The American Psychological Association has published rules on the correct way to refer to sources. These APA guidelines are used in many universities, universities of applied sciences and other organisations, including several courses at the HAN University of Applied Sciences.
In the overview below the most important guidelines are explained.
General
When a text is literally quoted in a thesis, or when the text is described (a paraphrase), you can refer to its source within the text. The source is described in much detail in the reference list, so a short reference between brackets directly following the quote or paraphrase will suffice.
There are two types of in-text citations:
- to quote: copying a piece of text literally
- to paraphrase: describing a piece of text in your own words
Quote
A quote is always placed between quotation marks. The quote is followed by a reference between brackets (last name author(s), year, page number(s)) or by referring to the author(s) within the text. Internet sources do not need a page number, with the exception of documents with page numbers, such as an article from a journal which has been uploaded as a pdf-document.
Quote with reference between brackets
- "Many people would suggest that attitudes and values are closely related, yet it may be strongly argued that values are deeper than attitudes and more embedded in our character” (Brooks, 2003, p. 31).
- “Each research project aims to provide knowledge, insight and information that can contribute towards solving a problem” (Verschuren & Doorewaard, 2010, p. 33), as does our research project.
Quote with author(s) in text
- Brooks (2003) says “many people would suggest that attitudes and values are closely related, yet it may be strongly argued that values are deeper than attitudes and more embedded in our character” (p. 31).
- Verschuren and Doorewaard (2010, p. 33) claim that “each research project aims to provide knowledge, insight and information that can contribute towards solving a problem”.
See also: How to refer and do an in-text citation for a source with multiple authors?
Quote of over forty words
A block quote (forty or more words) is put in a separate indented paragraph without quotation marks.
Brooks (2003, p. 177) gives a definition of organization structure:
Thus, a traditional view of organization structure is that it describes the way an organization is configured into work groups and the reporting and authority relationships that connect individuals and groups together. Structure acts to create separate identities for different work groups and has a major bearing on the effectiveness with which individuals and groups are able to communicate with each other.
This definition is used in the following chapter… [etc.]
Quote of an internet source
- “Earth’s warming climate is forecasted to make global precipitation patterns more extreme: Wet areas will become wetter, and dry areas will become drier” (Merzdorf, 2019).
Reference list
Brooks, I. (2003). Organisational behaviour: Individuals, groups and organisation (2nd edition). FT Prentice Hall.
Merzdorf, J. (2019, July 9). A drier future sets the stage for more wildfires. NASA Global Climate Change. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2891/a-drier-future-sets-the-stage-for-more-wildfires/
Verschuren, P., & Doorewaard, H. (2010). Designing a research project (R. Poper, Transl.; 2nd edition). Eleven International Publishing.
Paraphrase
When paraphrasing, you describe someone’s work in your own words. A paraphrase is followed by a reference between brackets which comprises of the last name of the author(s), year, page number. Mentioning the page number is not obligatory but is encouraged. You can name up to five authors maximum. When a text is written by six or more people, only the first author is mentioned with the addition of “et al”.
The reference list contains full references. Internet sources do not need a page number, with the ex-ception of documents with page numbers, such as an article from a journal which has been uploaded as a pdf-document.
Paraphrasing a book, article, chapter, etc. with one author
- A flexible organization structure design consists of three groups of people; professional core, contractual fringe, and flexible labour force (Brooks, 2003).
Paraphrasing a book, article, chapter, etc. with two authors
- There are five methods for accessing sources: questioning, observation, measurement instruments, content analysis, and search methods (Verschuren & Doorewaard, 2010).
Paraphrasing a book, article, chapter, etc. with three or more authors
- Occupational therapy increases the quality of life of elderly people with dementia and their caregivers (Voigt et al., 2009).
See also: How to refer and do an in-text citation for a source with multiple authors?
Paraphrasing an internet source
- Due to the warming climate, wet areas will become wetter and dry areas will become drier (Merzdorf, 2019).
Paraphrasing multiple works
Put the citations in alphabetical order, separated by semicolons.
- Due to the warming climate, wet areas will become wetter and dry areas will become drier (Hu et al., 2019; Merzdorf, 2019; Morrison, 2022).
Please note: As it is not always clear where a paraphrase starts, it is recommended to start the text with the author or title.
- Verschuren and Doorewaard (2010) describe five methods for accessing sources: questioning, observation, measurement instruments, content analysis, and search methods.
- In Designing a research project five methods for accessing sources are mentioned: questioning, observation, measurement instruments, content analysis, and search methods (Verschuren & Doorewaard, 2010, p. 220).
Reference list
Brooks, I. (2003). Organisational behaviour: Individuals, groups and organisation (2nd edition). FT Prentice Hall.
Hu, Z., Chen, X., Chen, D., Li, J., Wang, S., Zhou, Q., Yin, G., & Guo, M. (2019). “Dry gets drier, wet gets wetter”: A case study over the arid regions of central Asia. International Journal of Climatology, 39(2), 1072-1091. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.5863
Merzdorf, J. (2019, July 9). A drier future sets the stage for more wildfires. NASA Global Climate Change. Retrieved July 12, 2019, from https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2891/a-drier-future-sets-the-stage-for-more-wildfires/
Morrison, R. (2022, February 24). Climate change is changing Earth's water cycles so dry areas get drier and wet areas get wetter – causing catastrophic floods and droughts - and it's happening even faster than scientists predicted. Daily Mail. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10548751/Climate-change-changing-Earths-water-cycles-dry-areas-drier-wet-areas-wetter.html
Verschuren, P., & Doorewaard, H. (2010). Designing a research project (R. Poper, Transl.; 2nd edition). Eleven International Publishing.
Last update: April 5, 2022
