APA Style: Citing Electronic Resources
The following information and examples about citing electronic sources are taken from the 5th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 2001. Because electronic media are changing rapidly, the APA’s web site is the most up-to-date source of information on how to correctly site electronic sources.
ALSO: The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University has created a very good guide to the APA style. It includes some examples for citing electronic sources.
The citation begins with the same information provided for a print source and ends with information on where and when that information was retrieved. At times, only some of the traditional citation information will be available on a web site. When an element is missing, omit it. For instance, if no author is given, begin your citation with the title. Include the date after the first element listed.
Research Tip: As you proceed with your research print the first page of any web page you will be citing in your paper. This printed copy will usually include the URL (web address) and the date of access—information you will need for your Reference List.
Electronic Reference Citation in Text
In-Text Citations Which Do Not Require an Entry in the References List
The References List
- Electronic copy of a journal article, retrieved from a database
- Electronic version of a daily newspaper article, retrieved from a database
- Article in an Internet-only journal
- Book in an online database accessed via the web (such as netLibrary)
- U.S. government report available on government agency Web site, no publication date indicated
- Report from a private organization, available on organization Web site
Electronic Reference Citation in Text
In the text of your paper, you must document the source from which you are paraphrasing or quoting. When paraphrasing, cite the author and date of the work. For quotations, cite the author, date and page number (use paragraph number—and the ¶ symbol or the abbreviation "para." if paragraph numbers are visible in the electronic text). If page or paragraph numbers are not provided, omit them. Note that if a work has no author, you must use the title for the in-text citation. There are two basic methods for in-text citations:
Integrating the Authors' Names into the Sentence:
“as Parker and McKinney (1999) demonstrated in their study . . .”
Including the Authors' Names in a Parenthetical Citation:
“The current system of managed care and the current approach to defining empirically supported treatments are shortsighted” (Beutler, 2000, Conclusion section, ¶ 1)
In-Text Citations Which Do Not Require an Entry in the References List
Citing a web site (in general):
If you are citing (mentioning, referring to, etc.) a web site, but not a specific document on that web site, you do not need a reference entry. Simply enclose the URL in parentheses in the text.
Example:
Take the online personality questionnaire invented by Keirsey on the Personality: Character and Temperament web site
(http://keirsey.com/).
Citing an email communication:
Cite email communications as you would a personal communication.
Example:
(L. Lampert, personal communication, January 22, 1999).
The References List
Citing an electronic copy of a journal article, retrieved from a database:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year of Publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number [italics] (issue number), page numbers. Retrieved on Month day, year, from Name of Database.
Example:
Belaire, C., Young, J. S., & Elder, A. (2005). Inclusion of religious behaviors and attitudes in counseling: Expectations of conservative Christians. Counseling & Values, 49(2), 82-94. Retrieved September 6, 2005, from Academic Search Elite database.
Citing an electronic version of a daily newspaper article, retrieved from a database:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year, Month Day).Title of Article. Title of Newspaper [italics]. Retrieved date, from Name of Database.
Example:
Goodstein, L. & Kirkpatrick, D. D. (2005, May 22). On a Christian Mission to the Top. New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2005, from Academic Search Elite database.
Citing an article in an Internet-only journal:
Format:
Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year, Month Day of publication). Title of article. Title of Online Journal, volume number [italics] (issue number) [or any other identifying number], Retrieved Month day, year, from Internet address.
Example:
Moreland, J. P. (2004, December 16). Why happiness isn't a feeling. Boundless Webzine. Retrieved September 6, 2005, from http://www.boundless.org/features/a0000980.html.
Citing a book in an online database accessed via the web (such as netLibrary):
Format:
Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year of publication). Title of book [italics]. Place of Publication: Publisher. Retrieved Month day, year, from Name of database on the World Wide Web: Internet address.
Example:
Spurgeon, C. H. (1874). The claims of God. Pensacola, Fla.: Mount Zion. Retrieved September 6, 2005, from netLibrary database on the World Wide Web: http://www.netlibrary.com/.
Citing a U.S. government report available on government agency Web site, no publication date indicated
Format:
Government Agency. Year of publication). Title of report [italics]. Retrieved Month day, year, from Internet address.
Example:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). America's Children and the Environment (ACE). Retrieved September 6, 2005, from http://www.epa.gov/envirohealth/children/.
Report from a private organization, available on organization Web site:
Format:
Organization Name. (Year, month day of publication). Title of online publication [italics]. Retrieved Month day, year, from Internet address.
Example
Barna Group, Ltd. (2005, May 17). What Is A Purpose-Driven Life to Americans? Retrieved September 6, 2005, from http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=188.
Based on a document created by Nancy Getty, Glendale College Librarian, 2003. Edited by Kimberley Wilcox, APU, 2005.
Page Last Modified: July 15, 2006