In Text Citations - APA

In Text Citations - APA (PDF, 34kb)

Referencing is an essential part of academic writing. Spending time learning how to reference your assignments accurately will help you:

• maximize the marks available to you for referencing
• fulfill the assessment requirements set out in your Unit Outline
• avoid allegations of plagiarism
• comply with the Academic Honesty Policy (http://my.acu.edu.au/40187).

Two essential parts of APA referencing:

• In text citations show where you have referred to information from your research and reading, through paraphrases and quotations, in your assignment.
• List of References contains full bibliographic information for each of the sources cited in your assignment. (Please see Listing of References – APA pamphlet for more information.)

Two ways of citing information include:

• Paraphrases are the ideas from your research and reading put into your own words. For paraphrases, use the author’s surname, and year of publication.
• Quotations are the exact words from the original source. For quotations, use the author’s surname, year of publication, AND page number.

Paraphrase examples

Simpson (2006) found that explaining ideas to others may be more educationally beneficial than having ideas explained to oneself.

Thompson and Smith (2003) concluded from their research that people’s attitudes towards capital punishment are largely based on emotion.

Managers spend most of their time on communication issues (Brown, 2005).

Another study has examined the effects of communication in nursing management decision making (National Association For Health, 2006).

Quotation examples

Smith (2003) states, “Managers need a detailed understanding of the communication process to be effective in the workplace” (p. 12).

“Managers need a detailed understanding of the communication process to be effective in the workplace” (Smith, 2003, p. 12).

Note: If the same author is used again in the same paragraph, it is not necessary to repeat the year in the subsequent citation. The year needs to be included again if the author is cited in a different paragraph.

Multiple authors

For 3 to 5 authors of the one book/journal article cited in text:

• cite all authors the first time
• after that, only the surname of the first author followed by et al.
• for 6 or more authors cite the surname of the first author followed by et al. for the first and subsequent citations.

Examples

Brown, Smith, and Johnson (1996) state that the tree is green.
Brown et al. (1996) also suggest conservation as a solution.
A longitudinal study of the event draws the same conclusion (Brown et al., 1996).

Secondary sources

When citing a source which appears within the source you are reading, include the surname of the author cited, followed by the surname and year of publication of the source you are reading.

Examples

Brown and Martin (as cited in Harmon, 1992) have reported a case study of a patient with a lesion in the left posterior parietal cortex.

This situation has been reported in the case study of a patient who suffered a lesion in the left posterior parietal cortex (Brown & Martin, as cited in Harmon, 1992).

Note: The entry in your list of References will only include the primary source, Harmon, as this is the source you have accessed, not the secondary source, Brown and Martin.

Long quotations (40 words or more)

When citing long quotations in assignments:

• start on a new line and use double line spacing (although single spacing is allowed)
• indent 5 spaces from the left margin
• do not use quotation marks
• includethe page number at the end of quotation, after the full stop.

Example

In considering the high costs involved, McMurray (1993) states:

A further inflationary effect derives from the growing trend toward malpractice suits, and the large settlements awarded for successful cases. As a result, physicians tend to practise defensively in a climate of mistrust, often performing more diagnostic tests than are perhaps required. (p. 105)

In general, students should avoid the use of long quotations in assignments. Most lecturers prefer students to use paraphrases rather than quotations.

For more detailed information on the APA referencing method:

• view your Library’s copy of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
• see the Academic Skills Unit myACU site
• read The ACU Study Guide
• visit your Academic Skills Adviser.

• Student Centre Contacts