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Bibliography Entry Examples - Electronic & Print
American Psychological Association (APA Style)

Note: Second and third lines need to be indented for each sample entry.

The following reference citations are based on suggestions and examples from library staff, subscription databases, and the American Psychological Association's Web site at http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html. The 5th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association was also consulted. The Hessel Library has multiple copies of the APA Manual available for limited checkout at the Circulation/Reserve Desk in the Library.

It is suggested that you verify these examples with your instructor and/or look at the above-mentioned web site or the APA manual which contains additional examples.

Creating References for Articles from Electronic Databases

NOTE: Aggregated databases such as Academic Search Elite contain a collection of indexed/abstracted/full-text articles from many different magazines/journals as well as other types of sources. These databases are also accessed directly. According to APA, include in the retrieval statement the date of retrieval and the proper name of the database. Do not include the URL. See page 278 of Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edition.

Academic Search Elite database from EBSCOhost [aggregated database no URL]:

One author:

Perry, J. (2001, April 16). Searching the Web gets easier with engines that try to read your mind. U.S. News & World Report, 130 (15), 52. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from Academic Search Elite database.

Three to five authors:

Borman, W. C., Hanson, M. A., Oppler, S. H., Pulakos, E. D., & White, L. A. (1993). Role of early supervisory experience in supervisor performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 443-449. Retrieved October 23, 2000, from Academic Search Elite database.

LEXIS-NEXIS database [aggregated database no URL]:

Magazine article:

Wildstrom, S. H. (1999, April 5 ). A big boost for net privacy. Business Week, 23. Retrieved June 16, 1999, from LEXIS-NEXIS database.

Newspaper article:

Liswood, L. A. (1999, March 31). Gender politics and the Oval Office: Why don't women run for president? Baltimore Sun, 23A. Retrieved April 20, 2001, from LEXIS-NEXIS database.

WilsonSelectPlus database from FirstSearch [aggregated database no URL]:

Brand, T. (1997, September 22). Alberta leading third Canadian wave. Chemical Market Reporter, 252, 4. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from WilsonSelectPlus database.

CQ Researcher database:

Hatch, D. (2003, June 6). Drug company ethics. CQ Researcher, 521-544. Retrieved July 4, 2003, from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher

eBooks from netLibrary database [aggregated database no URL]:

MacDowell, M. (1997). African American quiltmaking in Michigan. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from netLibrary database.

American National Biography Online:

Wise, G. (February 2000). Swope, Gerard. American National Biography Online. Retrieved October 29, 2003, from http://www.amb.org/articles/10/10-0165.html

Creating References for Specific Documents Located on a Web Site

Article located on the Web based on a print source. Since it has been viewed only in its electronic form, brackets with "Electronic version" are added:

VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2002). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology undergraduates [Electronic version]. Journal of Bibliographic Resource, 5, 117-123.

NOTE: If you are referencing an online Web article you believe has been changed due to, e.g., additional data, you will need to include the retrieval date and the URL. You do not include the brackets with "Electronic version." But you do include the URL. For example:

VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2002). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology undergraduates. Journal of Bibliographic Resource, 5, 117-123. Retrieved October 13, 2001, from http://jbr.org/articles.html

Article in a magazine only available on the Web, with author. There is no print version available:

Fredrickson, B. L. (2000, March 7). Cultivating positive emotions to optimize health and well-being. Prevention & Treatment, 3, Article 0001a. Retrieved November 20, 2000, from http://journals.apa.org/prevention/volume3/pre0030001a.html

Article in a magazine only available on the Web, no author. There is no print version available:

From "character" to "personality": The lack of a generally accepted, unifying theory hasn't curbed research into the study of personality. (1999, December). APA Monitor, 30. Retrieved August 22, 2002, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss9.html

Article from a newspaper's or magazine's Web site, with author:

Weidle, T. (2001, May 6). Building bridges with the arts. Herald-Palladium. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from http://www.heraldpalladium.com/

Document from an association on the Web, no individual author:

American Veterinary Medical Association. (1997). Heart disease, cats are at risk too. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from http://www.avma.org/care4pets/b2c1.htm

Document from an association on the Web that includes the name of the author (e.g., a report/article written by an individual):

Doe, J. (1997). Heart disease, cats are at risk too. Retrieved June 13, 2001, from American Veterinary Medical Association Web site: http://www.avma.org/care4pets/b2c1.htm

Stand alone document from the Web; with no author identified, no date:

NOTE: If the author of a document is not identified, begin the reference with the title of the document:

GVU's 8th WWW user survey. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2000, from http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey1997-10/

U.S. Government report from government agency on the Web, no publication date given:

United States Sentencing Commission. (n.d.). Sourcebook of federal sentencing statistics. Retrieved December 8, 1999, from http://www.ussc.gov/annrpt/1997/sbtoc97.htm

U.S. Government report on the Web that includes name of the author as well as agency:

Doe, J. (1997.) Sourcebook of federal sentencing statistics. Retrieved December 8, 1999, from United States Sentencing Commission Web site: http://www.ussc.gov/annrpt/1997/sbtoc97.htm

Multipage document on the Web with no date:

NOTE: When a document from the Web contains multiple pages with different sections from different URLs, provide a URL that links to the home page for the document. Use n.d. when a publication date is not available.

Greater New Milford (Ct) Area Healthy Community 2000, Task Force on Teen and Adolescent Issues. (n.d.) Who has time for a family meal? You do! Retrieved October 5, 2000, from http://www.familymealtime.org

Document available on university program or department Web site:

Chou, L., McClintock, R., Moretti, F., Nix, D. H. (1993). Technology and education: New wine in new bottle: Choosing pasts and imaging education futures. Retrieved August 24, 2000, from Columbia University, Institute for Learning Technologies Web site: http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/publications/papers/newwine1.html

Creating References from Print Resources

Book:
Santoli, S. (1988). New Americans: An oral history. New York: Ballantine.

Magazine article:
Laylock, G. (1991, September-October). Good times are killing the Keys. Audubon, 93, 38-49.

Newspaper article:
Weidle, T. (2001, May 6). Building bridges with the arts. Herald-Palladium, 1E.

Section from a book-different author:
White, E. G. Once more to the lake. In X. J. Kennedy, D. Kennedy, & S. A. Holladay (1996), The Bedford guide for college writers (pp. 490-495). Boston: St. Martin's Press.