Study Skills Scheme

About the Scheme

Advisers

Handbook (online Version)

Seminars

Rights and Responsibilities

Chapter 10

Referencing – A Guide To The APA System

Introduction

There are three main referencing systems: the footnote style (Oxford), the author-date (Harvard) style, and the number-sequence (Vancouver) style. The basic principles underlying all referencing systems are the same. The most widely used referencing system in the Faculty of Health Sciences is the American Psychological Association (APA) system (a variation of the author-date system). Your subject guides indicate the preferred referencing system in that subject. If you are uncertain, check with your lecturer. This chapter firstly outlines the basic rules of referencing using author-date systems and then explains the conventions for the APA referencing system. A web link for the Harvard system is provided in Further Reading.

Basic rules of referencing

The following general principles of referencing apply to all author-date systems. Note that the examples provided are in the APA system. However, the basic rules also apply to Harvard and other author-date systems.

Referencing sources in your assignment (in-text)

More examples of in-text referencing are provided in the rest of this chapter.

The References list

More examples of listing references are provided in the rest of this chapter.

American Psychological Association (APA) referencing system

The following are the details of the conventions used in the APA system for in-text referencing and the References list for the most commonly used sources in Health Sciences.

single author

In-text

surname as part of the sentence – date in brackets

According to Johnstone (2001), individuals with mental illness are among the most stigmatised, discriminated against, disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in society.

surname and date in brackets

Individuals with mental illness are among the most stigmatised, discriminated against, disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in society (Johnstone, 2001).

References

Book

use surname, initial/s, date, title of book (in italics), (edition no.), place of publication, publisher

Germov, J. (2002). Second opinion: An introduction to Health Sociology. (2nd ed.). Sydney: Oxford University Press.

Journal Article (print)

use surname, initial/s, date, article title, journal name (in italics), vol. no. (in italics), (issue no.), page nos.

Johnstone, M. (2001). Stigma, social justice and the rights of the mentally ill: Challenging the status quo. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 10 (3), 200-209.

Note: For book titles, you use upper case for the first word only and if there is a name (e.g. of a person, place, organisation, academic discipline) which would normally take upper case. Journal titles are written in upper case.

two authors

In-text

surnames as part of the sentence – use ‘and’ between authors’ names

Allcock and Standen (2001) found that, when first encountering suffering during clinical placement, nursing students experience a wide range of strong emotions.

surnames and dates in brackets – use ‘&’ between authors’ names

When first encountering suffering during clinical placement, nursing students experience a wide range of strong emotions (Allcock & Standen, 2001).

References

use comma and ‘&’ between authors’ names

Allcock, N., & Standen, P. (2001). Student nurses’ experiences of caring for patients in pain. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 38, 287-295.

three to five authors

In-text

on first mention – list all surnames, use comma and ‘&’ between the last two names

Student attrition is more likely when grief is unacknowledged and unsupported (Matzo, Sherman, Lo, Egan, & Grant, 2003).

subsequent citations – use first surname and ‘et al.’

Studies have shown the necessity of education in preparing student nurses for coping with patient death during clinical placement (Matzo et al., 2003).

References

list all surnames, use comma and ‘&’ between last two names

Matzo, M.L., Sherman, D.W., Lo, K., Egan, K.A., & Grant, M. (2003). Strategies for teaching loss, grief and bereavement. Nurse Educator, 28 (2), 71-76.

six or more authors

In-text

use ‘et al.’ for first mention and all subsequent citations

It is likely that the incidence of stroke will rise, with a corresponding increased demand on health care services (Dewey et al., 2001).

References

list the first six authors, then use ‘et al.’

Dewey, H., Thrift, A.G., Mihalopoulos, C., Carter, R., MacDonnell, R.A., McNeill, J.J. et al. (2001). Cost of stroke in Australia from a societal perspective: Results from the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Stroke, 32, 2409-2416.

Note: When there are two or more sources with multiple authors (three or more) that shorten to the same surname, in-text you need to cite the surnames of as many subsequent authors as is needed to distinguish the references.

In-text

Lonigan, Burgess, Anthony, Barker et al. (1998) … …
Lonigan, Burgess, Anthony, Liberman et al. (2000) … …

References

Lonigan, C., Burgess, S., Anthony, J., Barker, T., Fischer, F., Carter, B. et al. (1998). Development of phonological sensitivity in 2-to-5-year-old children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90 (2), 294-311.

Lonigan, C., Burgess, S., Anthony, J., Liberman, I., Fischer, F., Brown, A. et al. (2000). Development of emergent literacy and early reading skills in preschool children: Evidence from a latent-variable longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 36 (5), 596-613.

chapter in edited book

In-text

use referencing conventions as for single-author books

Observation is a fundamental skill that is used on a daily basis and routinely included in clinical gait assessment (Guiliani, 1990).

References

use author’s surname and initial/s, date, chapter title, name/s of editor/s, title of book (in italics), page nos. of chapter, place of publication, publisher

Guiliani, C.A. (1990). Adult hemiplegic gait. In G.L. Smidt (Ed.), Gait in rehabilitation, (2nd ed., pp. 256-273). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill-Livingstone Inc.

compilation textbook (chapters by different authors, no editor)

In-text

use referencing conventions as for book/journal articles

When the States and Territories need extra money for their hospitals, they turn to the Commonwealth (Duckett, 2004).

References

use referencing conventions as for book, + title of textbook, page nos. of chapter in textbook, place of publication and publisher of textbook

Duckett. S. (2004). Financing the Australian health care system (Chapter 3). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. In Interdisciplinary professional practice (pp. 203-230). (2007). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

an edited work with no authors

In-text

use editor/s’ name/s as for author/s

References

use editor/s’ name/s in place of author/s

Stock, G., & Campbell, J. (Eds.). (2000). Engineering the human genome. New York: Oxford University Press.

secondary source (author cited within a source)

In-text

original author as part of the sentence – secondary source and date in brackets

Stein (cited in Ward, 1999) has suggested that this form of depression can also have adverse effects.

original author, secondary source and date all in brackets

This form of depression can also have adverse effects (Stein, cited in Ward, 1999).

References

list secondary source only

Ward, B. (1999). Improving the detection of postnatal depression. Professional Nurse, 15 (1), 15-18.

same author(s), different years

In-text

list sources in order of publication

Some correlation studies have also indicated that certain aspects of phonological awareness … … (Bradley and Bryant, 1983, 1985).

References

list sources in order of publication

Bradley, L., & Bryant, p. (1983). Categorising sounds and learning to read: A causal connection. Nature, 301, 419-421.

Bradley, L., & Bryant, p. (1985). Rhyme and reason in reading and spelling. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.

same author(s), same year

In-text

use lower case letters to distinguish between publications (based on order cited in assignment)

Onset-rime awareness has the most direct link with reading acquisition (Goswami, 2000a; Goswami, 2000b; Goswami & Bryant, 1990).

References

letters with sources correspond to those used in-text

Goswami, U. (2000a). Causal connections in beginning reading. Journal of Research in Reading, 22, 217-240.

Goswami, U. (2000b). In the beginning was the rhyme? A reflection on Hulme, Hatcher, Nation, Brown, Adams and Stuart. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 82, 41-46.

different authors, same surname

In-text

include initials to distinguish between authors

It has been claimed that occupation is the central focus of Occupational Science (M.A. Wilcock, 1998). However, some argue that …. (P. Wilcock, 2000).

References

list in alphabetical order according to authors’ initials with sources correspond to those used in-text

Wilcock, M.A. (1998).

Wilcock, P. (2000).

two or more sources in brackets

In-text

sources are ordered alphabetically - use a semicolon between sources

Numerous studies have found an association between phonological awareness and the acquisition of literacy (Adams, 1990; Blachman, 2003; Bradley & Bryant, 1983; Goswami & Bryant, 1990; Torgesen, Wagner, & Rashotte, 1994; Wagner & Torgesen, 1987).

direct quotation

In-text

short quotation

surname as part of the sentence – use double quotation marks and page no.

According to Wilcock (1998), “occupation is the central focus of Occupational Science” (p. 21).

surname and date in brackets – use double quotation marks and page no.

It has been claimed that “occupation is the central focus of Occupational Science” (Wilcock, 1998, p.21).

direct quotation of 40 or more words

indent the quote, include page no. (usually at end of quote), no quotation marks

Wilcock (1998) stated that:

Occupational therapists have proved poor at valuing the profession’s philosophical base and have failed to recognise ...(p.21)

direct quotation from electronic source with page nos.

Clinical reasoning is more a “matter of pattern recognition or direct automatic retrieval” (Elstein & Schwartz, 2002, p. 115).

direct quotation from electronic source without page nos.

Clinical reasoning is more a “matter of pattern recognition or direct automatic retrieval” (Elstein & Schwartz, 2002, Conclusion section, para. 2).

Note:

1. If paragraph numbers are not provided in electronic sources, cite the heading.
2. Page numbers (or section numbers/titles) are also needed for visuals (tables, graphs, figures) taken from sources.

document, organisation as author

In-text

use title of organisation

Methods for detecting and dealing with publication bias for diagnostic test studies are well developed (National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), 1999).

The National Health Workforce Strategic Framework was the first proactive government attempt to address Australia’s workforce issues (Australian Health Ministers’ Conference, 2004).

With the average weekly health expenditure continuing to rise, for example by 44% from 1998 to 2004 (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2005), the government should review the structure of its financing … …

References

use title of organisation

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2005). (Catalogue No. 6530.0). Household expenditure survey, Australia: Summary of results, 2003-2004. Canberra, Australia: ABS.

Australian Health Ministers’ Conference. (2004). National health workforce strategic framework.. Sydney, Australia: NSW Health Department.

National Health and Medical Research Council. (1999). How to review the evidence: Systematic identification and review of scientific literature. Canberra, Australia: Biotext.

Note: In the first mention in-text, you should provide both the full and abbreviated forms of the organisation’s name if the source is cited again later in your assignment. In all subsequent citations, you use the abbreviated form only with the date, for example, (ABS, 2005), (NHMRC, 1999).

document, no author and no organisation

Locating and using quality sources is an important aspect of university study and is vital to produce well-written assignments. You should avoid documents with no author and no organisation, especially if accessed online, as they may not be from credible sources.

Cochrane Review

In-text

as for books and journal articles

References

include date and volume of Cochrane Review, article number, and date retrieved

Bunn, F., Byrne, G., & Kendall, S. (2004, July, 19). Telephone consultation and triage: Effects on health care use and patient satisfaction. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, 2004 (3), Article CH004180. Retrieved April 11, 2007, from The Cochrane Library Database.

internet journals

References

electronic version of print journal

add ‘[Electronic version]’, URL not required

Prigg, A., & Mackenzie, L. (2002). Project placements for undergraduate occupational therapy students: design, implementation and evaluation. (2001). [Electronic version]. Occupational Therapy International, 9 (3), 210-236.

electronic version that differs from print version

include URL and date retrieved

Weist, M.D. (2001). Toward a public mental health promotion and intervention system for youth. Journal of Social Health, 71, 101-104. Retrieved August 25, 2001, from ProQuest database.

Note: The URL is required for electronic versions that differ from the print version of the journal in page numbers or format, or where there are changes to figures and tables.

internet-only journal

include URL and date retrieved

Gravener, J.A., Haedt, A.A., Heatherton, T.F., & Keel, P.K. (2008). Gender and age differences in associations between peer dieting and drive for thinness. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 4 (1), 57-63. Retrieved February 14, 2008 from http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/114293312/PDFSTART

other internet documents

References

fact sheets

New Doctor. (2001). Medicare fact sheet 4: Equity, efficiency and health care. Retrieved May 8, 2006, from http://www.drs.org.au/new_doctor/75/fact_sheet_4.html

Menadue, J. (2005, April 15). Australia’s health care system ‘must’ be reformed. ABC Local Radio Transcript. [online]. Retrieved May 3, 2006, from http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1346096.html

thesis retrieved from an online database

Embar-Seddon, A.R. (2000). Perceptions of violence in the emergency department. [Abstract]. Dissertations Abstracts International, 61 (02), 776A. Retrieved August 23, 2001, from

http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit9963641

newspaper articles

Ragg, M. (1999, August 14). Wait watching. Sydney Morning Herald. [Online]. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from http://www.smh.com.au/print/1999/s140899.html

measurement, test, inventory, etc (no author)

In-text

use full name of measurement/test/inventory

The interview was conducted using the Leadership Inventory Style (n.d.) as a reference point.

References

use full name of measurement/test/inventory + organisation

Leadership Inventory Style. (n.d.) University of Southern California. Retrieved May 20, 2006, from http://www.rcf.usc.edu/~plc/handouts/LeadershipStyleInventory.doc

Note: When there is no date on the source document, use ‘n.d.’, both in-text and in the References.

legislation, professional codes of ethics

In-text

use name of legislation, date, and section number

An appointed guardian can give consent for non-psychiatric health care that is in the best interests of the person (Mental Health Act, 1986, 1a).

A social worker has an ethical responsibility to respect the client’s right to make informed decisions about their well-being (Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), 1999, 4.1.1.c).

References

The Mental Health Act 1986, (Vic)

Australian Association of Social Workers. (1999). Code of ethics and by-laws on ethics. Canberra: AASW Ltd.

Note: Direct quotations from documents with sections should indicate the relevant section number.

brochure

References

use name of author/organisation, date, title and [Brochure]. If no author/organisation, use title.

Research and Training Centre on Independent Living. (2003). Guidelines for reporting and writing about people with disabilities. (4th ed.) [Brochure]. Melbourne: Author.

Note: The word ‘Author’ is used as the publisher when the author and publisher are the same thing.

information gained through personal communication

In-text

initials, surname and date (as exact a date as possible)

Variables selected should have clinical … (L.A. Bennett, personal communication, March 28, 2004).

Note: Personal communication can include an interview, telephone conversation, letter, or e-mail. Personal communication appears in-text only.

unpublished thesis

References

Dodd, K. (2000). A reliable and valid method for measuring lateral pelvic displacement after hemiparetic stroke. Unpublished doctoral thesis, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

conference papers

References

Dacakis, G., & Free, N. (2006 June). Gender representation of voice in male-to-female transsexuals. Paper presented at the 3rd World Voice Congress, Istanbul, Turkey.

Further reading

Guidelines on using the APA Referencing system and examples are also available at: The Writing Centre, University of Wisconsin-Madison http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocAPA.html and the Curtin university of technology Library http://www.library.curtin.edu.au/research_and_information_skills/referencing/index.html

Guidelines on using the Harvard Referencing system and examples are available at: http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/help/style-guides.php#Harvard http://www.latrobe.edu.au/asu/assign_manual.html http://www.library.curtin.edu.au/referencing/harvard.pdf

La Trobe University Library: Style Guides and Manuals. http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/help/style-guides.php

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (2001). (5th ed.). Washington D.C: American Psychological Association. A copy of the Manual is to be found at the reference desk in the library or can be bought from the University Bookshop.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (2001). (5th ed.). The Manual can also be accessed online at: http://www.apastyle.org