APA Citation Style, UBC Okanagan Library/UBC Library, January 2011

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Getting Started with APA Citation Style


What is APA Style?

American Psychological Association (APA) style is one of several styles for academic writing. This guide covers
frequently used citation forms. The sixth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(BF 76.7 .P83 2010) is a comprehensive resource, available at most UBC Libraries.

General Rules

Formatting: The preferred APA font is a serif typeface such as Times New Roman with 12-point size. Double-
space between all lines of text, including the reference list. Have uniform margins of at least 1 in. (2.54 cm) on
all sides.
Hanging indents should be used for the reference list entries. This means that all lines after the first line of each
entry should be indented one half inch from the left margin (in Word 2007 use Paragraph>Special>Hanging).
Arrange reference list entries in alphabetical order by the surname of the first author or by title if there is no
author. Use only the initial(s) of the author's given name, not the full name, with a space between the initials.
If the reference list includes two or more entries by the same author(s), list them in chronological order (oldest
first). If entries are by the same author with the same year, put them in alphabetical order by first letter of the
title. Add a lower case letter (a, b, etc.) after the year, within the parentheses.
Capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the article or book title. Proper nouns are also capitalized as
well as the word following a colon (subtitle). Journal titles should have every major word capitalized.
Italicize journal titles, volume numbers and even the comma following the journal title. Do not italicize issue
numbers (i.e., the number which appears in parentheses after the volume number).
References cited in the text must appear in the reference list and vice versa. The only exceptions to this rule are
personal communications and secondary sources, which are cited in the text only and are not included in the
reference list.

Citations in Text

1. When using a direct quotation, include the page number of the quote.
Stereotypes have been defined as generalized and usually value-laden impressions that ones social group uses in
characterizing members of another group (Lindgren, 2001, p. 1617).

2. When paraphrasing an idea, the citation will include author(s) and date.
Authors name given in the body of your paper:
Lindgren (2001) reported. . .
Authors name not given in the body of your paper:
A study of the comparison process (Lindgren, 2001)

3. For electronic sources without page numbers, use the abbreviation para. If the paragraph number is not
apparent, cite the section heading and the paragraph number following it.
(Myers, 2000, para. 5)
(Butler, 2000, Conclusion, para. 1)

4. Order two or more works within the same parentheses as they would appear in the reference list.
Past research (Heschl, 2001, 2005; Noonan & Johnson, 2002a, 2002b; Wolchuk et al., 2000) has shown
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JOURNAL ARTICLES
Journal article:
Retrieved online with
digital object identifier
(DOI)
(Example on p. 198 #1 of the
Manual)
Rutherford, B. J. (2006). Reading disability and hemispheric interaction on a lexical
decision task. Brain and Cognition, 60, 55-63. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2005
.09.013

Direct quotation in text: (Rutherford, 2006, p. 56)

If each issue of a journal begins on page 1, give the issue number in
parentheses immediately after the volume number (p. 198).
Journal article:
Retrieved online with
DOI: Three to five
authors
(p. 198 # 1 & p. 177 table 6.1)
Rush, K. L., Waldrop, S., Mitchell, C., & Dyches, C. (2005). The RN-BSN distance
education experience: From educational limbo to more than an elusive degree.
Journal of Professional Nursing, 21, 283-292. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2005
.07.007

Direct quotation in text (from a passage that spans two pages p.171 of the Manual):
First citation: (Rush, Waldrop, Mitchell, & Dyches, 2005, pp. 283-284)
Subsequent citation to a different passage from the same source: (Rush et al.,
2005, p. 291)


Journal article:
Retrieved online with
DOI: Six or seven
authors (p. 198 #1 & p. 177
table 6.1)
Robinson, C., Pesut, B., Bottorff, J. L., Mowry, A., Broughton, S., & Fyles, G. (2009).
Rural palliative care: A comprehensive review. Journal of Palliative Medicine,
12, 253-258. doi:10.1089/jpm.2008.0228

First and subsequent citations in text: (Robinson et al., 2009)

Journal article:
Retrieved online with
DOI: Eight or more
authors: Advance
online publication
(p. 198 #2 & p. 199 #5)
Bottorff, J. L., Carey, J., Mowatt, R., Varcoe, C., Johnson, J. L., Hutchinson, P., . . .
Wardman, D. (2009). Bingo halls and smoking: Perspectives of First Nations
women. Health & Place. Advance online publication. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace
.2009.04.005

First and subsequent citations in text: (Bottorff et al., 2009)

When authors number eight or more, include the first six authors names in the
reference, then insert three spaced dots (an ellipsis - p. 172), and add the last
authors name (p. 184).


Journal article:
Retrieved online with no
DOI: Give URL of the
journal home page
(even if retrieved from a
database) (p. 199 #3)
Mathieson, C. M., Bailey, N., & Gurevich, M. (2002). Health care services for lesbian
and bisexual women: Some Canadian data. Health Care for Women
International, 23, 185-196. Retrieved from http://www.tandf.co.uk
/journals/titles/07399332.asp

Citation in text: (Mathieson, Bailey, & Gurevich, 2002)

Hint: Google journal title to locate URL.

Journal article:
Retrieved online with no
DOI: Posted to preprint
archive: No pagination
(p. 200 #6 & p. 171 sec. 6.05)
Gabora, L. (2007). Self-other organization: Why early life did not evolve through natural
selection. Journal of Theoretical Biology. Retrieved from http://cogprints.org
/5583/01/soo.htm

Direct quotation in text: (Gabora, 2007, para. 5)

The exact URL is used because the article is informally published (p. 200).
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Journal article: Not
retrieved online (print
version) with no DOI:
Discussed in a
secondary source
(p. 199 #3 & p. 178 sec. 6.17)
Kolb, B., & Cioe, J. (1998). Absence of recovery or dendritic reorganization after
neonatal posterior parietal lesions. Psychobiology, 26, 134-142.

Citation in text: Diamattia and Kesners study (as cited in Kolb & Cioe, 1998) . . .

Use secondary sources sparingly, for instance, when the original work is out
of print, unavailable through usual sources, or not available in English (p.
178).

Online magazine article
(p. 200 #8)
Wells, P. (2009, July 28). Our universities can be smarter. Macleans. Retrieved from
http://www2.macleans.ca/

Citation in text: (Wells, 2009)

Online newspaper
article: Give URL (even
if retrieved from a
database)
(p. 200 #11)
Cernetig, M. (2009, August 11). Opinion: Crafty Campbell knew the dangers of HST.
The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from http://www.vancouversun.com/

Citations in text: (Cernetig, 2009)

Give the URL of the home page when the online version of the article is
available by search to avoid non working URLs (p. 201).
BOOKS & BOOK SECTIONS
Book: 1-2 authors
(p. 203 #18)
Mitchell, J. J. (2001). The mental and emotional life of teenagers. Calgary, AB: Detselig
Enterprises.

Citation in text: (Mitchell, 2001)

Book: 3-5 authors
(p. 203 #18)
Murphy, M. A., Lai, D., & Sookraj, D. (1997). Evaluation of the neighborhood
(congregate) meal program: Final report. Kelowna, BC: Kelowna Home
Support Society.

Citations in text: First Citation: (Murphy, Lai, & Sookraj, 1997) Subsequent:
(Murphy et al., 1997)


Book: Group author:
Author as publisher: 6
th

edition
(p. 203 2
nd
bullet & p. 177 table
6.1)
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Citations in text: First citation: (American Psychological Association [APA], 2010)
Subsequent: (APA, 2010)

Edited book
(p. 202 sec. 7.02)
Hare, R. D., & Schalling, D. (Eds.). (1978). Psychopathic behaviour: Approaches to
research. Chichester, NY: Wiley.

Citation in text: (Hare & Schalling, 1978)

Chapter in an edited
book (p. 204 #25)
Porter, S., Woodworth, M., & Doucette, N. (2007). Memory for murder: The qualities
and credibility of homicide narratives by perpetrators. In S. Christianson (Ed.),
Offenders' memories of violent crimes (pp. 115-134). New York, NY: Wiley.

Citation in text: (Porter, Woodworth, & Doucette, 2007)
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Chapter in an edited
book: English
translation: Reprinted
from another source
(p. 204 #26)
Piaget, J. (1988). Extracts from Piagets theory (G. Gellerier & J. Langer, Trans.). In K.
Richardson & S. Sheldon (Eds.), Cognitive development to adolescence: A
reader (pp. 3-18). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. (Reprinted from Manual of child
psychology, pp. 703-732, by P. H. Mussen, Ed., 1970, New York, NY: Wiley)

Citation in text: (Piaget, 1970/1988)
Encyclopedia article
(p. 203 sec. 7.02 & p. 205 #29)
Lindgren, H. C. (2001). Stereotyping. In The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology and
behavioral science (Vol. 4, pp. 1617-1618). New York, NY: Wiley.

Citation in text: (Lindgren, 2001)
Book with no author or
editor (p. 205 #30)
Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-
Webster.

Citation in text: (Merriam-Webster's, 1993)

Published conference
proceedings: No DOI
(p. 207 #39)
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). A motivational approach to self: Integration in
personality. In R. Dienstbier (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation: Vol.
38. Perspectives on Motivation (pp. 237-288). Lincoln: University of Nebraska
Press.

Citation in text: (Deci & Ryan, 1991)

If the publisher is a university and the name of the state or province is
included in the name of the university, do not repeat the name in the publisher
location (p. 187).


Multi-volume work
(p. 204 #23)
Koch, S. (Ed.). (1959-1963). Psychology: A study of science (Vols. 1-6). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill.

Citation in text: (Koch, 1959-1963)

Entry in an online
reference work: No
author
(p. 205 #29 & #30 & p. 176 sec.
6.15)
Globalization. (2005). In J. Scott & G. Marshall (Eds.), A dictionary of sociology.
Retrieved from http://www.oxfordreference.com

Citation in text: (Globalization, 2005)

Electronic version of a
print book
(p. 203 #19 & 21)
Dutton, D. (2006). The abusive personality: Violence and control in intimate
relationships (2nd ed.). Retrieved from http://books.google.ca/books

Citation in text: (Dutton, 2006)

Limited-circulation book
or monograph:
Retrieved from a
database
(p. 204 #22)
Johnson, S. (2008). Medically unexplained illness: Gender and biopsychosocial
implications [Monograph]. Retrieved from PsycBOOKS database.

Citation in text: (Johnson, 2008)

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Book review: Retrieved
from a journal online
(p. 209 #45)
Rasmussen, B. (2005). Have we learned from our mistakes? [Review of the book
Learning from our mistakes: Beyond dogma in psychoanalysis and
psychotherapy, by P. Casement]. Psychoanalytic Social Work, 12(1), 73-79.
doi:10.1300/J032v12n01_06

Citation in text: (Rasmussen, 2006)


Test review: Retrieved
from a database
(p. 209 #45)
O'Grady, K. E. (1986). [Review of the test Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual
Satisfaction, by J. Rust & S. Golombok]. Mental measurements yearbook (10th
ed.). Retrieved from Mental Measurements Yearbook database

Citation in text: (OGrady, 1986)

Database names . . . may be given for material of limited circulation (p. 202)


ERIC document:
Retrieved online
(p. 212 #62)
Peterson, L. (1999). Transforming the daily life of the classroom: The District Six laptop
project. Retrieved from ERIC database. (ED437028)

Citation in text: (Peterson, 1999)
Dissertation: Retrieved
from a database
(p. 208 #40)
Aguiar, L. (2001). The dirt on the contract cleaning industry in Toronto: Cleanliness
and work reorganization (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses database. (AAT NQ67931)

Citation in text: (Aguiar, 2001)
Masters thesis:
Retrieved from an
institutional database
(p. 208 #41)
Gibson, L. S. (2007). Considering critical thinking and History 12: One teacher's story
(Masters thesis). Retrieved from https://circle.ubc.ca/

Citation in text: (Gibson, 2007)

Brochure: No date:
Corporate author same
as publisher (p. 186)
UBC Okanagan, Human Rights & Equity Services. (n.d.). Fostering an anti-racist
campus community: Identifying and eliminating racism [Brochure]. Kelowna,
BC: Author.

Citation in text: (UBC Okanagan, Human Rights & Equity Services, n.d.)
WEB DOCUMENTS
Webpage
(p. 212 #61)
Mulhauser, G. (2009). An introduction to cognitive therapy & cognitive behavioural
approaches. Retrieved from http://counsellingresource.com/types
/cognitive-therapy/

Citation in text: (Mulhauser, 2009)

Do not include retrieval dates unless the source material may change over
time (e.g., Wikis) (p. 192).

Webpage: Corporate
author same as
publisher
(p. 205 #31)
British Columbia Ministry of Education. (2009). Students from refugee backgrounds: A
guide for teachers and schools. Retrieved from http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca
/esl/refugees_teachers_guide.pdf

Citation in text: (British Columbia Ministry of Education, 2009)
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Web report: Author
different from the
publisher (p. 205 sec. 7.03)
so identify publisher as
part of retrieval
statement (p. 206 #33)
Shields, M., & Wilkins, K. (2006). Findings from the 2005 National Survey of the Work
and Health of Nurses (Report No. 83-003-XPE). Retrieved from Canadian
Institute for Health Information website: http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/products
/NHSRep06_ENG.pdf

Citation in text: (Shields & Wilkins, 2006)

Wiki entry: No author:
No date: Material may
change over time
(p. 205 #30)
Deferred compensation. (n.d.). In Family business wiki. Retrieved October 8, 2009,
from http://www.familybusinesswiki.org/Deferred+compensation

Citation in text: (Deferred compensation, n.d.)


Blog posting
(p. 215 #76)
Kiume, S. (2007, August 17). Loneliness isnt good [Web log post]. Retrieved from
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/08/17/loneliness-isnt-good/

Citation in text: (Kiume, 2007)
LEGAL DOCUMENTS
Legislation: Revised
Statutes of Canada:
Retrieved from the
internet (p. 220 #11)
Criminal Code, R.S., c. C-34 (1985). Retrieved from http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-46
/index.html

Citation in text: (Criminal Code, 1985)

Legislation: Revised
Statutes of British
Columbia: Retrieved
from a database
(p. 220 #10)
University Act, R.S.B.C. c. 468 (1996). Retrieved from QP LegalEze database.

Citation in text: (University Act, 1996)

Case law: Supreme
Court of Canada
Reports: Retrieved from
the internet
(p. 217 #1)
R. v. Latimer, 1 S.C.R. 3 (2001). Retrieved from http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca
/en/2001/2001scc1/2001scc1.html

Citation in text: (R. v. Latimer, 2001)

MEDIA
Video clip (e.g.
YouTube): Retrieved
from the internet
(p. 215 #77)
Norton, R. (2006, November 4). How to train a cat to operate a light switch [Video file].
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs

Citation in text: (Norton, 2006)

Audio clip [podcast]:
Retrieved from the
internet
(p. 210 #50)
Green, C. D. (Producer). (2006, October 9-15). Thomas Blass on Stanley Milgram's
shocking studies of obedience [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from
http://www.yorku.ca/christo/podcasts/

Citation in text: (Green, 2006)

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Motion picture
(p. 209 section 7.07)
Davidson, F. (Producer), & Davidson, J. (Director). (1999). B. F. Skinner: A fresh
appraisal [Motion picture]. United States: Davidson Films.

Citation in text: (Davidson, 1999)

Single episode from a
television series
(p. 210 #51)
MacIntyre, L. (Reporter). (2006). Money, truth and spin [Television series episode]. In
H. Cashore (Producer), The fifth estate. Toronto, ON: Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation.

Citation in text: (MacIntyre, 2006)
NOTES, HANDOUTS, & YOUR ESSAY FROM LAST YEAR
Personal
communication
(p. 179 section 6.20)
Includes letters, phone calls, email messages, and interviews. Because they include
unrecoverable data, they are NOT included in the reference list.

Citation in text: M. Burton (personal communication, August 1, 2009) . . .

Class notes
(p. 179 section 6.20)
Cite information from your own personal notes from a lecture as a personal
communication and refer to it only in the body of your essay.

Citation in text: In a lecture on November 16, 2008, to a PSYO 252 class, Professor
Davies said . . .

Class handout: Has title
(p. 211 #58)
Woodworth, M. (2006). Psychopaths [Class handout]. Department of Psychology,
University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada.

Citation in text: (Woodworth, 2006)

Lecture notes posted to
WebCT Vista
(p. 212 #61)
Cioe, J. (2006).The normal distribution [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from
https://www.elearning.ubc.ca

Citation in text: (Cioe, 2006)

PowerPoint
presentation posted to
WebCT Vista
(p. 212 # 61)
Cioe, J. (2006). Biological foundations of sexuality [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from
https://www.elearning.ubc.ca

Citation in text: (Cioe, 2006)

Custom course
materials: Reprinted
from another source
(p. 204 #26)
Redfield, R. (2007). The folk society. In N. Netting (Ed.), Custom course materials
SOCI 355 (pp. 56-71). Kelowna, BC: University of British Columbia Okanagan,
Bookstore. (Reprinted from American Journal of Sociology, 52(4), 293-308,
1947)

Citation in text: (Redfield, 1947/2007)

Essay: Self-citation
(template on p. 207 section
7.05)
Janke, R. (1997). Librarians are novel lovers: An exploration of our risqu professional
stereotypes (Unpublished graduate essay). University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada.

Citation in text: (Janke, 1997)
GETTING STARTED WITH APA CITATION STYLE

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References
Cioe, J. (2006).The normal distribution [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://www.elearning
.ubc.ca
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). A motivational approach to self: Integration in personality. In
R. Dienstbier (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation: Vol. 38. Perspectives on
motivation (pp. 237-288). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Globalization. (2005). In J. Scott & G. Marshall (Eds.), A dictionary of sociology. Available May
14, 2006, from http://www.oxfordreference.com
Kiume, S. (2007, August 17). Loneliness isnt good [Web log post]. Retrieved from
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/08/17/loneliness-isnt-good/
Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). (1993). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

Murphy, M. A., Lai, D., & Sookraj, D. (1997). Evaluation of the neighborhood (congregate)
meal program: Final report. Kelowna, BC: Kelowna Home Support Society.
Peterson, L. (1999). Transforming the daily life of the classroom: The District Six laptop project.
Retrieved from ERIC database. (ED437028)
Rush, K. L., Waldrop, S., Mitchell, C., & Dyches, C. (2005). The RN-BSN distance education
experience: From educational limbo to more than an elusive degree. Journal of
Professional Nursing, 21, 283-292. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.07.007


Start your reference list on a new page and
double-space all entries. Generally, your
paper should be written in 12-pt Times New
Roman with 1 margins (pp. 228-229).
If the name of the state,
province, or country is included
in the name of the university
press do not repeat it in the
publisher location (p. 230).
URLs and DOIs can be
broken across line breaks
before most punctuation
(p. 192).
Identify each page of your paper with a
running head which is a shorter version
of your title. It should be capitalized
and not exceed 50 characters including
spaces and punctuation (p. 229)
For journal articles, only include the issue number if the journal is
paginated by issue, i.e. each issue begins on page 1 (p. 199).