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How to Cite a Primary Source in APA Format

When you conduct your own research--through interviews, surveys, questionnaires or observations--then your citations follow a format that differs from the standard citation of a secondary source, such as a book or journal article. When using your own observations or deductions, you don't need to cite anything; just explain your methods and present your research. When referencing information you got from another person, however, you need to cite that primary source. Whether you talked to the source in person, received a letter or email, administered a survey or communicated by phone, you format the citation in the same way.

Instructions

- 1
  Cite the person's first initial and last name, in that order, either in the text of the sentence or at the beginning of the parenthetical reference. If you cite the source's name in the parenthetical citation, then add a comma at the end.
- 2
  Write the phrase "personal communication" in the parentheses, at the beginning of the citation, if you mentioned the source's name in the text, or after the source's name in the parentheses. After the phrase, type a comma and then type a space.
- 3
  Cite the full date of the day the personal communication occurred; the date of the interview, the day you administered the survey or the postmark date of the email you received. To format the date, first write the full name of the month, then the date of the day using only numbers; type a comma and space, then write the year.

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