- Using Academic Writer
- Inclusive Language
- Punctuation Guidelines
- Writing Guidelines
- Discussing Statistics In-text
- Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS) This link opens in a new window
- Dissertation to Journal Article This link opens in a new window
- Abbreviations
- Headings
- Quotes
- Title Page
- Tables
- Creating APA Style Tables and Figures
- Formatting Appendices (APA)
- References (Creating and Editing)
- Additional Reference Examples
Note: While the APA manual and Academic Writer provides many examples of how to cite common types of sources, it does not provide rules on how to cite all types of sources. Therefore, if you have a source that APA does not include, APA suggests that you find the example that is most similar to your source and use that format.
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Sample References
Use the Sample References tab under "Learn" in Academic Writer to view 202 sample references. Below you will sample references for some of the most common mediums (book, journal article, website).
DOI Information
When using Academic Writer to generate a reference, remove the proxy information from the reference as highlighted below.
Incorrect DOI
- Ambrose, A. (1963). The age of onset of ambivalence in early infancy: Indications from the study of laughing. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 4(3–4), 167–181. https://doi - org. proxy1.ncu.edu /10.1111/j.1469-7610.1963.tb02119.x
Corrected DOI
- Ambrose, A. (1963). The age of onset of ambivalence in early infancy: Indications from the study of laughing. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 4(3–4), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1963.tb02119.x
Please Note: It is acceptable to use either the default display setting (blue hyperlinks) or plain text (without underlining) when formatting DOIs and URLs in reference lists.
- DOIs should only include the information for the source.
Formatting References
- Reference list entries should be aligned flush left, double space, and a hanging indent should be used after the first line of the individual reference.
Formatting References Example
AI Models (ChatGPT)
Steps to reference OpenAI generated text such as ChatGPT.
- Author: OpenAI
- Date: Year for the version you are using.
- Title: Name of the model.
- Version Number: Place in parentheses. Use the version format the author provides.
- Bracketed Text: If needed- Additional description language.
Reference Example
Open AI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
*Additional information is available on the How to Cite ChatGPT page of the APA Style Blog.
Audiovisual Material
Interview recording
de Beauvoir, S. (1960, May 4). Simone de Beauvoir discusses the art of writing [Interview]. Studs Terkel Radio Archive; The Chicago History Museum. https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/programs/simone-de-beauvoir-discusses-art-writing
Movie, film, or video
Altman, R. (Director). (2001). Gosford park [Film]. USA Films; Capitol Films; The Film Council; Sandcastle 5 Productions; Chicagofilms; Medusa Film.
Newman, C. F. (Guest Expert), & Arpana, G. I. (Host). (2016). Cognitive–behavioral therapy supervision [Film; educational DVD]. American Psychological Association. https://www-apa-org/pubs/videos/4310957.aspx
McCurry, S. (1985). Afghan girl [Photograph]. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/national-geographic-magazine-50-years-of-covers/#/ngm-1985-jun-714.jpg
Bao, Y. (2019). This rare image of a Tibetan fox and a marmot in the moment before attack won Chinese photographer Yongqing Bao the top distinction of Wildlife Photographer of the Year [Photograph]. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/10/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2019/#/01-wildlife-awards-yongqing-bao---wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.jpg
Podcast, entire (audio)
Schreiber, D., Harkin, J., Murray, A. H., & Ptaszynski, A. (Hosts). (2014–present). No such thing as a fish [Audio podcast]. Quite Interesting. https://www.nosuchthingasafish.com/
YouTube video and other streaming videos
Pinkfong. (2016, June 17). Baby shark dance | sing and dance! | animals songs | Pinkfong songs for children [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w
American Psychological Association. (2015, September 14). Babies are teachers, too [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8wKsJWwaSc
Cutts, S. (2017, November 24). Happiness [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/244405542
Books
Authored book without DOI (print version or full text accessed via a research database)
Dery, M. (2018). Born to be posthumous: The eccentric life and mysterious genius of Edward Gory. Little, Brown and Company.
Authored book with DOI
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org /10.1037/0000165-000
Elkins, D. N. (2016). The human elements of psychotherapy: A nonmedical model of emotional healing. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org /10.1037/14751-000
One volume of a multivolume work
Fiske, S. T., Gilbert, D. T., & Lindzey, G. (2010). Handbook of social psychology (5th ed., Vol. 1). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470561119
Book Chapter
Chapter in an edited book with DOI
Giussani, D. A. (2006). Prenatal hypoxia: Relevance to developmental origins of health and disease. In P. Gluckman & M. Hanson (Eds.), Developmental origins of health and disease (pp. 178–190). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544699.013
Work in an anthology
Gaitskill, M. (2008). The girl on the plane. In J. C. Oates & C. R. Beha (Eds.), The Ecco anthology of contemporary American short fiction (pp. 325–342). Ecco. (Original work published 1997).
Conference Presentation
Paper presentation or poster session
Wimberley, T., & Stasio, M. (2012, February). Perfectionism: Relationships among personal standards, evaluative concerns and automatic thoughts [Paper presentation]. Southeastern Psychological Association 58th annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States. http://www.sepaonline.com/conference/2012/2012_annual-meeting-schedule.pdf
Symposium contribution
De Boer, D., & LaFavor, T. (2018, April 26–29). The art and significance of successfully identifying resilient individuals: A person-focused approach. In A. M. Schmidt & A. Kryvanos (Chairs), Perspectives on resilience: Conceptualization, measurement, and enhancement [Symposium]. Western Psychological Association 98th Annual Convention, Portland, OR, United States.
Course or Supplemental Material
Authored material in a classroom course pack
MacGyver, A. (2014). Five steps to repelling an attack by killer bees. In R. D. Anderson (Ed.), Selected readings in survival, escape, and evasion (pp. 31–34). St. Ambrose University.
Lecture notes
Palmer, W. (2019, November 20). Lecture 5: Training variations and considerations [Lecture notes]. Department of Business Administration, Morgan State University. https://www.morgan.edu/palmerw/spring2018/ba1.html
Acharya, I. (2020, January 5). [Lecture notes on haptic perceptions]. Department of Psychology, Towson University. https://towson.edu/psychology/acharyai/
PowerPoint slides
Neghina, C. (2009, July 5). Advertising psychology [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/preciousssa/advertising-psychology-1684533
Supplemental material in a classroom course pack
"Varroa mite blues" and other songs of the honey bee [Supplemental material]. (2012). In B. Haave (Ed.), NEU 451: Movement and perception (pp. 44–45). St. Ambrose University.
Unattributed material in a classroom course pack
Diagram of the tibia–basitarsis joint in Apis melifera. (2015). In B. Haave (Ed.), NEU 451: Movement and perception (pp. 44–45). St. Ambrose University.
Data Set
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (2013). Treatment episode data set -- discharges (TEDS-D) -- concatenated, 2006 to 2009 [Data set]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR30122.v2
Dissertations
Dissertation, from a database
Holderle, D. A. (2018). Exploring archetypal reality in the experience of hallucinations across cultures (Publication No. 10837529) [Doctoral dissertation, Pacifica Graduate Institute ]. PQDT Open.
Gray Literature
California Board of Psychology. (2005). For your peace of mind: A consumer guide to psychological services [Brochure]. https://www.psychology.ca.gov/forms_pubs/consumer_guide.pdf
Code of ethics
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017). https://www-apa-org/ethics/code/index.aspx
National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/coe-view-only
Policy brief
Gregoire, C. (2011). Accelerating the learning curve by building a student-centered education system [Policy brief]. Washington State Archives - Digital Archives. https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/GovernorGregoire/priorities/budget/p20_system.pdf
Harwell, M. (2018). Don’t expect too much: The limited usefulness of common SES measures and a prescription for change [Policy brief]. National Education Policy Center. https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/SES
Journal Articles
Journal article with DOI
Ambrose, A. (1963). The age of onset of ambivalence in early infancy: Indications from the study of laughing. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 4(3–4), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1963.tb02119.x
Ambrose, A. F., Paul, G., & Hausdorff, J. M. (2013). Risk factors for falls among older adults: A review of the literature. Maturitas, 75(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.02.009
Journal article without DOI (accessed in an academic research database)
Alexander, A. (1985). The great escape: Soap opera viewing by college students. College Student Journal, 19(2), 141–143.
Gill, C. S., Barrio Minton, C. A., & Myers, J. E. (2010). Spirituality and religiosity: Factors affecting wellness among low-income, rural women. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88(3), 293–302.
Journal article without DOI (accessed on a website, with a nondatabase URL)
Ahmann, E., Tuttle, L. J., Saviet, M., & Wright, S. D. (2018). A descriptive review of ADHD coaching research: Implications for college students. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 31(1), 17–39. https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped/archived-jped/jped-volume-31
Journal article without DOI (print)
Alexander, A. (1985). The great escape: Soap opera viewing by college students. College Student Journal, 19(2), 141–143.
Gill, C. S., Barrio Minton, C. A., & Myers, J. E. (2010). Spirituality and religiosity: Factors affecting wellness among low-income, rural women. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88(3), 293–302.
Legal References - APA
Federal regulation, codified
Protection of Human Subjects, 45 C.F.R. § 46 (2009). https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sites/default/files/ohrp/policy/ohrpregulations.pdf
Federal statute, codified in the United States Code
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm
Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2015). https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ95/PLAW-114publ95.pdf
Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. (1972). https://www.justice.gov/crt/title-ix-education-amendments-1972
MOOC
Tangen, J. (2016). Episode 2: I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before [MOOC lecture]. In E. MacKenzie, J. Tangen, & M. Thompson, The science of everyday thinking. edX. https://www.edx.org/course/the-science-of-everyday-thinking
OER
Burkins, J. M., & Yates, K. (2021). Rethinking how reading comprehension begins: Overlooking the role of listening comprehension in reading comprehension. OER Commons. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://oercommons.s3.amazonaws.com/media/courseware/relatedresource/file/Shift_1-Emergent_Literacy_1_uHs8Xco.pdf
Reference Work
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890423349
Entry in an online dictionary, unarchived link
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Positive transference. In APA dictionary of psychology. Retrieved August 31, 2019, from https://dictionary-apa-org/positivetransference
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Self-report. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-report
Report
Annual report
American Psychological Association. (2013). 2012 annual report of the American Psychological Association. https://www-apa.org/pubs/info/reports/2012-report.pdf
Women's Storybook Project of Texas. (2019). 2018 annual report. https://storybookproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/WSP-Annual-Report-2018_71.pdf
Report by a government agency
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2003). Managing asthma: A guide for schools (NIH Publication No. 02-2650). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www-nhlbi-nih-gov/files/docs/resources/lung/asth_sch.pdf
Software
Computer software
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L., Higgins, J., & Rothstein, H. (2014). Comprehensive metaanalysis (Version 3.3.070) [Computer software]. Biostat. https://www.meta-analysis.com/
Tests, Scales, and Inventories
Database record for a test
Yu, C. K.-C. (2008). Dream Intensity Inventory [Database record]. APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t54321-001
Cardoza, D., Morris, J. K., Myers, H. F., & Rodriguez, N. (2000). Acculturative Stress Inventory (ASI) (TC022704) [Database record]. ETS TestLink.
Test, scale, or inventory, individual authors
Friedlander, M. L., Escudero, V., & Heatherington, L. (2002). SOFTA-o. SOFTA. http://softa-soatif.com/instrumentos-2-2
Website
Webpage on a news website
Bologna, C. (2019, October 31). Why some people with anxiety love watching horror movies. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anxiety-love-watching-horror-movies_l_5d277587e4b02a5a5d57b59e
LaMotte, S. (2018, October 25). Stress might lead to memory loss and brain shrinkage, study says. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/24/health/stress-memory-loss-under-50-study/index.html
Webpage on a website, retrieval date included in the reference
U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). U.S. and world population clock. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved November 13, 2019, from https://www.census.gov/popclock/
Webpage, group author, dated and undated
ACT Raising Safe Kids Program. (n.d.). About the ACT raising safe kids program. American Psychological Association. https://www-apa-org/act/about/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, January 23). Flu vaccines work. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm
Webpage, individual author, dated
