The American Sociological Association (ASA) format is widely used in the field of sociology for writing research papers. Proper in-text citation is crucial to give credit to original authors and to enhance the credibility of your work. Below are three diverse examples of ASA format in-text citations, each demonstrating distinct contexts and applications.
In your sociology paper discussing the impact of social media on youth behavior, you may want to reference a specific study by a single author.
According to Smith (2020), social media platforms have significantly altered communication patterns among adolescents.
When citing a single author, include the author’s last name followed by the year of publication in parentheses. If you mention the author in the text, only the year needs to be in parentheses.
When discussing a team study examining educational outcomes, you may need to refer to research conducted by multiple authors.
Recent findings indicate that socioeconomic status plays a critical role in educational achievement (Johnson and Lee 2021).
For works with two authors, always include both last names in every citation. Use “and” instead of the ampersand (&) when citing in text. For three or more authors, you would cite as follows: (Johnson et al. 2021).
In a paper exploring the influence of governmental policies on public health, you might refer to a report published by a government agency or organization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2022) emphasizes the importance of vaccination in preventing disease outbreaks.
When citing a group author, such as an organization or government body, include the full name of the organization on the first citation, followed by the abbreviation (if applicable). For subsequent citations, you can use the abbreviation only (CDC 2022).
These examples illustrate the diverse applications of ASA format in-text citations, helping you to accurately reference sources in your research papers.