The main scholarly association for academic psychologists in the United States, the American Psychological Association (APA) has developed standardized methods for citing print and electronic sources used in research.
Alphabetize each entry in a works cited list by the first letter, ignoring the articles A, An, and The. Indent subsequent lines of entries one-half inch.
Names: Use initials for first and middle names.
Titles: For articles, chapters and books, capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and proper nouns. Fully capitalize periodical titles.
Dates: Publication dates use the order year, month day. The access date uses the order month day year. If no publication date is available, use "n.d." in place of date.
The following examples are citations from EBSCO databases. If you cannot find some of this information, cite what is available. Different styles may apply when citing print and other sources.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Publication year]). [Title of article]. [Title of journal], [Volume number]([Issue number]), [Page number starts]-[ends]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Silva, L. (2007). Epistemological and theoretical challenges for studying power and politics in information systems. Information Systems Journal, 17(2), 165-183. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Title of article]. ([Publication year]). [Title of journal], [Volume number]([Issue number]), [Page number starts]-[ends]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Epistemological and theoretical challenges for studying power and politics in information systems. (2007). Information Systems Journal, 17(2), 165-183. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Year], [Month] [Day]). [Title of magazine], [Volume number], [Page number]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Wood, L. (2007, February 26). Curiously strong teamwork. Business Week, 4023, 90-92. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Title of article]. ([Year], [Month] [Day]). [Title of magazine], [Volume number], [Page number starts]-[ends]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Curiously strong teamwork. (2007, February 26). Business Week, 4023, 90-92. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Year], [Month] [Day]). [Title of article]. [Title of newspaper], [Page number starts]-[ends], [Section number]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Bodipo-Memba, A. (2007, February 21). AT&T, GM agrees to $1-billion telecommunications pact. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Newspaper Source database.
Pattern:
[Title of article]. ([Year], [Month] [Day])] [Title of newspaper], [Page number starts]-[ends], [Section number]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
AT&T, GM agrees to $1-billion telecommunications pact. (2007, February 21). Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Newspaper Source database.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Publication year]). [Title of work]. [Location]: [Publisher]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Melkman, A. (2006). Strategic customer planning. London, UK: Thorogood. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. ([Publication year]). [Title of chapter]. In [Title of book] (pp. [Page number starts]-[ends]). [Location]: [Publisher]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Melkman, A. (2006). Introduction, summary and how to get the most out of this book. In Strategic customer planning (pp. 1-18). London, UK: Thorogood. Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Business Source Premier database.
Pattern:
[Author last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. [Publication year]. [Title of Document]([Document or Report number]). [Place of Publication]: [Publishing Agency Name] (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. [ED# or EJ#]). Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Naples, N. A. (2000). Economic restructuring and racialization: Incorporation of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the rural midwest. Working Paper. (Report WP-7). California Univ., San Diego, La Jolla: Center for Comparative Immigration Studies. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED466345). Retrieved March 22, 2007, from ERIC database.
Pattern:
[Title of image]. ([Date of creation]). Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Bush meets Italian president in Rome. (2005). Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Image Collection database.
Pattern:
[Title of video / audio]. ([Date of creation]). Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [Name of database] database.
Example:
Presidential and Vice Presidential debates - 1988. (1988). Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Video Encyclopedia of the 20th Century database.
Pattern:
[Producer last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. (Producer) & [Presenter last name], [First initial]. [Middle initial]. (Presenter). ([Publication Year], [Month] [Day]). [Title of Podcast] [Type of podcast]. [Country of publication]: [Distributor]. Retrieved [Month] [Day], [Year], from [URL]
Example:
Alper, B. (Producer) & Hayden, E. (Presenter). (2007, March 6). Prevention of HIV infection. Treatment of COPD. [DynaMed Podcast Program]. Ipswich, Massachusetts: EBSCO Publishing. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://support.epnet.com/support_news/podcasts/3.6.07_DynaMed_Update.mp3
These are only basic examples of the APA style. More detailed information is available through the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition) and http://www.apastyle.org/. In addition, a variety of third-party style guides and web sites can provide further assistance.