1. With a DOI:
The DOI is the preferred way to cite online sources. It's a persistent link that will always lead to the article.
```
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. *Title of Periodical*, *volume*(issue), pages–pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/yyyyyy
```
Example:
Smith, J., & Jones, A. (2023). The impact of social media on adolescent mental health. *Journal of Adolescent Research*, *15*(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1000/exampledoi
2. Without a DOI (less preferred):
If there's no DOI, you'll need to provide a URL. It's crucial to check the URL is stable and likely to remain accessible. If it's a subscription-only article and the URL requires login, you will want to use the journal homepage instead.
```
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. *Title of Periodical*, *volume*(issue), pages–pages. Retrieved from URL
```
Example:
Brown, K., & Davis, M. (2022). Climate change and its effects on coastal communities. *Environmental Science Journal*, *20*(3), 567-589. Retrieved from http://www.examplejournal.com/article/XYZ123
Key elements to include in both cases:
* Author(s): Last name first, followed by initials. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name.
* Year: Year of publication in parentheses.
* Article Title: Capitalize only the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns. Italicize the title if it's more than a sentence.
* Journal Title: Italicize the journal title. Capitalize all major words.
* Volume: Italicize the volume number.
* Issue: Issue number in parentheses, not italicized.
* Pages: Page range of the article. Use en dash (–), not a hyphen (-).
* DOI or URL: Provide either a DOI or a URL, depending on availability.
Important Considerations:
* Consistency: Be consistent in your formatting throughout your entire reference list.
* Accuracy: Double-check all information for accuracy.
* APA Manual: For the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidance, always consult the official Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Remember to create a reference list at the end of your paper, alphabetized by the first author's last name. This reference list provides the full bibliographic information for each source cited in your text.