APA (American Psychological Association) format is widely used for academic writing, especially in social sciences. Here's a breakdown of the most important things to know about references:
1. The Reference List:
* Placement: The reference list is placed at the end of your paper on a separate page titled "References."
* Alphabetical Order: References are listed alphabetically by the first author's last name.
* Hanging Indentation: The first line of each reference is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented (usually 0.5 inches).
* Consistent Formatting: Use the same font and spacing throughout the reference list (typically 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced).
2. Common Reference Types:
* Book:
* **Author(s), A. A. (Year). *Book Title* (Edition). Publisher.
* Example:
* Smith, J. D. (2015). *Introduction to psychology* (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
* Journal Article:
* **Author(s), A. A. (Year). Article title. *Journal Name*, *Volume*(Issue), page range.
* Example:
* Jones, M. E., & Brown, K. L. (2020). The effects of social media on self-esteem. *Journal of Social Psychology*, *100*(3), 245-258.
* Website:
* **Author(s), A. A. (Year, Month Day). *Title of page or document*. Retrieved from URL
* Example:
* American Psychological Association. (2023, January 1). *APA Style Guide*. Retrieved from https://apastyle.apa.org/
3. Key Elements:
* Author(s): Last name, first initial (and middle initial, if provided). For more than one author, separate names with an ampersand (&).
* Year of Publication: In parentheses, followed by a period.
* Title: Italicize book titles. Capitalize the first word and any proper nouns in article titles.
* Publisher: For books.
* Journal Name & Volume/Issue: For journal articles. Italicize the journal name.
* Page Range: For journal articles.
* DOI (Digital Object Identifier): Include if available, after the page range (if applicable).
* Retrieval Information: For websites. Include the date retrieved and the URL.
4. In-Text Citations:
* Direct Quotes: Author(s), year, page number.
* Example: "The study found that 'social media use can have negative effects on self-esteem' (Jones & Brown, 2020, p. 250)."
* Paraphrased Information: Author(s), year.
* Example: Jones and Brown (2020) argued that excessive social media use can lead to decreased self-esteem.
5. Additional Resources:
* APA Style Manual, 7th Edition: The official guide to APA format.
* Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Excellent resource with detailed examples and formatting guidelines.
* APA Style Website: The official APA website with resources and FAQs.
Remember:
* Consistency is key. Follow the same formatting rules for all your references.
* Double-check your references carefully for accuracy.
* If you are unsure about how to format a particular reference, consult the APA Style Manual or an online resource.