readers to the article (if
they have authorized access) or to an abstract and
opportunity to purchase the article
◦ DOI lookup at www.crossref.org/guestquery
Cross linking: Outbound links to cited sources - Reader
can link directly to a cited reference based on the DOI
regardless of the publisher
What are the changes to APA?
Articles with no DOI assigned
◦ “Give the exact url (if the content is openaccess) or the url of the journal home page (if
the content is accessible by subscription)” (APA,
2007, p.8).
◦ “With the exception of … other documents of
limited circulation delivered by electronic databases, the database name is no longer a necessary element of the reference” (APA, 2007, p.3).
Impact & Challenges of Changes to APA

Currently, not all articles have DOI’s and many databases do not include DOI’s.
Students use research databases extensively, and expect all the required citation
information to be readily available in the source they are using. Searching for a
DOI can be difficult and often a DOI will not be found.

APA’s protocol for citing articles with no DOI is somewhat baffling, and seems
to require the researcher to determine the online availability of the article. It
does not clearly define citation protocol if an article is retrieved from an online
database or if neither an article url nor a journal home page is available. Are we
to assume these articles are then considered “documents of limited circulation”
and include the database name?
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To date, Reference management tools like RefWorks and EndNote have had
limited success in incorporating the new citation standards effectively and
consistently.
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Varied interpretations among academic institutions
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How to implement these changes. How to get the word out?
Citing Electronic Sources

Wiki
Cloud computing. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2009 from Entrepedia: The entrepreneurship
wiki: http://www.entrepedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Computing

Message posted to discussion group
Tipiper. (2008, May 11). Canadian natural gas company EnCana announces dividing into 2
companies: One oil, one gas. Message posted to http://boards.fool.com/, archived at
http://boards.fool.com/
Message.asp?mid=26639641&sort=whole&terms=encana&vstest=search_042607_link
default
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Television (video) podcast
Stromboulopoulos, G. (Host). (2009, April 14). Tom Avery. In Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation (Producer), The Hour. Podcast retrieved from CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/
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Audio podcast
Budd, B., & Off, C. (Hosts). (2009, April 20). Nightmare at zero feet. As It Happens. Podcast
retrieved from CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/podcast.html
Citing Electronic Sources
Video weblog post
Tracy, B. (2009, April 21).You are what you think [Video file]. Video
posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugorof99Vj0

Blog
Tennant, R. (2009, April 6). Will digital kill print? Message posted to
http://www.libraryjournal.com/blog/1090000309.html
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Dissertation (retrieved from an online database)
Lauf, R.I. (2008). An analysis of relationship networks in venture capital
syndication decisions. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital
Dissertations. (AAT 3334118)
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Citing Electronic Sources
Electronic book retrieved from a database
Gobillot, E. (2007). The connected leader: Creating agile organizations
for people, performance and profit. Retrieved from ebrary
database.
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Chapter in an electronic book
Fernie, J. (2007). Retail logistics. In D.J. Waters (Ed.), Global logistics:
New directions in supply chain management (pp. 290-314).
Retrieved from ebrary database.
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PowerPoint presentation slides
Purdue University Writing Lab. (2001). Documenting sources:
using APA format [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved May 5, 2009
from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/pp/APA.PPT
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Citing Electronic Sources
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Abstract as original source
Gabor, T. (2003). Federal Gun Registry: An Urgent Need for Independent,
Non-partisan Research (NCJ No. 203440) [Abstract]. Retrieved
from National Criminal Justice Reference Service abstracts
database.
Abstract (from secondary source)
Alonso, A.D. (2009). Are travellers interested in wine tourism in
New Zealand? International Journal of Culture, Tourism and
Hospitality Research, 3 (1), 13-24. Abstract retrieved from Leisure,
Recreation and Tourism Abstracts database.
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Abstract submitted for conference, poster sessions etc.
Hackman, T., & Patterson, K. (2009, July). Looking for genres on the web:
Content analysis of American author websites. In J. Condit Fagan
(Chair). The collectors: Posters on acquisitions, cataloging and classification,
collection development and management, history, serials, and special
collections. Poster session at 28th Annual ALA Conference. Abstract
retrieved from http://www.lib.jmu.edu/org/ala/abstracts/
Resources available at the U of C

Writing Centre
◦ http://efwr.ucalgary.ca/
◦ Free tutorial service & drop-in writing consultation
◦ Online writing resources
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Library reference desks and subject librarians
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Main Library website >> Research Support >>
Citing & Writing
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Branch libraries and subject guides
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Print manuals and many online resources offering
examples
Web resources
APA Style (American psychological Association)
http://apastyle.apa.org/
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CrossRef.org
http://crossref.org/
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NAIT – APA Citation Style
http://www.nait.ca/docs/APA_examples.pdf
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Purdue University Online Writing Lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
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Research & Documentation Online (Diana Hacker)
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/
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UBC Library “Getting started with APA style”
http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/about/instruct/apastyle.html
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Bibliography
American Psychological Association. (2007). APA style guide to electronic resources. Washington, D.C.: American
Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4210509
Chandrakar, R. (2006). Digital object identifier system: An overview. The Electronic Library, 24 (4), 445-452. doi:
10.1108/02640470610689151
CrossRef.org (n.d.). Info for libraries. Retrieved April 21, 2009 from
http://www.crossref.org/03libraries/index.html
Langston, M., & Tyler, J. (2004). Linking to journal articles in an online teaching environment: The persistent
link, DOI, and OpenURL. Internet and Higher Education, 7 (1), 51-58. doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2003.11.004
Lewis, L.A., & Zabel, D. (2008). From the front lines: An academic librarian reports on the impact of APA’s
new electronic references guidelines. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 48 (2), 128-131. Retrieved from
http://www.rusq.org/2009/03/29/from-the-front-lines-an-academic-librarian-reports-on-the-impact-ofapas-new-electronic-references-guidelines/
O’Leary, M. (2003). Publishers forge new access tool with CrossRef. Online, 27 (1), 64-65. Retrieved from
http://www.infotoday.com/online/default.shtml
Wang, J. (2007). Digital object identifiers and their use in libraries. Serials Review, 33 (3), 161-164. doi:
10.1016/j.serrev.2007.05.006