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Cite While You Write: APA



As soon as you use the ideas, words or other intellectual property from an outside source, acknowledge the original work by citing it. In-text citations distinguish other people's words and thoughts from your own and direct your reader to the complete citation in the Reference List. In APA style the in-text citation consists of the author's name and the date.











  • Author included in the sentence:

    Format: include date in parentheses after the author's name

    In-Text Example: Grabe, Ward, and Hyde (2008) analyzed 77 studies examining the relationship between women's exposure to media depicting thin models as the ideal body type and body image disturbance.

    Corresponding Reference List Entry:

    Grabe, S., Ward, L. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 460-476. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460

  • Author not included in the sentence:

    Format: include author's last name, a comma, and date in parentheses

    In-Text Example: A recent study (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008) supported the link between media exposure to the thin-ideal body and body image disturbance.

    Corresponding Reference List Entry:

    Grabe, S., Ward, L. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 460-476. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460

  • Source doesn't have an author

    Format: Mention the title in the sentence or use the first few words of the title in the parenthetical citation. Put quotation marks around article titles and sections of a web site; italize titles of reports and other full documents.

    In-Text Example: "Television link to eating disorders" (2002) reported on a study of eating disorders in girls in Fiji before and after the introduction of television. Researchers found that dieting and eating disorders increased after exposure to television programs.

    Corresponding Reference List Entry:

    Television link to eating disorders. (2002, 31 May) In BBC News Health. Retrieved April 18, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2018900.stm

  • Source doesn't have date

    Format: Use n.d. (the abbrievation for no date) in place of the date.

    In-Text Example: The body mass index of all women participating in the study were within the normal range according to the Centers for Disease Control (n.d.) interpretations for adults.

    Corresponding Reference List Entry:

    Centers for Disease Control. (n.d.). How is BMI calculated and interpreted? Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/about_adult_BMI.htm#
    Interpreted


For additional advice on writing psychology papers, see the University of Washington's Psychology Writing Center guides. See also an APA sample research paper at Diana Hacker's Research and Documentation Online.

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