Components of an APA Reference Citation:
* Author(s): Last name, first initial. (If more than one author, use an ampersand "&" before the last author.)
* Year of Publication: In parentheses.
* Title of Work: Capitalized only for the first word and any proper nouns.
* Source: This can vary depending on the type of source (book, journal article, website, etc.) and includes information like:
* Journal: For journal articles, include the journal name in italics, the volume number, and the issue number.
* Book: Include the publisher and location of the publisher.
* Website: Include the URL and date accessed.
* Other sources: Include specific information relevant to the source type.
What's NOT Included:
* Your Own Thoughts or Opinions: Reference citations are for identifying the sources you used, not for providing your own analysis or commentary.
* Irrelevant Information: Avoid including information that is not essential for locating the source.
* Page Numbers: While you would use page numbers in an in-text citation, they are not included in the reference list entry itself.
Example:
Correct APA Reference:
Smith, J. D. (2023). The impact of social media on mental health. *Journal of Social Psychology*, 123(4), 55-70.
Incorrect APA Reference (Includes irrelevant information):
Smith, J. D. (2023). The impact of social media on mental health. *Journal of Social Psychology*, 123(4), 55-70. (This article was really interesting!)