The Basics of Citing Journal Articles in APA
Citing your sources correctly is crucial in academic writing. It gives credit to the original authors, helps readers find your sources, and shows you've done your research. The American Psychological Association (APA) style is common in social sciences, education, and psychology. This guide breaks down how to cite a journal article in APA format, covering the most frequent scenarios.
Why APA Style Matters
APA style provides a standardized way to present research. This consistency makes it easier for readers to understand and locate information. Proper citation also protects you from accusations of plagiarism.
The Core Components of an APA Journal Article Citation
Most APA journal article citations follow a pattern. You’ll need several key pieces of information from the article itself:
- Author(s): The last name and initials of each author.
- Year of Publication: The year the article was published.
- Article Title: The full title of the article.
- Journal Title: The full title of the journal.
- Volume Number: The volume of the journal.
- Issue Number: The issue within that volume.
- Page Range: The starting and ending page numbers of the article.
- DOI (Digital Object Identifier): A unique alphanumeric string assigned to identify content and provide a persistent link.
Standard Format for a Journal Article
Here’s the general structure for a journal article citation in APA 7th Edition:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI
Let's break down each element with examples.
Author(s)
List authors by last name, followed by their first and middle initials. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name.
- One Author: Smith, J. D.
- Two Authors: Smith, J. D., & Jones, K. L.
- Three or More Authors: For three or more authors, list the first six authors, followed by an ellipsis (...), and then the last author.
* Example: Adams, R. A., Baker, S. M., Carter, L. N., Davis, P. Q., Evans, T. R., Foster, J. G., ... Williams, M. K.
Year of Publication
Enclose the year in parentheses.
- (2022)
Article Title
Capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word of any subtitle (after a colon), and proper nouns. Do not italicize or put quotation marks around the article title.
- The impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function.
- A new approach to learning: Strategies for success.
Journal Title
Italicize the journal title. Capitalize all major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns).
- Journal of Educational Psychology
- Psychological Science
Volume and Issue Numbers
Italicize the volume number. Do not italicize the issue number, but do enclose it in parentheses immediately following the volume number.
- 115(2)
Page Range
List the full page range of the article.
- 150-165
DOI
The DOI is essential for online articles. It's a permanent link to the article. If available, always include it. Format it as a hyperlink.
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020001
Putting It All Together: Examples
Let's see how these pieces fit together in a full citation.
Example 1: Article with a DOI
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx
- Actual Example:
Grady, J. S., Her, M., Moreno, G., Perez, C., & Yoder, J. (2019). Emotions in storybooks: A comparison of storybooks that represent ethnic and racial groups in the United States. Psychology of Popular Media, 8(3), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000185
Example 2: Article without a DOI (less common for recent articles)
If an article doesn't have a DOI, and you accessed it from a database or website, you might include the database name or URL if it's not widely available. However, for most academic journal articles found in common databases, the DOI is preferred. If no DOI is available and the article is not retrievable from a common database, you might include the journal title, volume, issue, page numbers, and the name of the database, followed by the URL of the journal's homepage.
- Actual Example (Hypothetical, if no DOI):
Smith, J. D. (2020). A study on student motivation. Journal of Learning, 12(4), 55-70.
Special Cases and Things to Watch For
- E-Journal Articles: Most journal articles are accessed online now. If a DOI is available, use it. If not, and you retrieved it from a specific online database (like PsycINFO or JSTOR), mention the database name. However, APA 7th Edition discourages mentioning database names for articles that have a DOI or are retrievable from the general internet. The DOI is the primary identifier.
- Articles with No Author: If an article has no author, start with the title.
Example: Understanding the research process. (2021). Academic Insights, 5*(1), 10-25.
- Articles with an Organization as Author: If the author is an organization, list the organization’s name.
Example: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association* (7th ed.).
- Articles in a Special Issue: If the article is part of a special issue, you might mention that in the citation if relevant, but the standard format usually suffices. The issue number itself often indicates it's a special edition.
- Retractions and Corrections: If an article has been retracted or corrected, APA has specific guidelines for how to cite these. Generally, you cite the original article and add a note about the retraction or correction.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect Capitalization: Forgetting to capitalize major words in the journal title or only capitalizing the first word of the article title (unless it's a proper noun).
- Missing or Incorrect Punctuation: Commas, periods, and parentheses need to be in the right places.
- Forgetting the DOI: This is a critical piece of information for locating online articles.
- Italicizing the Article Title: Remember, only the journal title and volume number are italicized.
- Listing Too Many Authors (for 3+): Using the ellipsis (...) correctly after the sixth author is key.
The Reference List
All the sources you cite in your paper must appear in a reference list at the end. The reference list should be alphabetized by the first author's last name. Each entry should have a hanging indent, meaning the first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented.
Getting Help with Citations
Ensuring every citation is perfect can be time-consuming. If you're struggling with APA formatting or want to make sure your bibliography is flawless, services like EssayGazebo.com offer professional editing and formatting to ensure your work meets academic standards.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite journal articles in APA style, enhancing the credibility and clarity of your academic writing.