The APA Format for Referencing Databases

Articles

• A citation of an article retrieved from a database does not have to reference the database, as these change over time. This information may only be included if an article is particularly hard to find. Otherwise, such a citation should be formatted as it would be for a print article, leaving out the name and URL of the database. This should include the last name and first and middle initials of the author, followed by the date of publication. It should also include the name of the article, the name of the publication (italicized), the volume number, the issue number in brackets and the page numbers on which the article is found. The following is an example:

  Doe, J.J. (2000). APA Referencing. Journal of Citations, 8(3), 120-125.

Electronic Books

• Citing an electronic book from a database should begin with the author's last name and first and middle initials, followed by "(n.d.)" which would include the date of publication in a print source. The citation should also include the name of the electronic book (italicized), as well as the words "Retrieved from" followed by the URL of the database. The following is an example:

  Doe, J. J. (n.d.). APA Referencing. Retrieved from http://www.bigbookofcitations.com/bigbook123.html/.

Section of a Web Document or Online Chapter

• When citing a section of a Web document or an online chapter found on a database, it is necessary to provide the last name and first and middle initials of the author, followed by the date of publication. The citation should also include the name of the section, the word "In" followed by the work of which it is a part (italicized) and the chapter or section number in brackets. Finally, it should include the words "Retrieved from" followed by the URL or name of the database from which it was retrieved. The following is an example:

  Doe, J.J. (2000). APA Referencing. In Big Book of Citations (5). Retrieved from http://www.bigbookofcitations.com/bigbook123.html/.

Dissertation or Thesis

• When citing a dissertation or thesis found in a database, it is necessary to provide the last name and first and middle initials of the author, followed by the date of publication. The citation should also include the name of the work (italicized) and the words "Retrieved from" followed by the URL or name of the database from which it was retrieved. The following is an example:

  Doe, J.J. (2000). APA Referencing. Retrieved from Big Book of References Database.