Lesson: APA Citation in Research
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Understand the importance of APA citation.
2. Differentiate between in-text citations and reference entries.
3. Properly format citations using APA 7th edition guidelines.
1. Introduction to APA Citation
APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is commonly used in social sciences, education,
and business research. Proper citation ensures academic integrity, helps avoid plagiarism, and allows
readers to locate sources.
2. In-Text Citations (Citing Within the Paper)
When quoting or paraphrasing, you must cite the source in two ways:
Parenthetical Citation: Includes the author's last name and year in parentheses.
o Example: (Smith, 2020).
Narrative Citation: The author’s name is integrated into the text.
o Example: Smith (2020) states that…
2.1 Direct Quotes
If using an exact quote, include the page number.
Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 15).
2.2 Paraphrasing
When rewording an idea, a page number is optional but recommended.
Example: (Smith, 2020).
3. Reference List (Full Citation)
Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.
3.1 Basic Format
Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.
3.2 Common Source Examples
Book:
Smith, J. (2020). Understanding psychology. Oxford University Press.
Journal Article:
Brown, L. (2019). The effects of sleep on memory. Journal of Psychology, 45(2), 123-135.
https://doi.org/xxxxx
Website:
National Institute of Health. (2021). Mental health awareness.
https://www.nih.gov/mentalhealth
Edited Book Chapter:
Johnson, R. (2018). Social identity and behavior. In K. Adams (Ed.), Social psychology today
(pp. 45-67). Springer.
4. Formatting the Reference Page
Use hanging indentation (the first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).
Alphabetize sources by author’s last name.
Double-space all citations.
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
*Forgetting to cite paraphrased content
Always cite ideas that are not your own.
*Incorrect formatting of references
Follow APA guidelines (e.g., italicize book titles, use proper punctuation).
*Using outdated citation styles
Use APA 7th edition.
Activity 1
Try formatting the following sources in APA style:
1. A book by Lisa Brown published in 2022, titled Education and Technology, published by Pearson.
2. A journal article by Mark Lee, published in 2020 in Education Review (Vol. 34, Issue 1, pp. 23-45),
titled "Online learning effectiveness," with DOI: 10.xxxx.
Correction
1. Book Citation
Brown, L. (2022). Education and technology. Pearson.
2. Journal Article Citation
Lee, M. (2020). Online learning effectiveness. Education Review, 34(1), 23-45.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx
Explanation:
Book citation:
o Author’s last name, first initial.
o Year in parentheses.
Italicized book title (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
o
Publisher name (without “Inc.” or “Ltd.”).
o
Journal article citation:
o Author’s last name, first initial.
o Year in parentheses.
o Article title (sentence case, no italics).
o Italicized journal title, volume number also italicized.
o Issue number in parentheses (not italicized).
o Page numbers.
o DOI or website link.
Activity 2 : Format the following sources in APA 7th Edition by filling the gaps
1. A book by David Johnson, published in 2019, titled The Art of Communication, published by
Harvard Press.
2. A journal article by Emily Carter, published in 2021 in Psychology Today (Vol. 50, Issue 3, pp.
112-130), titled "Cognitive development in early childhood," with DOI: 10.xxxx.
3. A website article by World Health Organization (WHO), published in 2022, titled Mental health
awareness in youth, retrieved from https://www.who.int/mentalhealth
Complete the APA Citations
1. Book Citation
Johnson, D. (2019). _____________. ___________.
2. Journal Article Citation
Carter, E. (2021). ____________. Psychology Today, _______(), _____. https://doi.org/
3. Website Citation
___________. (2022). Mental health awareness in youth. Retrieved from _______________
Activity 3
Below is an incorrectly formatted APA citation. Identify at least three mistakes and rewrite it correctly.
Incorrect Citation:
Carter, Emily. "Cognitive Development in Early Childhood." Psychology Today, vol. 50, no. 3, 2021, pp.
112-130. www.psychologytoday.com/article/cognitive-development
Activity 4
Match the following source descriptions with the correct APA citation format:
Source Descriptions:
1. A research paper published in a journal.
2. A webpage article from an organization.
3. A book written by one author.
Citation Formats:
A. World Health Organization. (2022). Mental health awareness in youth. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/mentalhealth
.
B. Johnson, D. (2019). The art of communication. Harvard Press.
C. Carter, E. (2021). Cognitive development in early childhood. Psychology Today, 50(3), 112-130.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx
Activity 5 : Create an APA Citation
Based on the information provided, create a correctly formatted APA citation:
Author: Sophia Martinez
Year: 2020
Title: The Future of Artificial Intelligence
Publisher: MIT Press
