While
we expect most reviewers will be well versed with APA style guidelines
we have included this to help out if needed.
It helps if you think of references as
signposts for the readers. In the text, each reference should
point clearly and unambiguously to ONE entry
in the list of references at the end.
In the list at the end, each reference
should give all the information needed for readers to locate the item
and read it themselves. When referencing in the text, always show WHO and WHEN.
The WHO can
appear as part of the sentence or in brackets - whichever makes sense (a
simple test whenever you use brackets: if you omit anything in brackets when you read the sentence it
should still make sense).
- For an
organisation: put exactly the same name as in the list at the end.
- For a
single author: put the family name (no initials).
- For
two authors: put both family names (no initials) with "and" before
the last, always cite both.
- For
three authors: cite them all the first time, after that use "et al."
as follows: first name et al. if unique citation, otherwise first
two names et al. if unique, otherwise all three names .
- For
four authors: cite them all the first time, after that use "et al."
as follows: first name et al. if unique citation, otherwise first
two names et al. if unique, otherwise first three names et al. if
unique, otherwise all four names.
- For
five authors: cite them all the first time, after that use "et al."
as follows: first name et al. if unique citation, otherwise first
two names et al. if unique, otherwise first three names et al. if
unique, otherwise first four names et al. if unique, otherwise all
five names .
- For
six or more authors: first name et al. if unique citation,
otherwise first two names et al. if unique, otherwise first three
names et al. if unique, otherwise first four names et al. if unique,
etc.
The WHEN is
just the year, although it may be followed by a page (paragraph) number
if you are quoting or referring to a specific section of an article or
book (website).
In the list at the end, make sure each
entry shows WHO,
WHEN, WHAT, WHERE.
You should always be able to identify WHO is/are
the author(s):
- If an
organisation - the same name as in the text.
- If an
individual - family name then comma then initial(s) followed by full
stop(s) if two or more individuals - family names and initials as
above, with "&" before the last.
- If
no author - use the title. After WHO,
show in brackets WHEN the
item was published (not accessed). Either put the year of
publication or "n. d." (if no date can be found).
You can also put month (and day if
appropriate) in three cases: a website, a newspaper, a periodical which
does not use volume and/or issue numbers.
If the same author(s) published more than
one item with that date, put an "a" after the first, a "b" after
the second, etc.
The WHAT is
the title of the article/book/webpage - put the title in italics if it's
a complete book.
Each entry finishes with WHERE the
item can be found.
- For
articles in books or proceedings, put "In" followed by the name(s)
of the editor(s), with initial(s) BEFORE family
name(s), followed by the name of the book/proceedings in italics,
followed by edition (if appropriate), volume (if appropriate), page
number(s).
- For
articles in periodicals (print or electronic), put the name of the
journal/magazine/newspaper in italics, followed by volume (if
appropriate), issue (if appropriate), page number(s).
- For
books, put the place of publication, followed by a colon, followed
by the publisher's name (omitting words like "company"). \
- For
Websites (including electronic journals) put "Retrieved" date "from"
URL.
Getting the references right is important
--it is perceived by the reader as a measure of the quality of the
publication.
More good general information can be
found at:
The full rules are in the 5th edition of
APA Publication Manual. Please check the APA website outlining the
changes in the 5th edition and use it to update your citation and/or
referencing guides: http://www.apastyle.org/fifthchanges.html
SOME
EXAMPLES
1. Book
Hosking, R., Joe, S., Joyce, D., &
Turner, J. (1996). First
steps in numerical analysis (2nd
ed.). London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Note:
- Name
of book in italics, upper case for first letter only,
- Edition in brackets (note style of abbreviations),
- Colon between
place and publisher,
- First
citation: “used in error analysis (Hosking, Joe, Joyce, & Turner,
1996, p. 123)”,
- Later citation:
“as suggested by Hosking et
al. (1996)”.
2.
Conference proceedings
Joyce, D. (2000). The PASS project -
Identifying parameters affecting student success. In S. Mann (Ed.), Proceedings
of the 13th Annual Conference of the National Advisory Committee on
Computing Qualifications (pp.
151-153). Hamilton, New Zealand: NACCQ.
Note:
- Upper
case for first letters of title and subtitle, also acronym.
- Initial before editor’s name, followed by “(Ed.)”.
- Name
of proceedings in italics .
- Upper
case for first letters of “major words” in name of conference (not
the linking words)..
- “pp.”
before page numbers (in brackets).
3. Journal
Hawthorn, D., & Joyce, D. (1998).
Teaching introductory programming to non-traditional students using
Visual Basic. New
Zealand Journal
of Applied Computing and Information Technology, 2(1),
30-35.
Notes:
- Upper
case for first letter of title, also name of language.
- Name
of journal in italics.
- Upper
case for first letters of “major words” in name of journal (not the
linking words).
- Volume
number in italics, then issue number in brackets (not italics).
- No
“pp.” before page numbers.
- Cite
as Hawthorn
and Joyce (in text) or Hawthorn & Joyce (in brackets).
4. Website
Fielden, K., Joyce, D., & Nodder, C. (2001). Establishing
a research culture: Multiple points of view. Paper
presented at the Conference on Innovation and Links: Research
Management and Development and Postgraduate Education. Retrieved
February 28, 2005, from
http://www.aut.ac.nz/conferences/innovation/papers.shtml
Notes:
- Upper
case for first letters of title and subtitle.
- Name
of paper in italics .
- Upper
case for first letters of “major words” in name of conference (not
the linking words).
- Date
of retrieval specified.