Examples of APA Citation Style Example

Explore diverse examples of APA citation style for your research papers.
By Jamie

Understanding APA Citation Style

APA (American Psychological Association) citation style is widely used in the social sciences, education, and other fields. It provides a standardized format for writing research papers and citing sources, ensuring clarity and uniformity. Here are three practical examples of APA citation style to help you understand how to properly reference various types of sources.

Example 1: Citing a Book

Context

This example demonstrates how to cite a book in APA format, which is essential for any research paper that includes published literature.

Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year of Publication). Title of the Book: Subtitle if applicable. Publisher.

For example:

Smith, J. A. (2020). Understanding Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide. Academic Press.

Notes

  • Always italicize the book title.
  • Include the publisher’s name without the terms ‘Company’ or ‘Inc.’
  • Ensure proper punctuation and capitalization of the title.

Example 2: Citing a Journal Article

Context

Citing journal articles is crucial in academic writing, especially when referring to studies or theories that support your research. This example shows how to format such citations.

Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range. https://doi.org/xxxxxx

For example:

Doe, R. (2021). The impact of social media on education. Journal of Educational Research, 45(3), 234-245. https://doi.org/10.1000/j.jer.2021.03.005

Notes

  • The journal title and volume number should be italicized.
  • Include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available for online articles.
  • Use sentence case for the article title but capitalize major words in the journal title.

Example 3: Citing a Website

Context

In the digital age, many researchers rely on online sources. This example illustrates how to cite a web page in APA format, which is an important skill for any scholar.

Author Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of the web page. Website Name. URL

For example:

Johnson, L. (2022, January 15). The future of online education. EdTech Insights. https://www.edtechinsights.com/future-of-online-education

Notes

  • If no individual author is listed, start with the organization as the author.
  • Ensure the URL is hyperlinked and accessible.
  • Include the full publication date if available; otherwise, use the year only.

These examples of APA citation style example should serve as a solid foundation for your research paper, helping you to cite your sources accurately and effectively.