How To Write References in APA Format for Thesis
Alexis Butler
When writing references for a thesis in APA format, follow these guidelines:
Start with a hanging indent: The first line of each reference should be flush with the left margin, while all subsequent lines should be indented by 0.5 inches.
Include the author's name: List the last name, followed by a comma and the initials of the first and middle name (if available). Use an ampersand (&) instead of "and" if there are multiple authors.
Provide the publication year: Enclose the year of publication in parentheses, followed by a period.
Specify the title of the work: Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of the title and any subtitles. Italicize the title and end it with a period.
Include publication information: Provide the name of the publisher or the journal in which the work was published. For books, include the location and the name of the publisher, separated by a colon. For articles, include the journal title, volume number (italicized), issue number (in parentheses), and page range.
Use the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available: If the article has a DOI, include it at the end of the reference. If the DOI is not available, provide the URL of the journal's homepage or the specific article.
For online sources, include retrieval information: If the source is only available online, include the URL at the end of the reference. If the source is a database, such as a scholarly journal or an institutional repository, provide the name of the database instead of the URL.
Here are a few examples of references in APA format for different types of sources:
Book: Smith, J. D. (2019). The Art of Writing. Publisher.
Journal article: Johnson, A. B., & Davis, C. E. (2020). The impact of technology on education. Journal of Educational Technology, 12(3), 45-60. DOI or URL
Website: National Institute of Health. (2021). Guidelines for healthy eating. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/healthy-eating-guidelines
Remember to arrange your references in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If there are multiple works by the same author, arrange them by publication year, starting from the earliest.
Always consult the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) for detailed guidelines and additional examples.
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