Psychology Research Paper

BCCC Library

ggp – 12/4/2012 APA

In-Text Citations1 for APA Style Papers

Item Format Example

Direct Quote

Use quotation marks and include

the author’s name, year of

publication and page number in

parenthesis

"The research proved that a surprising number

of students felt that they did not have a

drinking problem"(Smith, 2009, p. 186).

Indirect

Quote2

Include the author’s name, and year

of publication in parenthesis

Every dollar spent using credit cards means

increased debt down the road (Jenkins 2006).

A Direct

Quote

without page

numbers

Include the author’s name, year of

publication and the abbreviation

para. followed by the paragraph

number in parenthesis

“With the latest technology, electric

efficiency will increase 58%” (Johnson, 2004,

para. 8)

A Direct

Quote with no

author

Cite the first few words of the title

in quotes, year of publication, and

page number in parenthesis

“Recent studies have shown that an increase

in the price of gasoline corresponds to a

decrease in its demand” (“Flexible Fuel Cars”,

2008, p. 210)

A Direct

Quote with a

company or

organization

as author

Include the company’s name (no

abbreviations unless the

abbreviation easily identifies the

group), year of publication and page

number in parenthesis

“The Family and Medical Leave Act provides

for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain

medical and family situations” (United States

Department of Labor, 2009, p. 9)

A Direct

Quote with 2

authors

Cite the first author followed by &

symbol and then the second author,

year of publication and page

number in parenthesis

“A breakthrough in supersonic flight could

help transform Japan's aerospace industry” (Farnsworth & Bacon, 2004, p.38).

A Direct

Quote with 3-

5 authors3

Include all the author’s names, year

of publication and page number in

parenthesis

“A lack of sleep leads to lower brain activity

in mice” (Duncan, Burns, Samson, & Jones,

2008, p 212).

A Direct

Quote with 6

or more

authors

Cite the first author followed by

the word “et al.”, year of

publication, and page number in

parenthesis

“Experts predict that by the year 2020, the

average motorist will spend 20% of their

income on fuel” (Montgomery, et al., 2009, p

158)

A Direct

Quote

without a

date

Include the author’s name, the

letters n.d. (for no date) and page

number in parenthesis

“Over 50% of reading problems are due to

people with no glasses or the incorrect

prescription” (Jenkins, n.d., p. 7)

Citing a

Source within

a source

Include the words as cited in, the

author’s name, year of publication

and page number in parenthesis

“Johnson believes that more study into cell

phone use will produce similar results” (as

cited in Rodriguez, 2003, p. 389).

1 See page 177 in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for examples 2 An indirect quote is when you use your words to convey an author’s ideas. 3 If you need to cite this source again, use the first author’s name followed by the words et al.