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How to Format an Oral Interview Into APA

In most cases, American Psychological Association citation style requires that you cite both within the text and in a reference list at the end of your paper. The purpose of the reference list is to include full bibliographic information so that your reader can, if necessary, locate the source of your information. However, a reader will not be able to locate an oral interview that you conducted. It is therefore unnecessary to include an entry in your reference list; simply cite the interview within the text.

Instructions

- 1
  Begin your citation with the first initial and last name of the person you interviewed. Place a period after the person's first initial, and a comma after the person's last name. For example:
  
  J. Smith,
- 2
  Add the phrase "personal communication" followed by a comma. For example:
  
  J. Smith, personal communication,
- 3
  Conclude your citation with the month, day and year on which you conducted the interview. Place a comma after the day. For example:
  
  J. Smith, personal communication, July 7, 2010
- 4
  Enclose your citation in parentheses. Position it within the text so that it comes directly after the quote or paraphrase. For example:
  
  One interviewee found it "hard to believe" (J. Smith, personal communication, July 7, 2010) that anyone would want to eat such bland food.

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