How to Effectively Use the APA Style
Referencing using the APA (American Psychological Association) style • About this resource • The APA style • Part 1: In-text Citations • Part 2: Collating a reference list • A sample reference list in APA style • Further reading • Printable copy of this resource (75 KB)
About this resource
This resource explains some of the more common applications of the APA style. It is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) (2010), pp. 169–224.
You should always check your unit guide and/or with academic staff (unit chair, lecturer or tutor) to make sure that this is the correct referencing style for your unit.
You must reference all material you use from all sources and acknowledge your sources in the body of your paper each time you use a fact, a conclusion, an idea or a finding from someone 's work. This establishes the authority of your work and acknowledges the researchers and writers you have drawn upon in your paper.
It is necessary to cite your sources each time you: • reproduce an author 's exact words (quote), that is, copy word for word directly from a text. A page number must be given. • use your own wording (summarise or paraphrase) to explain or discuss what someone has said. You are encouraged to provide page numbers.
If you copy an entire table, chart, diagram or graph or if you take only some of the data contained in such sources, you must provide a reference.
Sources such as journals, books, encyclopedias, computer programs and software, information from the internet, reports, newspapers, interviews, radio and television must be cited in the body of your paper and detailed in a reference list at the end. Information from Deakin study guides and readers must also be acknowledged.
The APA style
The APA style of referencing consists of two elements:
(1) in-text citations giving author, year and sometimes page number in the body of the paper
(2) a reference
About this resource
This resource explains some of the more common applications of the APA style. It is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) (2010), pp. 169–224.
You should always check your unit guide and/or with academic staff (unit chair, lecturer or tutor) to make sure that this is the correct referencing style for your unit.
You must reference all material you use from all sources and acknowledge your sources in the body of your paper each time you use a fact, a conclusion, an idea or a finding from someone 's work. This establishes the authority of your work and acknowledges the researchers and writers you have drawn upon in your paper.
It is necessary to cite your sources each time you: • reproduce an author 's exact words (quote), that is, copy word for word directly from a text. A page number must be given. • use your own wording (summarise or paraphrase) to explain or discuss what someone has said. You are encouraged to provide page numbers.
If you copy an entire table, chart, diagram or graph or if you take only some of the data contained in such sources, you must provide a reference.
Sources such as journals, books, encyclopedias, computer programs and software, information from the internet, reports, newspapers, interviews, radio and television must be cited in the body of your paper and detailed in a reference list at the end. Information from Deakin study guides and readers must also be acknowledged.
The APA style
The APA style of referencing consists of two elements:
(1) in-text citations giving author, year and sometimes page number in the body of the paper
(2) a reference
Citations: Clay (2003) argues that having a planned approach to writing essays can be of great benefit. or Essay writing can be made much more manageable if a planned approach is taken (Clay, 2003). According to Antonakos and Kazanis (2003) there are advantages to keeping design and research methods simple. or There are advantages to keeping design and research methods simple (Antonakos & Kazanis, 2003). Mahon et al. (1997) reviewed how nursing diagnosis content is presented in nursing textbooks. According to Savage (2004) little attention has been given to the way a nurse might identify and .... Savage argues that in an environment of evidence-based practice ... In discussing ways of researching emotion, Savage (2004) highlights the importance of… When the name of the author/s and year are in parentheses in any one paragraph, the year is included in subsequent citations. Little attention has been given to the way a nurse might identify and ... (Savage, 2004). Savage (2004) argues that in an environment of evidence-based practice ... Lupton (as cited in Savage, 2004) distinguishes between "emotional labour" and "emotional work". Naidoo (2000) claims that risk factor simulation models... Obesity in Australian men and women increased during the 1980s (National Health and Medical Research Council [ NHMRC ], 1997). A single cause for obesity ……. ……. ( NHMRC , 1997). Studies suggest that many IVF couples would donate excess embryos to scientific research ("Embryo study," 2004). According to McDonald (2007c) ... McDonald (2007a) first suggested … However it has also been noted that … (McDonald, 2007b). J. Robinson (personal communication, May 11, 2010) indicated … … (L Smith (2003, para. 3) claims … If paragraph numbers are not provided and the document includes headings, use these headings and count the number of paragraphs. Smith (2003, Conclusion section, para. 3) claims … Quotes Clay (2003) argues that students experience writer 's block because "they have not given sufficient thought to reviewing course content and developing their ideas" (p. 47).. Alternatively, Students experience writer 's block because "they have not given sufficient thought to reviewing course content and developing their ideas" (Clay, 2003, p