APA Documentation Style:References
Parenthetical
References | Headings
| Usage
and Style | Formatting
APA style requires two
elements for citing outside sources:
parenthetical (in-text) references,
and a references list. Together, these elements allow your reader
access to the sources you consulted.
For the system to function, all authors cited in
the text must appear in the references list, and
all authors listed must have been cited in the text.
For information about the references list, choose
one of the options below.
If you need more detailed information about the
APA style's requirements for the references
list, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (4th ed., 1994),
or your course instructor.
Formatting the References
list
Title
Type the word References at
the top of a new page, centered.
Spacing
All entries should be double-spaced, unless your
assignment instructs you otherwise.
Indention
Although the current Publication Manual advises
standard (five spaces, first line) indention for the references
list, this is primarily designed to make typesetting easier; the
typeset version will have hanging indents (first line flush
left, following lines five spaces indent). If your final version
will be turned in for a grade rather than publication, we recommend
that you use hanging indents for enhanced readability. We
have formatted our sample references list with hanging indents.
Capitalization
Capitalize only the first word of titles of books
and articles and the first word after a colon.
Punctuation
Use a comma to separate
- surnames from initials
- a newspaper title from p. or pp.
- a journal title from volume number
- a volume number from page numbers
- when given, an issue number from page numbers
- (Ed.) from book title
- city of publication from state
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Sample references list entries
Journal article
Continuous pagination
Bibace, A., & Walsh, P. (1984). Piaget revisited. Journal of
Social Issues, 37, 618-625.
Paginated by issue
Billingham, C. T. (1986). Healthy behaviors for today's toddlers.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44(7), 20-24.
Entire issue
Conover, T. N. (Ed.). (1986). Testing concepts: Measurements of
health [Special Issue]. American Psychologist, 42(18).
In press
Conover, T. N. (in press). Learning abilities of young children.
Journal of Personality and Development.
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Book
Other than first edition
Dorn, L. R., & Ryerson, D. (1984). Elements of a healthy
childhood (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan.
Editor as author
Dykes, A. T. (Ed.). (1983). Early developmental stages.
Bethesda, MD: Norcroft Books.
English translation
Dykes, S. L. (1987). Cognition and development (J. Nuise, Trans.).
New York: Academic Press. (Original work published 1958.)
Article or chapter in edited book
Eiser, S., Redpath, A., & Rogers, N. (1987). Outcomes of early parenting:
Knowns and unknowns. In A. P. Kern & L. S. Maze (Eds.), Logical
thinking in children (pp. 58-87). New York: Springer.
Corporate author as publisher
National Institute of Mental Health. (1989). Manual of cognitive
learning. Washington, DC: Author.
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Magazine article
Palmer, H., & Lewis, C. D. (1987, October). Using a common sense approach
to evaluating behavior. Psychology Today, 40, 40-47.
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Newspaper article
Discontinuous pages
Reichenbach, M. (1988, May 10). Mind and body of a child.
Christian Science Monitor, pp. 4, 16.
No author
Understanding early years as a prerequisite to development. (1986,
May 4). The Wall Street Journal, p. 8.
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Publication,
private organization
Swift, A. C. (1985). Determining our children's future (Report
no. 12). Milwaukee: Child Care of Wisconsin.
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Secondary source; in this example, a government report
