[Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].
[Master's thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].
Database Name.
Archive Name.
Hutcheson, V. (2012). Dealing with dual differences: Social coping strategies of gifted and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adolescents [Master's thesis, The College of William & Mary]. William & Mary Digital Archive. https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/16594
Parenthetical citations:
Narrative citation: Hutcheson (2012)
Dissertations and theses database.
Author last name, first initial. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis, University]. Database. URL
See specific examples below.
Dissertations:
Pecore, J. T. (2004). Sounding the spirit of Cambodia: The living tradition of Khmer music and dance-drama in a Washington, DC community (Publication No. 3114720) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
Master's Theses:
Hollander, M. M. (2017). Resitance to authority: Methodological innovations and new lessons from the Milgram experiment (Publication No. 10289373) [Master's thesis, University of Wisconsin - Madison]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
APA calls for the citation to include a unique identifying number for the dissertation, labeling it “Publication No.” That number can be found in Dissertations and Theses database, listed in the item record as “Dissertation/thesis number.”
Karamanos, X. (2020). The influence of professional development models on student mathematics performance in New Jersey public elementary schools [Doctoral dissertation, Seton Hall University]. Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2732
Bordo, V. C. (2011). Making a case for the use of foreign language in the educational activities of nonprofit arts organizations [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses & Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1311135640
Caprette, C. L. (2005). Conquering the cold shudder: The origin and evolution of snake eyes [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University].
Angelova, A. N. (2004). Data pruning [Master's thesis, California Institute of Technology].
See Publication Manual , 10.6.
Creating a toc in apa, dnp spp toc examples, edd toc examples, important: signature page, the abstract & keywords.
If you are on this tab, you have probably been asked to format a dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project paper using APA format. Use the below information to help you format the different pieces of your paper. Please check with your academic department to see if they have an official dissertation/SPP format template for your program.
A note on Table of Contents: Most APA papers do not require a Table of Contents (TOC). If you are writing a Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project, you may be asked to include one. Please note: the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association does not have an official stance on formatting a Table of Contents page .
Below, you will find some general information and examples of Table of Contents (TOC), Abstracts and Keywords, and the Signature page that you may find helpful.
Use the below examples as a reference point for forming your Table of Contents. These should be used as a baseline for formatting-- yours will be more specific to your headings and subject-matter.
Your signature page is one of the most important pieces of your final product. It proves that you completed the dissertation! Below is an example of what your signature page should look like (names blanked out for privacy).
If you have any questions about the signature page or how to get it signed, please contact your program director.
ABSTRACT : An abstract is required for your Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project and must be included before submitting your final copy to Proquest. An abstract is a brief, comprehensive overview of your paper. Generally, it should not exceed 250 words.
KEYWORDS : You should also include keywords. Keywords are descriptive terms that encompass the themes of your paper. Think about what terms you used when searching for your topic in the databases. This is what researchers will use to find your paper!
Welcome to the APA Citation Style Guide . In this guide, you will find resources to help you start your References page. Scroll below to see the most used resources. Click on the side navigation tabs on the left to see more in-depth and comprehensive resources.
Please note that his guide provides a general overview. Please consult the APA Manual , 7th ed. , located behind the Reference Desk at the West Library for specifics. Your professor’s requirements supersede anything in this guide or the APA Manual. You can also ask one of the librarians at the Reference Desk or email [email protected] if you have any questions or need help.
Learn more at the slu academic integrity pages, slu academic integrity policy, helpful apa citation style sources.
In addition to the sources below, check out SLU Librarian Jamie Emery's guide Style Guides & Manuals , including resources for APA, MLA, Chicago & more.
Includes information on APA style citations, as well as information on other citation styles and formatting. This site also includes a variety of other useful writing related information.
APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 7th edition of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. For more information, please consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (7th ed.).
This poster created by Purdue Owl summarizes APA style in a visual format.
The style and grammar guidelines pages present information about APA Style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition and the Concise Guide to APA Style, Seventh Edition.
Table of Contents
The American Psychological Association (APA) introduced the latest edition of the APA Style Manual (i.e., APA 7 th edition ) in 2019. APA Style has its origins in 1929 , when a group of academics and professionals decided to develop a set of guidelines that would standardize scientific writing. The earliest form was a seven-page guide published in the Psychological Bulletin . The first formal edition of the APA Publication Manual was published in 1952, with subsequent editions appearing in 1974, 1983, 1994, 2001, 2009, and most recently, in 2019.
Over the years, the APA style guide has evolved considerably to meet the changing needs of a wide range of disciplines, from social and behavioral sciences to health care, natural sciences, and humanities. APA Style is widely used by academic journals and books.
As APA 7 th edition is the current and most updated version, students and researchers should familiarize themselves with the style guidelines, including the reference and citation styles.
The aim of style guides such as the APA Style Guide is to simplify the work of editors and make it easier for readers to understand a text by ensuring a uniform format for a given publication. For example, the APA Style Guide will contain guidelines that lay down the APA reference format and APA style citation for authors to follow.
The APA Style Guide can be a valuable reference when writing and formatting academic papers, irrespective of discipline. However, this style is primarily used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, anthropology), behavioral sciences, education, business, and nursing.
If you are a student, you may consult with an instructor to check what style your discipline uses before using APA Style in your work. Most importantly, be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you plan to publish in to ensure APA 7 th edition is the correct style to use.
Researchers rely on citations and references to give credit to original sources, support their arguments, and guide readers to additional information for further study. Let us now look at how to cite sources in APA format. The formatting requirements of APA 7th edition citation for referring to secondary sources in your text are as follows.
The APA citation format includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. When referring to a particular part of a source, the page number may be included, e.g., “(Rawat et al., 2018, p. 115).”
APA style citation in the text may be parenthetical or narrative.
In parenthetical citation, the author’s name and the year of publication are placed in parentheses within the text. This style is used at the end of a sentence. See below for an example:
In narrative citation, the author’s name appears as a part of the sentence, followed by the publication year in parentheses. See below for an example:
Table 1: How to cite sources in APA format when there are multiple authors and organizations as authors
1
| (Sinha, 2022) | Sinha (2022) |
2
| (Latimer & Schulz, 1999) | Latimer and Schulz (1999) |
≥3
| (Khatri et al., 2023) | Khatri et al. (2023) |
Organization as an author* | (WHO, 2016)
| WHO (2016) |
*First time with an abbreviation: (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016); all subsequent citations: (WHO, 2016)
Table 2: How to cite sources in APA format when some information is missing
Author | Use the title of the source in title case
| (FAQs, 2004) | FAQs. (2004) Crazy Camp Chronicles. http://www.crazycamps/faq |
Date
| Use “n.d.” (for no date) | (Kalanithi, n.d.) | Kalanithi, O. (n.d.). The curious case of the coughing cloud. Merriweather Publishing. |
Page number
| Use an alternative locator | (Williams, 1988, Chapter 14) (Bush, 2021, para. 2) | |
Title
| Describe the source | (Gupta, 2023)
| Gupta, G. (2023). [Collection of patient feedback for a new therapy]. Unpublished raw data. |
After APA citations , let us now look at the APA reference format. As an academic, you might use a wide array of source types. According to the APA style guide , each type is formatted in a certain manner. The most commonly used sources are journal articles, books, and dissertations. However, you occasionally might need to cite webpages, podcasts, and news article. How would all these appear in an APA 7 reference page ? You will find your answers in Table 3!
Table 3: How to format various sources in the APA reference list
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of the article. (issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy | Singh, C., Solomon, D., & Rao, N. (2021). How does climate change adaptation policy in India consider gender? An analysis of 28 state action plans. (7), 958-975
| |
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). (editors, translators, editions, etc.). Publisher.
| Angelou, M. (1970). Random House.
| |
Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In Initial. Last name (Eds.), (ed., pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI of chapter | Saxena, R. K., Saxena, K. B., & Varshney, R. K. (2019). Pigeonpea ( L. Millsp.): an ideal crop for sustainable agriculture. In J. M. Al-Khayri, S. M. Jain, D. V. Johnson (Eds.), , Springer, Cham. .
| |
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). . Website name. URL | Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). (n.d.). Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved July 13, 2022, from
| |
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). [Master’s thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of institution]. URL or database name | Srinidhi, A. (2024). . [internal PhD, WU, Wageningen University]. Wageningen University. https://doi.org/10.18174/654556 | |
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. . URL | Das, S. (2024, August 20). Auto companies Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland board the fully built bus boom. .
| |
Host, A. A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title (episode number if known) [Audio podcast episode]. In Publisher. URL | Huberman, A. (Host). (2022, April 17). Using light (sunlight, blue light & red light) to optimize health [Audio podcast episode]. In . Andrew Huberman.
|
Papers formatted according to APA 7th edition typically contain the following elements:
Title page with the title (bold, centered), running head and page number in the header, author names and affiliations, and author notes (ORCID ID, conflicts of interest, etc.); see below:
Next comes the abstract . It should be double spaced and use consistent font. The keywords appear below the abstract, with an indent.
For the main text, margins are 1 inch on all four side s. T he text is double spaced . T he font used should be consistent . H eadings are used to separate sections , and d etails on heading levels are as follows:
Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/headings
Finally, the APA 7 reference page contains the references to all sources used in the paper. References are double-spaced and use hanging indents :
Style guides in academic writing serve to standardize formatting, citations, and language use across scholarly works. They provide readers with cues they can use to follow the text more efficiently and to locate information of interest to them. In other words, it avoids distraction of unfamiliar or non-uniform formatting.
In this piece about APA 7th edition , we have explained in detail the nuances of APA citations , including how to cite in APA format and how to format the APA 7 reference page . A brief primer on formatting a manuscript in line with APA 7th edition is also provided.
The updates from APA 6th to APA 7th Edition reflect a commitment to improving clarity, inclusivity, and usability in scholarly writing. The salient differences from APA 6 th edition are as follows:
According to APA 7 th edition , a reference would appear as below:
Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume number (issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy .
The in-text citation would include the author name(s) and year of publication, e.g., (Andriolatou, 2007).
APA 7 citation style would vary depending on the number of authors and whether you are citing the source parenthetically or narratively:
Single author, parenthetical: (Bik, 2020)
Single author, narrative: Bik (2020) reported that…
Two authors, parenthetical: (Bik & Urs, 2019)
Two authors, narrative: As demonstrated by Bik and Urs (2019), …
Three or more authors, parenthetical: (Bik et al., 2023)
Three or more authors, narrative: Bik et al. (2023) have published…
When someone else’s words are copied verbatim in your paper, it refers to a direct quote.
For APA 7 citation of short direct quotes (<40 words), use quotation marks around the quote and cite the author, year, and page number:
Another way to look at it is how people “get a broader range of experience than they would on a feature” (Catmull, 2014, p. 209).
For APA 7 citation of longer quotes, or block quotes, the sentence preceding the quote ends in a colon and is followed by the quoted text. No quotation marks are used. The quote is indented and cited without a period at the end (see the figure below).
Figure: How to cite block quotes in APA citations
To conclude
Over the years, the APA style guide has evolved significantly. The current version, APA 7th edition , has expanded in both scope and size to accommodate the needs of wide-ranging fields and to address changing times. Despite these changes, the core intention—to provide clear, consistent guidelines for effective communication—remains at the heart of APA Style .
For busy researchers, not only is it difficult to remember the different elements of citations and references and the subtle differences in formatting, but it also a tedious task to manually format in-text citations and reference lists and ensure consistency between them. In addition, you might need to format (and even re-format) your manuscript according to different journals, which might follow styles different from APA 7th edition (MLA, Chicago, AMA, etc.)! But there is no need to worry…help is at hand!
Citation generators are online tools that format references in different styles. There are a number of citation generators available, and Paperpal has launched its new citation generator , which stands out from the others in many ways. As a part of Paperpal’s writing workflow, you can easily find and cite sources accurately in a matter of seconds.
This free citation generator supports the updated recent versions of 10,000+ styles, including APA 7th edition . Therefore, it can serve as an APA 7th edition citation generator if you need one! What’s more, you don’t need to switch between multiple tools to search, save, or format your citations. You can rely Paperpal’s citation generation feature for help with citing sources accurately and consistently in your writing. Explore Paperpal for free now!
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Mla works cited page: format, template & examples.
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Dissertations are valuable sources of original research in academic writing. Citing dissertations in APA style requires specific elements: author’s name, dissertation title, institution name, year, and publication status. These details apply to both in-text citations and reference list entries.
The main distinction between published and unpublished dissertations lies in their accessibility. Published dissertations are readily available to the public, while unpublished ones are more restricted in their distribution. This difference affects how they are cited in APA style, as the citation must reflect their availability and source.
When citing a published dissertation, you need to include details like the author’s name, the year of publication, the title of the dissertation, the institution awarding the degree, and a URL if accessed online. For unpublished dissertations, the citation is slightly different. It typically includes the author’s name, the year, the title of the dissertation, and a note that it is an unpublished doctoral dissertation along with the institution name.
Elements of a published dissertation citation.
A complete citation for a published dissertation includes several critical elements:
For example:
Smith, J. A. (2020). Exploring the Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Erosion (Doctoral dissertation, University of California). Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/dissertations/
The formatting of a published dissertation citation follows specific APA guidelines. Ensure the title is italicized and the institution and database names are correctly formatted. Proper punctuation and capitalization are crucial for maintaining accuracy.
Another example:
Brown, L. B. (2018). The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Essential elements for unpublished dissertations.
Citing an unpublished dissertation involves a slightly different set of elements. These include:
Johnson, M. C. (2019). Innovations in Renewable Energy Technologies (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Stanford University.
Creating an accurate citation for an unpublished dissertation requires attention to detail. Start with the author’s last name, followed by initials. Next, include the year in parentheses, the italicized title, the “Unpublished doctoral dissertation” label, and the institution name. Here’s another example:
Davis, R. T. (2021). Advancements in Quantum Computing Algorithms (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Citing dissertations from online databases.
When citing dissertations accessed from online databases, it’s essential to include the URL or database name. This ensures that readers can locate the original document. The citation should follow the standard format for published dissertations but with the addition of the URL or database. For instance:
Lee, K. Y. (2017). The Impact of Urbanization on Wildlife Habitats (Doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago). Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/dissertations/
Digital dissertations often have unique identifiers like DOIs or specific database URLs. Including these details can enhance the accuracy of your citation. Ensure you use the correct format for URLs and DOIs, and always check for any additional requirements from your institution or the database provider.
When and how to cite dissertations within the text.
In-text citations are crucial for acknowledging sources and avoiding plagiarism. When citing a dissertation within your text, include the author’s last name and the year of publication. For direct quotes, add the page number. For example:
According to Smith (2020), the effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced in coastal regions.
Proper in-text citation helps maintain academic integrity. Avoid common mistakes like omitting the year or page number. Here are a few practical examples:
Comprehensive guide to formatting reference entries.
The reference list entry for a dissertation should include all necessary details to help readers locate the source. Follow these steps:
Accuracy in your reference list is vital. Double-check each element for correct formatting and spelling. Consistency throughout your reference list enhances professionalism and readability. Compare your entries to official APA style examples to ensure compliance.
Consider our tool WriterBuddy’s APA Dissertation Citation generator to ensure precise and efficient citations. Such tools simplify the citation process and help maintain accuracy and consistency.
Citing a published dissertation in APA style involves including the author’s name, year of publication, dissertation title in italics, the awarding institution, and a URL if accessed online. For unpublished dissertations, you also include the author’s name, year, title in italics, but add “Unpublished doctoral dissertation” followed by the institution’s name.
When citing a dissertation from an online database, include the author’s last name and initials, year of publication, title in italics, institution, and the URL or database name. For example: Smith, J. A. (2020). Exploring the Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Erosion (Doctoral dissertation, University of California). Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/dissertations/
Common mistakes include incorrect formatting, missing elements like publication year or institution, and improper use of italics. Double-check each component against APA guidelines and use citation tools or manuals to ensure accuracy. Peer reviews can also help catch errors.
Proper APA style citations ensure clarity, credibility, and consistency in academic writing. They help avoid plagiarism by giving credit to original sources and allow readers to locate and verify the referenced material, enhancing the overall integrity of your work.
Accurate citation of dissertations in APA format is essential for academic credibility. The process involves including author information, title, institution, year, and publication details. Following these guidelines helps properly attribute original research and provides readers with necessary information to locate the dissertation.
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Note: This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style can be found here .
Important Note: Because the 7 th edition of the APA Publication Manual heavily emphasizes digital and electronic sources, it does not contain explicit instructions for certain less-common print sources that earlier editions covered. For this reason, some of the examples below have been adapted from the instructions for sources with similar attributes (e.g., the conference proceedings example is derived from the instructions the 7 th edition manual gives for citing edited collections). Every example below that has been adapted in this way is accompanied by a note explaining how it was adapted.
Please also note: While this resource contains many examples of citations for uncommon print sources that we think are helpful, it may not account for every possibility. For even more examples of how to cite uncommon print sources, please refer to the 7 th edition of the APA Publication Manual.
The 7 th edition of the APA manual does not provide specific guidance on how to cite physical reference works such as dictionaries, thesauruses, or encyclopedias. Therefore, this citation, as well as the one for an individual author of an entry in a reference work, is modeled on that of a chapter in an edited book or anthology, both which are similar in format to reference works.
Institution or organization name. (Year). Title of entry. In Title of reference work (edition, page numbers). Publisher name.
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (1997). Goat. In Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10 th ed., pp. 499-500). Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of entry. In F. M. Lastname (ed.), Title of reference work (edition, page numbers). Publisher.
Tatum, S. R. (2009). Spirituality and religion in hip hop literature and culture. In T. L. Stanley (ed.), Encyclopedia of hip hop literature (pp. 250-252). Greenwood.
Provide the source in which the original work was referenced:
Nail, T. (2017). What is an assemblage? SubStance , 46 (1), 21-37. http://sub.uwpress.org/lookup/doi/10.3368/ss.46.1.21
Note: Provide the secondary source in the references list; in the text, name the original work, and give a citation for the secondary source. For example, if Deleuze and Guattari’s work is cited in Nail and you did not read the original work, list the Nail reference in the References. In the text, use the following citation:
Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of the assemblage (as cited in Nail, 2017)….
The 7 th edition of the APA manual does not provide specific guidance on how to cite dissertation abstracts. Therefore, this citation models that of a journal article, which is similar in format.
Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of dissertation. Dissertation Abstracts International , Vol., Page.
Angeli, E. L. (2012). Networks of communication in emergency medical services. Dissertation Abstracts International, 74 , 03(E).
Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation/Master’s thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree]. Database or Archive Name.
Angeli, E. L. (2012). Networks of communication in emergency medical services (Publication No. 3544643) [Doctoral dissertation, Purdue University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Note: If the dissertation or thesis is not published in a database, include the URL of the site where the document is located.
Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis [Unpublished doctoral dissertation/master’s thesis]. Name of Institution Awarding the Degree.
Samson, J. M. (2016). Human trafficking and globalization [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Name of Act, Public Law No. (Year). URL
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Publ. L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf
Organization Name. (Year). Title of report. URL
United States Government Accountability Office. (2019). Performance and accountability report: Fiscal year 2019 . https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/702715.pdf
Lastname, F. M., & Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of report . Organization Name. URL
Palanker, D., Volk, J., Lucia, K., & Thomas, K. (2018). Mental health parity at risk: Deregulating the individual market and the impact on mental health coverage . National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Publications-Reports/Public-Policy-Reports/Parity-at-Risk/ParityatRisk.pdf
The 7 th edition of the APA manual does not provide guidance on citing conference proceedings. Therefore, this citation models that of an edited collection, which is similar in format.
Lastname, F. M., & Lastname, F. M. (Eds.). (Year). Title of Proceedings . Publisher. URL (if applicable)
Huang, S., Pierce, R., & Stamey, J. (Eds.). (2006). Proceedings of the 24 th annual ACM international conference on the design of communication . ACM Digital Library. https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1166324&picked=prox
Citation management software can help you manage your research and easily organize and format your citations in a wide variety of citation styles. Check out the links below for more information about these useful programs.
APA Style provides a foundation for effective scholarly communication because it helps writers present their ideas in a clear, concise, and inclusive manner. When style works best, ideas flow logically, sources are credited appropriately, and papers are organized predictably. People are described using language that affirms their worth and dignity. Authors plan for ethical compliance and report critical details of their research protocol to allow readers to evaluate findings and other researchers to potentially replicate the studies. Tables and figures present information in an engaging, readable manner.
The style and grammar guidelines pages present information about APA Style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition and the Concise Guide to APA Style, Seventh Edition . Any updates to APA Style are noted on the applicable topic pages. If you are still using the sixth edition, helpful resources are available in the sixth edition archive .
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Learning how to conduct accurate, discipline-specific academic research can feel daunting at first. But, with a solid understanding of the reasoning behind why we use academic citations coupled with knowledge of the basics, you’ll learn how to cite sources with accuracy and confidence.
When it comes to academic research, citing sources correctly is arguably as important as the research itself. "Your instructors are expecting your work to adhere to these professional standards," said Amanda Girard , research support manager of Shapiro Library at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).
With Shapiro Library for the past three years, Girard manages the library’s research support services, which includes SNHU’s 24/7 library chat and email support. She holds an undergraduate degree in professional writing and a graduate degree in library and information science. She said that accurate citations show that you have done your research on a topic and are knowledgeable about current ideas from those actively working in the field.
In other words, when you cite sources according to the academic style of your discipline, you’re giving credit where credit is due.
Citing sources properly ensures you’re following high academic and professional standards for integrity and ethics.
“When you cite a source, you can ethically use others’ research. If you are not adequately citing the information you claim in your work, it would be considered plagiarism ,” said Shannon Geary '16 , peer tutor at SNHU.
Geary has an undergraduate degree in communication from SNHU and has served on the academic support team for close to 2 years. Her job includes helping students learn how to conduct research and write academically.
“In academic writing, it is crucial to state where you are receiving your information from,” she said. “Citing your sources ensures that you are following academic integrity standards.”
According to Geary and Girard, several key reasons for citing sources are:
Ultimately, citing sources is a formalized way for you to share ideas as part of a bigger conversation among others in your field. It’s a way to build off of and reference one another’s ideas, Girard said.
Any time you use an original quote or paraphrase someone else’s ideas, you need to cite that material, according to Geary.
“The only time we do not need to cite is when presenting an original thought or general knowledge,” she said.
While the specific format for citing sources can vary based on the style used, several key elements are always included, according to Girard. Those are:
By giving credit to the authors, researchers and experts you cite, you’re building credibility. You’re showing that your argument is built on solid research.
“Proper citation not only builds a writer's authority but also ensures the reliability of the work,” Geary said. “Properly formatted citations are a roadmap for instructors and other readers to verify the information we present in our work.”
Certain disciplines adhere to specific citation standards because different disciplines prioritize certain information and research styles . The most common citation styles used in academic research, according to Geary, are:
The benefit of using the same format as other researchers within a discipline is that the framework of presenting ideas allows you to “speak the same language,” according to Girard.
Are you writing a paper that needs to use APA citation, but don’t know what that means? No worries. You’ve come to the right place.
Are you writing a paper for which you need to know how to use MLA formatting, but don’t know what that means? No worries. You’ve come to the right place.
Keeping track of your research as you go is one of the best ways to ensure you’re citing appropriately and correctly based on the style that your academic discipline uses.
“Through careful citation, authors ensure their audience can distinguish between borrowed material and original thoughts, safeguarding their academic reputation and following academic honesty policies,” Geary said.
Some tips that she and Girard shared to ensure you’re citing sources correctly include:
How to cite a reference in academic writing.
A citation consists of two pieces: an in-text citation that is typically short and a longer list of references or works cited (depending on the style used) at the end of the paper.
“In-text citations immediately acknowledge the use of external source information and its exact location,” Geary said. While each style uses a slightly different format for in-text citations that reference the research, you may expect to need the page number, author’s name and possibly date of publication in parentheses at the end of a sentence or passage, according to Geary.
A longer entry listing the complete details of the resource you referenced should also be included on the references or works cited page at the end of the paper. The full citation is provided with complete details of the source, such as author, title, publication date and more, Geary said.
The two-part aspect of citations is because of readability. “You can imagine how putting the full citation would break up the flow of a paper,” Girard said. “So, a shortened version is used (in the text).”
“For example, if an in-text citation reads (Jones, 2024), the reader immediately knows that the ideas presented are coming from Jones’s work, and they can explore the comprehensive citation on the final page,” she said.
The in-text citation and full citation together provide a transparent trail of the author's process of engaging with research.
“Their combined use also facilitates further research by following a standardized style (APA, MLA, Chicago), guaranteeing that other scholars can easily connect and build upon their work in the future,” Geary said.
Developing and demonstrating your research skills, enhancing your work’s credibility and engaging ethically with the intellectual contributions of others are at the core of the citation process no matter which style you use.
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The same format can be adapted for other published theses, including undergraduate theses, by changing the wording of the bracketed description as appropriate (e.g., "Undergraduate honors thesis"). Include a URL for the dissertation or thesis if the URL will resolve for readers (as shown in the Miranda and Zambrano-Vazquez examples).
To cite an unpublished dissertation (one you got directly from the author or university in print form), add "Unpublished" to the bracketed description, and list the university at the end of the reference, outside the square brackets. APA format. Author last name, Initials. ( Year ).
Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper Author/Authors Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.)
Thesis, from a commercial database. Lope, M. D. (2014). Perceptions of global mindedness in the international baccalaureate middle years programme: The relationship to student academic performance and teacher characteristics (Order No. 3682837) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland].ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
tutorials under the "Resources for Writing Your Dissertation" tab. APA Style, 7 th Edition: A Brief Overview This section provides a very brief overview of APA Style formatting. For more thorough information about APA Style, 7 th edition, please refer to Appendix A (on page 11) of this guide for additional APA resources. Headings
Citing a published dissertation or thesis from a database. If a thesis or dissertation has been published and is found on a database, then follow the structure below. It's similar to the format for an unpublished dissertation/thesis, but with a few differences: Structure: Author's last name, F. M. (Year published).
3388146). [Doctoral dissertation, University of California Los Angeles]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. *** Remember: Each source listed on the reference page must correspond to at least one in-text citation in the body of the paper; each in-text citation must correspond to a source listed on the reference page.
When a dissertation or thesis is unpublished, include the description " [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]" or " [Unpublished master's thesis]" in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title. In the source element of the reference, provide the name of the institution that awarded the degree. The same format can be adapted ...
Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
Dissertations & Theses. Dissertations and theses are formatted the same way in APA 7th edition. Theses are generally the culminating work for a master's or undergraduate degree and dissertations are often original research completed by doctoral students. Here are examples of a dissertation & a thesis, and how they would be formatted: Examples:
APA 7th Referencing Style Guide. Referencing & APA style; In-text citation; Reference list. ... Thesis and dissertation can mean different things depending on where the degree is awarded. Always check the title page, or subsequent pages, to determine exactly what the work is and use the information for your reference. ... Reference format ...
Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation. Last name, Initial (s). (Year). Title of Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis [Unpublished Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis). Name of Institution. Example. Pope, S. (2013). Parental participation in the child protection process [Unpublished Master's thesis]. Swansea University.
APA 7th Edition Citation Guide Dissertations and Theses. Thesis or Dissertation from a Library Database. Reference Page Format: Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). ... Reference Page Format: Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of dissertation [Unpublished master's thesis/doctoral dissertation]. Name of the institution awarding the degree.
For more information about author format within parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. Master's Thesis Published in a Commercial Database (like ProQuest Dissertations & Theses)
To cite a dissertation in APA format, you need to know if it is published or unpublished. For a published dissertation in APA, you include the author, year, title, publication number, dissertation and university, and publisher. For an unpublished dissertation in APA, you include the author, year, title, unpublished dissertation, and university.
Thesis, from a commercial database. Nicometo, D. N. (2015). Increasing international education to develop culturally competent social workers: Social media recommendations for social work abroad program 501(c)3 (Order No. 1597712).Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Guide to APA citation style using the 7th Edition of the APA Style Manual. ... Information for EndNote Users ; Authors - Numbers, Rules and Formatting; Dates; In-Text Citations; Reference List; Books & Book Chapters Toggle Dropdown. Books & eBooks ; Book chapters ; Journal Articles ... A thesis is an unpublished document produced by student as ...
APA Citation Style 7th Edition. ... Formatting an Appendix; Evaluating Sources This link opens in a new window; ... For a doctoral or master's thesis available from a database service such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global: Reference List. Dempsey-Richardson, C. (2013).
Format: Author last name, first initial. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis, University].Database. URL. Elements: Author: List the last name, followed by the first initial (and second initial).See Authors for more information.; Year: List the year between parentheses, followed by a period. Title of dissertation/thesis: In italics.
te.Style ManualIt is recommended that APA Style Seventh. is used. It should be in 12-point type using Times. ew Roman font.SpacingThe test in the manuscript should be double-spaced. The right margin of the text should not be justified, but. -aligned, also known as ragged right, like the test in this guide.
ABSTRACT: An abstract is required for your Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project and must be included before submitting your final copy to Proquest.An abstract is a brief, comprehensive overview of your paper. Generally, it should not exceed 250 words. KEYWORDS: You should also include keywords.Keywords are descriptive terms that encompass the themes of your paper.
Welcome to the APA Citation Style Guide. In this guide, you will find resources to help you start your References page. Scroll below to see the most used resources. Click on the side navigation tabs on the left to see more in-depth and comprehensive resources. Please note that his guide provides a general overview.
APA Style
APA Formatting & Style Guide by Purdue Owl. APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. This resource, revised according to the 7th edition of the APA manual, offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the ...
The APA citation format includes the author's last name and the year of publication. When referring to a particular part of a source, the page number may be included, e.g., "(Rawat et al., 2018, p. 115)." ... Title of dissertation/thesis [Master's thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of institution].
Start with the author's last name, followed by initials. Next, include the year in parentheses, the italicized title, the "Unpublished doctoral dissertation" label, and the institution name. Here's another example: Davis, R. T. (2021). Advancements in Quantum Computing Algorithms (Unpublished doctoral dissertation).
Dissertation Abstract. The 7 th edition of the APA manual does not provide specific guidance on how to cite dissertation abstracts. Therefore, this citation models that of a journal article, which is similar in format.
APA Style Help. Overviews, tutorials, and FAQs. Online Writing Lab. Organizing and Managing Citations. Citation management software can help you manage your research and easily organize and format your citations in a wide variety of citation styles. Check out the links below for more information about these useful programs.
APA Style guidelines encourage writers to fully disclose essential information and allow readers to dispense with minor distractions, such as inconsistencies or omissions in punctuation, capitalization, reference citations, and presentation of statistics.
The in-text citation and full citation together provide a transparent trail of the author's process of engaging with research. "Their combined use also facilitates further research by following a standardized style (APA, MLA, Chicago), guaranteeing that other scholars can easily connect and build upon their work in the future," Geary said.