APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

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Standard Format

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Author, A. A.

 

 (year).

[Unpublished doctoral dissertation/master’s thesis].

 

Name of Institution Awarding the Degree

 

Author, A. A.

 

(year).

[Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

  [Master’s thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

 

Database Name. 

Archive Name.

https://xxxx...

 

Adapted from American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Formatting:

  • Italicize the title
  • Identify whether source is doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis in parentheses after the title

Thesis, from a commercial database

(Order No. 3682837) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. 

Dissertation, from an institutional database

Andrea, H. (2014). (Doctoral dissertation). https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

Unpublished master’s thesis

Curry, J.  (2016).  (Unpublished master’s thesis).  Pacific Oaks College.

See Ch. 10 pp. 313-352 of APA Manual for more examples and formatting rules

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APA Citation Style, 7th Edition: Dissertations & Thesis

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Citing Dissertations & Theses in APA Format

Author Date Title (SOURCE) Institution (SOURCE) Database Name (SOURCE) URL
Author, A. A.  (2018).

[Unpublished master's thesis].

[Unpublished doctoral dissertation].

(Publication No. xx) [Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

Name of Institution Awarding the Degree.

found in Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global).

Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global.

https://www.xx.xxxx

Dissertations & Theses

Dissertations and theses are formatted the same way in APA 7th edition. Theses are generally the culminating work for a master's or undergraduate degree and dissertations are often original research completed by doctoral students. Here are examples of a dissertation & a thesis, and how they would be formatted: 

Examples: 

Dissertation found in Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global: 

Reference:  

Banks, B. (2020). Addressing institutional racism in healthcare: A case study (Publication No. 28154307) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota]. Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global. 

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):  

(Banks, 2020).

In-Text Citation (Direct Quote):

(Banks, 2020, p. 157).

Master's thesis from a University scholarship database: 

Sears, L. B. (2017). The public voice and sustainable food systems: Community engagement in food action plans [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Kansas.  https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/26899  

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Sears, 2017). 

(Sears, 2017, p. 24). 

Carrie Forbes, MLS

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Pages Referenced

Citation information has been adapted from the APA Manual (7th Edition). Please refer to page 333 of the APA Manual (7th Edition) for more information.

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APA 7th referencing style

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Thesis - from website

Thesis - from database.

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Elements of the reference

Author - last name, initial(s). (Year). [Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis, Institution]. Archive name. http://www.xxxxxx

In-text reference

(Axford, 2007)

Axford (2007) found that ....

Reference list

Axford, J.C. (2007).  [Doctoral dissertation, University of Queensland]. UQ eSpace. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:158747

EndNote reference type

Thesis

Add Archive Name to Name of Database field.

Elements of the reference

Author - last name, initials. (Year).  (Publication No. - if available) [Doctoral dissertation or master's thesis, Institution]. Database Name. 

In-text reference

(Leigh, 2010)

Leigh (2010) reported that ....

Reference list

Leigh, J. (2010).  (Publication No. 305210119) [Doctoral dissertation, Indiana State University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

EndNote reference type

Thesis

Add Publication Number to Document Number field.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in APA

How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in APA

In this citation guide, you will learn how to reference and cite an undergraduate thesis, master’s thesis, or doctoral dissertation. This guide will also review the differences between a thesis or dissertation that is published and one that has remained unpublished. The guidelines below come from the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2020a), pages 333 and 334. Please note that the association is not affiliated with this guide.

Alternatively, you can visit EasyBib.com for helpful citation tools to cite your thesis or dissertation .

Guide Overview

Citing an unpublished thesis or dissertation, citing a published dissertation or thesis from a database, citing a thesis or dissertation published online but not from a database, citing a thesis or dissertation: reference overview, what you need.

Since unpublished theses can usually only be sourced in print form from a university library, the correct citation structure includes the university name where the publisher element usually goes.

Author’s last name, F. M. (Year published). Title in sentence case [Unpublished degree type thesis or dissertation]. Name of institution.

Ames, J. H., & Doughty, L. H. (1911). The proposed plans for the Iowa State College athletic field including the design of a reinforced concrete grandstand and wall [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis]. Iowa State University.

In-text citation example:

  • Parenthetical :  (Ames & Doughty, 1911)
  • Narrative :  Ames & Doughty (1911)

If a thesis or dissertation has been published and is found on a database, then follow the structure below. It’s similar to the format for an unpublished dissertation/thesis, but with a few differences:

  • The institution is presented in brackets after the title
  • The archive or database name is included

Author’s last name, F. M. (Year published). Title in sentence case (Publication or Document No.) [Degree type thesis or dissertation, Name of institution]. Database name.

Examples 1:

Knight, K. A. (2011). Media epidemics: Viral structures in literature and new media (Accession No. 2013420395) [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Example dissertation-thesis

Trotman, J.B. (2018). New insights into the biochemistry and cell biology of RNA recapping (Document No. osu1523896565730483) [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses & Dissertations Center.

In the example given above, the dissertation is presented with a Document Number (Document No.). Sometimes called a database number or publication number, this is the identifier that is used by the database’s indexing system. If the database you are using provides you with such a number, then include it directly after the work’s title in parentheses.

If you are interested in learning more about how to handle works that were accessed via academic research databases, see Section 9.3 of the Publication Manual.

In-text citation examples :

  • Parenthetical citation : (Trotman, 2018)
  • Narrative citation : Trotman (2018)

Author’s last name, F. M. (Year Published). Title in sentence case [Degree type thesis or dissertation, Name of institution]. Name of archive or collection. URL

Kim, O. (2019). Soviet tableau: cinema and history under late socialism [Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh]. Institutional Repository at the University of Pittsburgh. https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/37669/7/Olga%20Kim%20Final%20ETD.pdf

Stiles, T. W. (2001). Doing science: Teachers’ authentic experiences at the Lone Star Dinosaur Field Institute [Master’s thesis, Texas A&M University]. OAKTrust. https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2001-THESIS-S745

It is important to note that not every thesis or dissertation published online will be associated with a specific archive or collection. If the work is published on a private website, provide only the URL as the source element.

In-text citation examples:

  • Parenthetical citation : (Kim, 2019)
  • Narrative citation : Kim (2019)
  • Parenthetical citation : (Stiles, 2001)
  • Narrative citation : Stiles (2001)
Unpublished Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). [Unpublished degree type thesis or dissertation]. Name of institution Ames, J.H., & Doughty, L.H (1911). [Unpublished bachelor’s thesis]. Iowa State University.
Published from a database Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). (Publication or Document No.) [Degree type thesis or dissertation, Name of institution]. Database name. Trotman, J.B. (2018). (Document No. osu1523896565730483) [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Thesis & Dissertations Center
Published online but not from a database Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year Published). [Degree type thesis or dissertation, Name of institution]. Name of archive or collection. URL Kim, O. (2019). [Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh]. Institutional Repository at the University of Pittsburgh. http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/37669/7/Olga%20Kim%20Final%20ETD.pdf

dissertation and thesis Citations for APA 7

We hope that the information provided here will serve as an effective guide for your research. If you’re looking for even more citation info, visit EasyBib.com for a comprehensive collection of educational materials covering multiple source types.

If you’re citing a variety of different sources, consider taking the EasyBib citation generator for a spin. It can help you cite easily and offers citation forms for several different kinds of sources.

To start things off, let’s take a look at the different types of literature that are classified under Chapter 10.6 of the Publication Manual :

  • Undergraduate thesis
  • Master’s thesis
  • Doctoral dissertation

You will need to know which type you are citing. You’ll also need to know if it is published or unpublished .

When you decide to cite a dissertation or thesis, you’ll need to look for the following information to use in your citation:

  • Author’s last name, and first and middle initials
  • Year published
  • Title of thesis or dissertation
  • If it is unpublished
  • Publication or document number (if applicable; for published work)
  • Degree type (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral)
  • Thesis or dissertation
  • Name of institution awarding degree
  • DOI (https://doi.org/xxxxx) or URL (if applicable)

Since theses and dissertations are directly linked to educational degrees, it is necessary to list the name of the associated institution; i.e., the college, university, or school that is awarding the associated degree.

To get an idea of the proper form, take a look at the examples below. There are three outlined scenarios:

  • Unpublished thesis or dissertation
  • Published thesis or dissertation from a database
  • Thesis or dissertation published online but not from a database

American Psychological Association. (2020a). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

American Psychological Association. (2020b). Style-Grammar-Guidelines. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles/parenthetical-versus-narrative

Published August 10, 2012. Updated March 24, 2020.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

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To cite a published thesis in APA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the author, publication year, title of the thesis, institute name, archive name, and URL (uniform resource locator). The templates for an in-text citation and reference list entry of a thesis, along with examples, are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

Use the author surname and the publication year in the in-text citation.

Author Surname (Publication Year)

Cartmel (2007)

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname, Publication Year)

(Cartmel, 2007)

Reference list entry template and example:

The title of the thesis is set in sentence case and italicized. Enclose the thesis and the institute awarding the degree inside brackets following the publication year. Then add the name of the database followed by the URL.

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Title of the thesis [Master’s thesis, Institute Name]. Name of the Database. URL

Cartmel, J. (2007). Outside school hours care and schools [Master’s thesis, Queensland University of Technology]. EPrints. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/17810/1/Jennifer_Cartmel_Thesis.pdf

To cite an unpublished dissertation in APA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the author, year, title of the dissertation, and institute name. The templates for in-text citation and reference list entry of an online thesis, along with examples, are given below:

Author Surname (Year)

Averill (2009)

(Author Surname, Year)

(Averill, 2009)

The title of the dissertation is set in sentence case and italicized. Enclose “Unpublished doctoral dissertation” inside brackets following the year. Then add the name of the institution awarding the degree.

Author Surname, F. M. (Publication Year). Title of the dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Name of the Institute.

Averill, R. (2009). Teacher–student relationships in diverse New Zealand year 10 mathematics classrooms: Teacher care [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Victoria University of Wellington.

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APA Style (7th Edition) Guide: Dissertation/Thesis

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If you access a dissertation or thesis in the database ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, in an archive or in an institutional repository it is considered published. If the publication number is available place it after the title in parentheses. The phrase Doctoral dissertation, Master's thesis or Undergraduate thesis and the name of the university are placed in square brackets, then the name of the database, archive or repository. Only include the URL at the end if the reader will be able to access the document directly.

Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain: The relationship between customer

       satisfaction and customer loyalty [Doctoral dissertation, Monterey University]. Academic Excellence Archive.

       https://www.exampleurl.edu/12345/67890/Kabir.pdf

       satisfaction and customer loyalty (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest

       Dissertations & Theses Global.

If you access a dissertation or thesis in print form or it does not have an online version or the online version is not publicly available, consider it unpublished.

Lopez, L. (2019). Leadership perceptions and practices of high school leaders [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of

Puerto Rico at Mayaguez.

Lopez, L. (2019). Leadership perceptions and practices of high school leaders [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of

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APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources

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  • APA Paper Review (Regis Students Only)

If you are on this tab, you have probably been asked to format a dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project paper using APA format. Use the below information to help you format the different pieces of your paper.  Please check with your academic department to see if they have an official dissertation/SPP format template for your program.

A note on Table of Contents: Most APA papers do not require a Table of Contents (TOC). If you are writing a Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project, you may be asked to include one. Please note: the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association does not have an official stance on formatting a Table of Contents page .

Below, you will find some general information and examples of Table of Contents (TOC), Abstracts and Keywords, and the Signature page that you may find helpful.

  • Scribbr Creating an APA-style Table of Contents This tutorial from Scribbr is extremely helpful in formatting your APA Table of Contents.

Scribbr APA Table of Contents

Use the below examples as a reference point for forming your Table of Contents. These should be used as a baseline for formatting-- yours will be more specific to your headings and subject-matter.

  • DNP SPP TOC Example 1
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  • EdD Dissertation TOC Example 1
  • EdD Dissertation TOC Example 2

Your signature page is one of the most important pieces of your final product. It proves that you completed the dissertation!  Below is an example of what your signature page should look like (names blanked out for privacy).

If you have any questions about the signature page or how to get it signed, please contact your program director.

thesis apa 7th edition

ABSTRACT : An abstract is required for your Dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project and must be included before submitting your final copy to Proquest.  An abstract is a brief, comprehensive overview of your paper. Generally, it should not exceed 250 words.

KEYWORDS : You should also include keywords. Keywords are descriptive terms that encompass the themes of your paper. Think about what terms you used when searching for your topic in the databases. This is what researchers will use to find your paper!

  • APA Style Abstract and Keywords Handout For more information on creating an Abstract and Keywords, please use this handout from the APA Style site.
  • Professional Paper sample with Abstract Example See page one of this document for an example of an Abstract and Keywords, with annotations on where to find more information in APA Manual. From the APA Style site.
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Introduction

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished.

In most cases, unpublished projects are those that are in print and available only from the degree-granting institution. On the other hand, published projects are those that are available in a database, a university archive, or a personal website. 

Variations - URLs?

Some URLs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter URLs. Shortened URLs can be created using any URL shortener service; however, if you choose to shorten the URL, you must double-check that the URL is functioning and brings the reader to the correct website. 

Common URL Shortner websites include:

More Information

For more information about URLs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE:  Check your instructor's preference about using short URLs. Some instructors may want the full URL. 

Variations - DOIs?

Some DOIs may be long and complicated. APA 7th edition allows the use of shorter DOI numbers. Shortened DOIs can be located at the International DOI Foundations, shortDOI Service . 

More Information:

For more information about DOIs, see Section 9.36 on page 300 of APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference for using short DOIs. Some instructors may want the full DOI. 

Variations - Live Hyperlinks?

Should my urls be live.

It depends. When adding URLs to a paper or other work, first, be sure to include the full hyperlink. This includes the http:// or the https://. Additionally, consider where and how the paper or work will be published or read. If the work will only be read in print or as a Word doc or Google Doc, then the URLs should not be live (i.e., they are not blue or underlined). However, if the work will be published or read online, then APA advises to include live URLs. This would allow the reader to click on a link and go to the source.   

For more information, see Section 9.35 on pages 299-300 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using live URLs. Some instructors may not want you to use live URLs. 

Print Master's Thesis, Dissertation, or Project

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished. In most cases, unpublished projects are those that are in print and available only from the degree-granting institution. 

Panasuk, K. N. (2008). What variables appear to work in stress management programs in the workplace and how effective are

these  programs  [Unpublished master’s final project]? The College of St. Scholastica.

Author: Panasuk, K. N.

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. then, add the initials for the first and middle names (if the middle name or middle initial is provided). add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials., year of publication: (2008)..

Next, in parentheses, list the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title verso page (back side of title page). Follow the parentheses with a period.   

Title & Subtitle of the Book: What variables appear to work in stress management programs in the workplace and how effective are these programs [Unpublished master's final project]?

Next, add the title and subtitle of the master's thesis, dissertation, final applied project, or capstone. The title and subtitle are separated by a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and all proper nouns.  Italicize the title and subtitle. Do not add a period immediately after the title. Instead, add brackets with the type of project (Master's project, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Before the type of project add "Unpublished". When choosing wording to describe the project, use the language the degree-granting institution uses to describe the project (e.g., Master's thesis, Doctoral dissertation, Final Applied Project, Capstone Project, Clinical Project, etc.). Add a period after the brackets. If the title has a question mark or exclamation mark, replace the period after the brackets with the proper punctuation mark used in the title.   

Source Information: The College of St. Scholastica.

Complete the reference with the source information, which is the full name of the college or university awarding the degree. add a period after the institution's name.  more information:.

For more information about master's theses, dissertations, or capstone projects, Section 10.6 on pages 333-334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition.

Parenthetical Citation Example:

 (Panasuk, 2008)

Narrative Citation Example:

Panasuk (2008) identified ...

For more information about author format within parenthetical and narrative citations, see Section 8.17 and Table 8.1 on page 266 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

Master's Thesis Published in a Commercial Database (like ProQuest Dissertations & Theses)

When creating references for dissertations, theses, and projects, you will need to determine the correct reference type to follow. Dissertations, theses, and projects are generally divided into two separate groups; those that are published and those that are unpublished. In most cases, published projects are those that are available in a database, a university archive, or a personal website. 

Skallet, S. (2016). Environmental approval duration estimating model for improved linear energy construction project schedules  (Publication No.

10125148)  [Master's capstone project, The College of St. Scholastica]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. 

Author: Skallet, S.

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. then, add the initials for the author's first and middle names (if a middle name or middle initial is provided). add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials.     year of publication: (2016)..

Next, in parentheses, add the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title page verso (back side of title page). Follow the parentheses with a period.   

Title & Subtitle of the Book:  Environmental approval duration estimating model for improved linear energy construction project schedules  (Publication No. 10125148) [Master's capstone project, The College of St. Scholastica].

Next, add the title and subtitle (if there is a subtitle) of the capstone, final applied project, thesis, or dissertation. Separate the title and subtitle with a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle and all proper nouns. Italicize the title. Do NOT add a period after the title.

After the title, in parentheses, add the publication number (normally found in the record of the project within ProQuest). Before the publication number put "Publication No." Do NOT add a period after the parentheses. 

After the publication number, add brackets with the type of project (Master's thesis, Master's capstone project, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Use the language described by the degree-granting institution to describe the project. Then, add a comma and the name of the institution. Add a period after the brackets.      

Source Information: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. 

Complete the reference with the commercial database where you found the masters thesis/project. end with a period.    more information:  .

For more information on Master's Theses/Projects, see Section 10.6 on pages 333-334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition.

 (Skallet, 2016)

Skallet (2016) argued ...

Dissertation Published Online

Adame, A. (2019). Fully immersed, fully present: Examining the user experience through the multimodal presence scale and virtual reality gaming

variables [Master's thesis, California State University San Bernardino]. CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, &

Dissertations.  https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/918/

Author: Adame, A. 

Begin the reference with the author's last name first. Then, add the initials of the author's first and middle names (if a middle name or middle initial is provided). Add a period after each initial, and if there is a middle initial, add a space between the initials. 

Year of Publication: (2019). 

Next, in parentheses, add the year of publication, which appears on the title page or the title verso page (back side of the title page). Follow the parentheses with a period. 

Title & Subtitle of the Book: Fully immersed, fully present: Examining the user experience through the multimodal presence scale and virtual reality gaming variables [Master's thesis, California State University San Bernardino]. 

Next, add the title and subtitle (if there a subtitle present) of the thesis or project. Separate the title and subtitle with a colon. Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle as well as proper nouns. Italicize the title and subtitle. Do NOT add a period after the title. Instead, after the title, add brackets with the type of project (Master's thesis, doctoral dissertation, etc.) you are referencing. Use the language described by the degree-granting institution to describe the project. Then, add a comma and the name of the institution. Add a period after the brackets.   

Source Information: CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, & Dissertations.  https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/918/

Complete the reference with the name of the website or archive where you found the project. After the name of the website or archive, add a period. Then, add the URL to the project. 

For more information about Master's Theses or Projects, see Section 10.6 on page 333 and example 66 on page 334 in the APA Manual, 7th edition. 

(Adame, 2019)

Adame (2019) distinguished between ...

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A thesis is an unpublished document produced by student as part of the requirements for the degree. They come at various levels (e.g. Honours, Masters, PhD, etc). Check with your lecturer before using a thesis for your assignment.

Format

Author, A. A. (Date). [Type of thesis, name of institution awarding degree]. Name of archive or site. URL

Author, A. A. (Date). [Type of thesis, name of institution awarding degree]. Database Name.

:

Author, A. A. (Date). [Type of thesis]. Name of institution awarding the degree. 

Author, A. A. (Date). [Unpublished type of thesis]. Name of institution awarding the degree. 

Examples [Doctoral thesis, James Cook University]. ResearchOnline@JCU. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/47533/

Hawkins, E. J. (1999). [Unpublished master's thesis]. James Cook University.

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APA 7th Edition Citation Guide Dissertations and Theses

Thesis or dissertation from a library database.

Reference Page Format:

Author, A. A. (Year of Publication).  Title of dissertation/thesis  [Master's thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of institution awarding degree]. Database name.

Reference Page Example:

Thao-Yang, T. (2021).  All it takes is one person: First-generation Hmong women's educational experiences  [Doctoral dissertation, Concordia University]. Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global.

In-text Citation Examples:

Thao-Yang (2021) shared that ... ...( Thao-Yang ,  2021 ). ...( Thao-Yang ,  2021, p. 65 ).

Thesis or Dissertation from an Institutional Repository

Author, A. A. (Year of Publication).  Title of dissertation/thesis  [Master's thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of institution awarding degree]. Institutional Repository Name. URL
Janssen, K. (2021).  Ways technology impact cognitive development in early childhood environment  [Master's Thesis, Concordia University]. DigitalCommons@CSP.  https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/teacher-education_masters/52
Janssen (2021) shared that ... ...( Janssen,  2021 ). ...( Janssen,  2021, p. 22 ).

Print Thesis or Dissertation

Author, A. A. (Year of Publication).  Title of dissertation  [Unpublished master's thesis/doctoral dissertation]. Name of the institution awarding the degree.
Munson, D. J. (2019). How undergraduate faculty navigate the use of free internet sources for scholarly purposes  [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Nova Southeastern University.
Munson (2019) shared that ... ...(Munson, 2019). ...( Munson, 2019, p. 36 ).
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APA 7th Referencing Style Guide

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Terminology - Thesis, dissertation or exegesis?

Published theses and dissertations, unpublished theses and dissertations.

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Thesis and dissertation can mean different things depending on where the degree is awarded. Always check the title page, or subsequent pages, to determine exactly what the work is and use the information for your reference. ​

Auckland University of Technology (and other NZ universities)

  • Thesis is either for a doctoral or a master's degree.
  • Dissertation is either for a master's or a bachelor's degree with honours.
  • Exegesis is the written component of a practice-based thesis where the major output is a creative work;  e.g., a film, artwork, novel.

Other parts of the world

  • In North America and some other countries, dissertation is used for a doctoral degree and thesis for a master's degree.

Theses available in a database, a university archive or from a personal website.

Reference format

Author, A. A. (Year).  (Publication No. ) [Doctoral dissertation/Doctoral thesis/Master's dissertation/Master's thesis, Institution Name].

Database Name.  URL

Archive Name.  URL

Theses published online (e.g. in institutional repositories)

Miller, T. (2019). [Master's thesis, Auckland University of Technology]. Tuwhera. 

Kelly, C. B. D. (2018). [Doctoral thesis, The University of Waikato]. The University of Waikato Research Commons. 

Theses from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global

Becker, J. C. (2013). (Publication No. 3577776) [Doctoral dissertation, Graduate Council of Texas State University - San Marcos]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Find how to cite in text on the  In-text citation  page.

 Unpublished thesis or dissertations are usually sourced directly from the university in print form.

 Reference format

Author, A. A. (Year). [Unpublished doctoral or master's thesis or dissertation].

Name of the Institution awarding the degree.

Stewart, Y. (2000).  [Unpublished master's thesis]. Auckland University of Technology.

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APA 7th Edition Citation Examples

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  • Court Decisions
  • Treaties and Other International Agreements
  • Federal Regulations: I. The Code of Federal Regulations
  • Federal Regulations: II. The Federal Register
  • Executive Orders
  • Charter of the United Nations
  • Federal Statutes

Format for dissertations and theses

Dissertations and theses database.

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Author last name, first initial. (Year).  Title of dissertation/thesis  (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis, University]. Database. URL

  • Author:  List the last name, followed by the first initial (and second initial). See  Authors  for more information.
  • Year:  List the year between parentheses, followed by a period.
  • Title of dissertation/thesis:  In italics. Capitalize the first word of the title, subtitle, and proper nouns.
  • Publication number: Can be found in Dissertations and Theses database, listed in the item record as “Dissertation/thesis number.”
  • Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis:  List whether it is a dissertation or a thesis.
  • University:  List the university associated with the dissertation/thesis.
  • Database:  List database the dissertation/thesis was found in, if found in a database.
  • URL:  List URL if found on the free Web rather than in a database.

See specific examples below.

Dissertations:

Pecore, J. T. (2004). Sounding the spirit of Cambodia: The living tradition of Khmer music and dance-drama in a Washington, DC community  (Publication No. 3114720) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. 

Master's Theses:

Hollander, M. M. (2017). Resitance to authority: Methodological innovations and new lessons from the Milgram experiment   (Publication No. 10289373) [Master's thesis, University of Wisconsin - Madison]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

APA calls for the citation to include a unique identifying number for the dissertation, labeling it “Publication No.” That number can be found in Dissertations and Theses database, listed in the item record as “Dissertation/thesis number.”

Karamanos, X. (2020). The influence of professional development models on student mathematics performance in New Jersey public elementary schools [Doctoral dissertation, Seton Hall University]. Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2732

Bordo, V. C. (2011). Making a case for the use of foreign language in the educational activities of nonprofit arts organizations [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses & Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1311135640

Caprette, C. L. (2005). Conquering the cold shudder: The origin and evolution of snake eyes  [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University].

Angelova, A. N. (2004). Data pruning  [Master's thesis, California Institute of Technology].

See  Publication Manual , 10.6.

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From a Database

From the web, unpublished (in print from a university library).

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General Rule:

Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis  (Publication No. #) [Doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree]. Name of Database.

Davis, P. M. (2010). Access, readership, citations: A randomized controlled trial of scientific journal publishing . (Publication No.   3429815 )  [Doctoral dissertation, Cornell University].  ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.  

Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis  [Doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis, Name of Institution]. Name of Website. URL

Buckman, A. (1997). MOOSE Crossing: Construction, community, and learning in a networked virtual world for kids [Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. DSpace@MIT.  https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/33821

Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis  [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis]. Name of Institution.

Long, R.P. (1972). A study of instructional objectives and methods for interpersonal communication. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. West Virginia University.

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APA Citation Style 7th Edition

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Citing Dissertations (7th edition)

  • Pamphlet or Brochure
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  • Published Dissertation
  • Unpublished Dissertation
  • Dissertation Published Online (Not in a Database)

 

 

 

Author, A. A. (2020).

[Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

[Master's thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

Database Name.

Archive Name.

https://xxxxx

For a doctoral or master's thesis available from a database service such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global:

Reference List

Dempsey-Richardson, C. (2013). 'It's like we were being watched ... like there were only three walls, and not a fourth wall': Manifestations of metafiction in Buffy the vampire slayer  (Order No. 14333 04638 ) [Master's thesis, Eastern Kentucky University].  ProQuest  Dissertations & Theses Global.

Nicosia, M. (2016).  Performing the female superhero: An analysis of identity acquisition, violence, and hypersexuality in DC comics  [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. Electronic Theses and Dissertation Center.  https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

In-Text Citations

Parenthetical citations:

  • Paraphrase: (Dempsey-Richardson, 2013);  (Nicosia, 2016)
  • Quotation: (Dempsey-Richardson, 2013, p. 6);  (Nicosia, 2016, p. 110)

Narrative citations: Dempsey-Richardson (2013);  Nicosia (2016)

NOTE: Remember to use proper spacing and hanging indentations.

Author, A. A. (2020)  [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Name of Institution Awarding the Degree.

Kassover, A. (1987). Treatment of abusive males: Voluntary vs. court mandated referrals  [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Nova University.

Considine, M. (1986). Australian insurance politics in the 1970s: Two case studies  [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Melbourne.

Parenthetical citations:  (Kassover, 1987); (Considine, 1986)

Narrative citations: Kassover (1987); Considine (1986)

NOTE:   Remember to use proper spacing and hanging indentations.

 


 

 

 


Author, A. A. (2020)

 [Doctoral dissertation, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

 [Master's thesis, Name of Institution Awarding the Degree].

Database Name.

Archive Name.

https://xxxxx

Hutcheson, V. (2012). Dealing with dual differences: Social coping strategies of gifted and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adolescents [Master's thesis, The College of William & Mary]. William & Mary Digital Archive.  https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/16594

Parenthetical citations: 

  • Paraphrase: (Hutcheson, 2012)
  • Quotation: (Hutcheson, 2012, p. 12)

Narrative citation: Hutcheson (2012)

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American Psychological Association

Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis References

This page contains a reference example for an unpublished dissertation or thesis.

Harris, L. (2014). Instructional leadership perceptions and practices of elementary school leaders [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Virginia.

  • Parenthetical citation : (Harris, 2014)
  • Narrative citation : Harris (2014)
  • When a dissertation or thesis is unpublished, include the description “[Unpublished doctoral dissertation]” or “[Unpublished master’s thesis]” in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title.
  • In the source element of the reference, provide the name of the institution that awarded the degree.
  • The same format can be adapted for other unpublished theses, including undergraduate theses, by changing the wording of the bracketed description as appropriate.
  • If you find the dissertation or thesis in a database or in a repository or archive, follow the published dissertation or thesis reference examples .

Unpublished dissertation or thesis references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.6 and the Concise Guide Section 10.5

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APA Style Guide 7th Edition

  • Thesis and Dissertations
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GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR Thesis and Dissertations 

Published Thesis - Available online / from a database 

Author Last name, First Initials. (Year). Title of Thesis or Dissertation     [Type of thesis, Name of institution awarding degree]. Database name. Web address

Unpublished Thesis - Available in print from a college or university 

Author Last name, First Initials. (Year).  Title of Thesis or Dissertation     [Unpublished type of thesis]. Name of institution awarding degree.

EXAMPLES 

Published Thesis - From a database 

Kral, T. R. (2020). Impact of mindfulness meditation on brain function, connectivity, and structure (Publication          No.  27833897)    [Doctoral dissertation, The University of Wisconsin-Madison].  ProQuest Dissertations           Publishing.

Published Thesis - Available online  

Hunsaker, C. (2020).  Beyond theory: Simulation and role-play in interpreter education  [Master's thesis,           Western Oregon University]. Western Oregon University Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons           wou.edu/theses/61 

​ Unpublished Thesis - Available in print form at a college or university 

Carlin, A. (2017).  Effective pairing methods for students in a second grade dual language            classroom.  [Unpublished Master's thesis]. Western Oregon University.

NOTES ABOUT AUTHOR, DATE, TITLE, AND SOURCE

Author 

  • List the author alphabetically by the authors last name and first name initial(s)
  • Enclose the date of publication in parentheses followed by a period. For example: (2020).

Thesis or Dissertation Title 

  • Italicize the title 
  • The first word of the title and subtitle is capitalized as are proper nouns but all other words are lowercase. 
  • If a title ends with a question mark or exclamation point, use those punctuation marks instead of a period at the end. 

Identify Type of Dissertation or Thesis 

  • For an unpublished dissertation or thesis (available only in print from a college or university) label as [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] or [Unpublished master's thesis]. 
  • For a published dissertation or thesis label as [Doctoral dissertation, Name of University] or [Master's thesis, Name of University].   

Name of Institution 

  • The name of the instruction will appear with the type of dissertation or thesis (if published) or as the place where the dissertation or thesis is housed (if unpublished). 

Database Publication 

  • If published, include the name of the database publishing the dissertation or thesis 

Online Publication Not in a Database 

  • If published online but not in a database, include the web address /URL 
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How To Cite A Dissertation APA 7th Edition Style Guideline

how to cite a dissertation apa 7th

In the academic world, proper citations are the cornerstone of research integrity. They not only acknowledge the work of others but also guide readers to the source for further exploration.

If you’ve ever wondered “how to cite a dissertation APA 7th edition,” you’re not alone. Many scholars and students grapple with the nuances of the APA 7th edition format, especially when citing dissertations. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to cite a dissertation in APA 7th edition format, ensuring your work stands out for its academic rigor rather than citation errors.

So, whether you’re an academic, a student, or a curious reader, this guide will shed light on the intricacies of APA dissertation formatting practices. Let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

What is apa citation, what is the 7th edition apa citation, how to cite a dissertation in apa 7th edition, additional information on apa 7th edition dissertation citation.

The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is one of the most widely used formats for scholarly writing, especially in the social sciences. Another common writing formats include MLA (click to learn more about citing a thesis in MLA ) and Chicago styles.

At its core, APA citation is a set of rules and guidelines that scholars use to ensure their work’s clarity, consistency, and credibility. Citations serve as bridges, connecting readers to the sources of information, allowing them to verify facts, delve deeper into topics, and give credit to original authors.

The APA citation system involves two primary components:

  • In-text citations: These are brief references within the body of the text that direct readers to the full citation in the reference list.
  • Reference list: Located at the end of a document, this comprehensive list provides full details of all sources cited in the text.

The APA periodically updates its style manual to accommodate the evolving needs of academic writing and the dynamics of publishing. The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, released in October 2019, introduced several changes to the previous version.

Here’s what you need to know about the APA style 7th edition:

Student Papers: Unlike previous editions, the 7th edition provides formatting guidelines for student papers, distinguishing them from professional papers intended for publication. Simplified In-text Citation: The 7th edition allows using the singular “they” as an inclusive pronoun and has done away with the requirement to include “doi:” in front of DOIs. Increased Flexibility: The updated edition offers more flexibility in font choices and introduces new guidelines for citing online sources, reflecting the digital age’s prevalence. Reference List: The format for multiple authors in the reference list has been simplified, and there are clearer guidelines on how to cite a dissertation, how to cite a thesis APA, and other unique source types.

This 7th edition underscores the APA’s commitment to staying current and provides scholars with tools to present their work in a structured, clear, and consistent manner.

Whether looking into APA report citation, APA citation dissertation, or figuring out how to cite a report in APA, this 7th APA style edition has streamlined the process.

Dissertations, being significant academic works, often serve as invaluable sources of information. Knowing how to cite a dissertation APA 7th is crucial for academic writers and students. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate this specific citation:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year). Title of dissertation [Degree type]. Academic Institution. URL or Database Name
Example: Smith, J. A. (2020). Exploring the impacts of climate change on marine life [Doctoral dissertation, University of California]. Academic Database.
Example: Doe, M. L. (2019). The History of Urban Architecture in New York [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. New York University.
Example: Brown, T. R. (2018). A Study on Sustainable Agriculture Practices in the Midwest [Master’s thesis, University of Illinois]. University Archive.
Example: Williams, K. P. (2017). Social Media’s Role in Modern Politics [Doctoral dissertation, Oxford University]. https://www.oxford.edu/dissertations/williams2017

Now that you know how to cite a dissertation, you must ensure that all the details you supply are accurate. This gives due credit to the original author and helps readers trace back to the original source for further exploration. Remember, proper citation is a hallmark of good academic practice.

Here are some extra details about APA 7th Edition citations to keep in mind when working on dissertation proofreading :

Avoid plagiarism Provide readers with the tools to delve deeper into topics. Contribute to the academic discourse by situating your research within a broader context.
The use of singular “they” as an inclusive pronoun. Specific formats for different source types, like podcasts, tweets, and more. Guidance on using font styles and sizes that enhance readability.

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Now that you have all the information on how to cite in APA 7th Edition correctly you can proceed to work on your dissertation. However, you might be feeling stuck, or are running out of time. This is where our editing service might come in handy. You can get in touch with our professional writers who will help you finish up your dissertation or help with with formatting a research paper . You will receive the highest scores!

What is the main difference between APA 6th and APA 7th edition citations?

The APA 7th edition introduced several changes from the 6th edition, including guidelines for student papers, more flexibility in font choices, simplified in-text citations, and clearer guidelines for citing unique sources like dissertations.

Do I need to include the database name when citing a published dissertation?

Yes, for published dissertations available on a database, you should include the name of the database and the accession or order number at the end of the citation.

How do I cite an unpublished dissertation in APA 7th edition?

For unpublished dissertations, replace the database name with the phrase “Unpublished doctoral dissertation” and then list the university.

For instance, Doe, M. L. (2019). The history of urban architecture in New York [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. New York University.

Is there a difference between citing a doctoral dissertation and a master’s thesis in APA 7th edition?

Yes, when citing a master’s thesis, you’d specify a master’s thesis in the citation.

For example: Brown, T. R. (2018). A study on sustainable agriculture practices in the Midwest [Master’s thesis, University of Illinois]. University Archive.

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APA In-Text Citations (7th Ed.) | Multiple Authors & Missing Info

Published on November 4, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on September 30, 2022.

In-text citations briefly identify the source of information in the body text. They correspond to a full reference entry at the end of your paper.

APA in-text citations consist of the author’s last name and publication year. When citing a specific part of a source, also include a page number or range, for example (Parker, 2020, p. 67) or (Johnson, 2017, pp. 39–41) .

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Table of contents

Apa in-text citations explained in 4 minutes, parenthetical vs. narrative citations, apa in-text citations with multiple authors, no author, date or page number, multiple sources in one parenthesis, avoiding ambiguity in apa in-text citations, citing indirect sources (“as cited in”), citing personal communication, general mentions of websites and software, example paragraph with in-text citations, frequently asked questions.

The in-text citation can be placed in parentheses or naturally integrated into a sentence.

  • Parenthetical : There is a correlation between social media usage and anxiety symptoms in teenagers (Parker, 2019) .
  • Narrative: Parker (2019) found a correlation between social media usage and anxiety symptoms in teenagers.

The publication year appears directly after the author’s name when using the narrative format. The parenthetical citation can be placed within or at the end of a sentence, just before the period. Check out a full example paragraph with in-text citations .

If a work has two authors, separate their names with an ampersand (&) in a parenthetical citation or “and” in a narrative citation. If there are three or more authors, only include the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”, meaning “and others”.

Group authors known by their abbreviations (e.g., CDC) are written in full the first time and are abbreviated in subsequent citations.

Multiple authors in APA in-text citations
Author type Parenthetical Narrative
One author (Harris, 2020) Harris (2020)
Two authors (Harris & Cook, 2020) Harris and Cook (2020)
Three or more authors (Harris et al., 2020) Harris et al. (2020)
Group authors (Scribbr, 2020) Scribbr (2020)
Abbreviated group author

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020)

(CDC, 2020)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020)

CDC (2020)

Missing information in APA in-text citations
Unknown element Solution In-text citation
Author Use the source title. ( , 2020)
Date Write “n.d.” for “no date”. (Harris, n.d.)
Page number Use an alternative locator or
omit the page number.
(Harris, 2020, 03:46) or
(Harris, 2020)

If the author of a source is unknown, try to determine if there is an organization or government responsible for creating the content. If so, include its name in the in-text citation (and reference entry).

Alternatively, use the source title in place of the author. Italicize the title if it’s italicized in the reference entry (except for court cases , which are italicized in the in-text citation but not the reference entry). Otherwise, enclose it in double quotation marks.

Apply title case capitalization, and shorten long titles. The first word of the title should always be included so readers can easily locate the corresponding reference entry.

  • (“U.S. Flood Risk,” 2015)
  • ( Thinking, Fast and Slow , 2017)

No publication date

If the publication date is unknown, write “n.d.” (no date) in the in-text citation.

No page number (alternative locators)

Page numbers are only required with direct quotes in APA . If you are quoting from a work that does not have page numbers (e.g., webpages or YouTube videos ), you can use an alternative locator, such as:

  • (Liu, 2020, 03:26 )
  • (Johnson, 2019, Chapter 3 )
  • (McCombes, 2016, para. 4 )
  • (Davis, 2016, Slide 15 )
  • (Flores, 2020, Table 5 )
  • (Streefkerk, 2020, “No page number” section )

Note that Bible citations always use chapter and verse numbers, even when page numbers are available:

If a statement is supported by multiple sources, the in-text citations can be combined in one parenthesis. Order the sources alphabetically, and separate them with a semicolon.

When citing multiple works from the same author, list the years of publication separated by a comma.

When in-text citations are ambiguous because they correspond to multiple reference entries, apply the solutions outlined in the table below.

Ambiguity in APA in-text citations
Situation Solution In-text citation
Multiple works by the same author in the same year. Add a lowercase letter after the year. (Cooper, 2018a)
(Cooper, 2018b)
Different authors with the same last name. Include the authors’ initials. (H. Taylor, 2019)
(B. J. Taylor, 2016)
Multiple works with 3+ authors that shorten to the same form (i.e., same first author(s) and date). Include as many names as needed to distinguish the citations. (Cooper, Lee, et al., 2015)
(Cooper, Ross, et al., 2015)

If you want to refer to a source that you have found in another source, you should always try to access the original or primary source .

However, if you cannot find the original source , you should cite it through the secondary source that led you to it, using the phrase “as cited in”.

If the publication date of the primary source is unknown, include only the year of publication of the secondary source.

Only include a reference entry for the secondary source, not the primary source.

Personal communications , such as phone calls, emails, and interviews, are not included in the reference list because readers can’t access them. The in-text citation is also formatted slightly differently.

Include the initials and last name of the person you communicated with, the words “personal communication,” and the exact date in parentheses.

General mentions of a website or software don’t have to be cited with an in-text citation or entry in the reference list. Instead, incorporate relevant information into the running text.

  • The website of Scribbr (www.scribbr.com) contains various useful resources.
  • Statistical software SPSS (version 25) was used to analyze the data.

When citing a webpage or online article , the APA in-text citation consists of the author’s last name and year of publication. For example: (Worland & Williams, 2015). Note that the author can also be an organization. For example: (American Psychological Association, 2019).

If you’re quoting you should also include a locator. Since web pages don’t have page numbers, you can use one of the following options:

  • Paragraph number: (Smith, 2018, para. 15).
  • Heading or section name: ( CDC, 2020, Flu Season section)
  • Abbreviated heading:  ( CDC, 2020, “Key Facts” section)

Instead of the author’s name, include the first few words of the work’s title in the in-text citation. Enclose the title in double quotation marks when citing an article, web page or book chapter. Italicize the title of periodicals, books, and reports.

If the publication date is unknown , use “n.d.” (no date) instead. For example: (Johnson, n.d.).

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

Always include page numbers in the APA in-text citation when quoting a source . Don’t include page numbers when referring to a work as a whole – for example, an entire book or journal article.

If your source does not have page numbers, you can use an alternative locator such as a timestamp, chapter heading or paragraph number.

If you cite several sources by the same author or group of authors, you’ll distinguish between them in your APA in-text citations using the year of publication.

If you cite multiple sources by the same author(s) at the same point , you can just write the author name(s) once and separate the different years with commas, e.g., (Smith, 2020, 2021).

To distinguish between sources with the same author(s) and  the same publication year, add a different lowercase letter after the year for each source, e.g., (Smith, 2020, 2021a, 2021b). Add the same letters to the corresponding reference entries .

In an APA in-text citation , you use the phrase “ as cited in ” if you want to cite a source indirectly (i.e., if you cannot find the original source).

Parenthetical citation: (Brown, 1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) Narrative citation: Brown (1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) states that…

On the reference page , you only include the secondary source (Mahone, 2018).

An APA in-text citation is placed before the final punctuation mark in a sentence.

  • The company invested over 40,000 hours in optimizing its algorithm (Davis, 2011) .
  • A recent poll suggests that EU membership “would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters” in a referendum (Levring, 2018) .

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Streefkerk, R. (2022, September 30). APA In-Text Citations (7th Ed.) | Multiple Authors & Missing Info. Scribbr. Retrieved July 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/in-text-citation/

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thesis apa 7th edition

Click the tabs above related to the content list below to learn more about the related APA formatting. 

.

 works, e.g.,

Citing Tests or Instruments, see the tab above
For dissertation format, see the tab above

 (websites)

From Chapter 8, "Works Credited in the Text", p.253, APA 7th Ed. Publication Manua l.

  • Cite works that have influenced your work, whether you use direct words, paraphrases, or point to their research and ideas.
  • Choose to cite primary sources rather than secondary sources whenever possible.
  • If you use facts and statistics, identify your source unless they are common knowledge.
  • You may need to secure copyright permission to use lengthy quotations or complete tables
  • Generally, all of the citations used in your text will point to an item listed on your reference page. Exceptions to this rule include personal communication, quotations from research participants, and general mentions of websites or periodicals.

APA, 7th ed., uses an author/date style. This attribution includes the author's last name, followed by the date.

Examples: Narrative paraphrase places the author/date in the sentence:  

The hymns of the church, according to Little (2019), ground us in foundational theology.

Example: Parenthetical paraphrased citation places the author/date at the end of the sentence within parentheses ( ). : 

The hymns of the church ground us in foundational theology (Little, 2019).

Both examples point to the full citation in the reference list which is shown below:

Little, D. A. (2019). Why sing hymns?  One Magazine,   16 (1), 54-55. https://doi.org/11.20873.edu00002000

Short quotation: 

  • Fewer than 40 words.
  • Double quotation marks.
  • The period follows the parentheses.
  • Parenthetical or embedded citation including page number(s). A parenthetical citation will be included within the punctuation.
  • Ex. taken from the APA Style Blog :

Effective teams can be difficult to describe because “high performance along one domain does not translate to high performance along another” (Ervin et al., 2018, p. 470).

Long [block] quotation:

  • 40 words or more.
  • Set off in block - indented five spaces.
  • No quotation marks.
  • The period comes after the quote and not after the parentheses.

Researchers have studied how people talk to themselves:

Inner speech is a paradoxical phenomenon. It is an experience that is central to many people’s everyday lives, and yet it presents considerable challenges to any effort to study it scientifically. Nevertheless, a wide range of methodologies and approaches have combined to shed light on the subjective experience of inner speech and its cognitive and neural underpinnings. (Alderson-Day & Fernyhough, 2015, p. 957)

DOI or URLs

This page addresses when to include digital object identifiers (DOIs) and uniform resource locators (URLs) in APA 7th ed. references. The information below comes from the APA 7th Ed. Style Blog

The DOI or URL is the final component of a reference list entry. 

  • A DOI is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies content and provides a persistent link to its location on the internet. DOIs can be found in database records and reference lists of published works.
  • A URL specifies the location of digital information on the internet and can be found in the address bar of your internet browser. URLs in references should link directly to the cited work when possible.
  • Include a DOI for all works that have a DOI , regardless of whether you used the online version or the print version.
  • If a print work does not have a DOI, do NOT include any DOI or URL in the reference.
  • If you have both a DOI and an URL, only use the doi number. 
  • If an online work has a URL but no DOI, include the URL in the reference as follows:
  • For works without DOIs from most  academic research databases  (library databases), do not include a URL or database information in the reference because these works are widely available . The reference should be the same as the reference for a print version of the work.
  • DOIs and URLs: When to use and when not to use The video linked above gives you more information about the DOI number, how to find a DOI number, and when to use it or a URL in APA 7 formatting. It was created in Canva. At 6min 07sec begins a section showing you how to find a DOI number if one is not included in the citation generator.

Most citations include the DOI, but in many cases, you will need to investigate whether there is a DOI associated with the article. Here are some ways you can do that.  

  • The document PDF typically includes the DOI if there is one. 
  • CrossRef.org - crossref.org provides a  DOI Lookup service  that will search for a DOI based on citation information (author's last name, journal name, article title, etc.).
  • Look for a link to the publisher's website, e.g., Sage or Elsevier.  
  • A link to an open source research site, e.g., Researchgate.net or SemanticScholar.org
  • The following information has been taken directly from DOI or URLS: The APA Style Blog, 7th ed.

Follow these APA 7 guidelines to format DOIs and URLs:

 in your reference even though that article, published in 2016, presented the number in an older format.

When a DOI or URL is long or complex, you may use short DOIs or shortened URLs if desired.

 to create short DOIs. A work can have only one DOI and only one short DOI; the short DOI service will either produce a new short DOI for a work that has never had one or retrieve an existing short DOI.

Includes the http:// or https:// and should be hyperlinked.

  or  

Citing Faculty Created Course Resources: 

Course Video Lesson or Overview

Elements of the citation:

Professor's name (last name, first initial). (year). Title of video italicized followed by [Video] then a period. The publisher would be TNU  Canvas—lastly, the Panopto URL.

Speer, P. (2021). EDD 8603O Week 2 Overview  [Video]. Trevecca Nazarene University Canvas..  https://trevecca.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=0fa7e73e-e478-495a-988e-ad7a0016786

Narrated PowerPoint  Elements of the citation. Only the format in the [ ] changes. 

Professor's name (last name, first initial). (year). Title of PowerPoint italicized followed by [Narrated PowerPoint slides] then a period. The publisher would be TNU Canvas—lastly, the Panopto URL.

Speer, P. (2021).  EDD 8603O Week 2 Overview  [Narrated PowerPoint slides]. Trevecca Nazarene University Blackboard.  https://trevecca.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=0fa7e73e-e478-495a-988e-ad7a0016786

PowerPoint Not Narrated

Follow the format above, except delete the word 'Narrated' from the brackets [ ]. 

Quick, easy-to-access online APA 7th edition guides - bookmark these!

  • APA Style Blog Authoritative examples and explanations linking to pages with the APA 7th Manual from APA.
  • OWL@Purdue - APA 7th Ed. APA basics, examples of citations and in-text citations from the Online Writing Center (OWL) at Purdue.
  • Citation generators and library databases Citation generator tools are found in Discovery Search, library databases, Google Scholar, and other websites. These tools convert bibliographic information found in a database into a citation style. You would copy and paste the generated citation into a Word doc. But (there is always a 'but'...) you need to check it to be sure it is accurately formatted.

What is an Annotated Bibliography?

A reference list contains works that specifically support the ideas, claims, and concepts in a paper; in contrast, a bibliography provides works for background or further reading and may include descriptive notes (e.g., an annotated bibliography). - https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/lists-vs-bibliographies

APA 7th provides simple guidelines for the format of an annotated bibliography. Things like length, number of sources, or date ranges are the purview of the professor's assignment instructions. The list below was taken from pp.307-8, Sec. 9.51 in the APA 7th Ed. Publication Manual. 

  • Put into alphabetical order just as done on the References list
  • Each annotation should be a new paragraph below its reference entry. 
  • Indent the entire annotation 0.5 in from the left margin, the same format as a block quote (see Section 8.27 in the 7th edition APA Manual). 

Sample APA 7th Annotation

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/annotated_bibliography_samples.html

Ehrenreich, B. (2001).  Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America . Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich’s project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

Citing a dissertation from Dissertations & Theses Global or Dissertations & Theses@Trevecca databases, published.

Citing Dissertations, APA 7 Ed. Style Blog  - more information about dissertation formatting using APA7.

Arthur, P. (2020).  Go out and play! A defense of paternalistic policies to promote graduate student well-being  (Publication No. 28028480)[Doctoral Dissertation, Arizona State University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

  • Parenthetical citation: (Arthur, 2020)
  • Narrative citation: Arthur (2020)

Citing a  dissertation viewed in print, the library reserves, or the reference collection, unpublished.

Citing a Print Dissertation, APA 7 Ed. Style Blog  

McPhee, S. (2021).  Success coaching: The examination of the Appreciative Advising Model on second year students in higher education.  [Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation]. Trevecca Nazarene University.

  • Parenthetical citation: (McPhee, 2021)
  • Narrative citation: McPhee (2021)

Citing a  dissertation from an open-source or institutional repository. 

Zambrano-Vazquez, L. (2016).  The interaction of state and trait worry on response monitoring in those with worry and obsessive-compulsive symptoms  [Doctoral dissertation, University of Arizona]. UA Campus Repository.  https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/620615

  • Parenthetical citation: (Zambrano-Vazquez, (2016)
  • Narrative citation: Zambrano-Vazquez (2016)

Citing an instrument used for assessment

  • To cite a test, scale, or inventory, provide a citation for its supporting literature (e.g., the manual, which may be an authored or edited book, or the journal article in which it was published).
  • The title of a test, a scale, or an inventory should be capitalized using title case whenever it appears in a paper, even if the test title is italicized in the reference.
  • A test database name is included only for test database records.

Butcher, J. N., (2006). MMPI-2: A Practitioner's Guide . American Psychological Association.

Parenthetical citation:  (Butcher, 2006)

Narrative citation:  Butcher (2006)

Example for a test found in a database such as APA PsycTESTS 

Li, S.-C. S., & Huang, W.-C. (2016). Teachers’ Perceptions of Game-Based Learning Attributes Measure.  PsycTESTS . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.03.008

Parenthetical citations:  ( Li & Huang, 2016)

Narrative citations:  Li and Huang (2016)

Images: Quick Reference Guide APA 7th

Apa 7 - journal article citation.

A simple diagram of elements for a journal article citation in APA 7th. Section 10.1, pp. 316-321 in the APA 7th Manual has detailed information about formatting journal articles (periodicals), newspapers, blog posts or magazines. 

diagram of elements required for journal citation.

APA 7 - BOOK CITATION

A simple diagram of elements for a book citation in APA 7th. Section 10.2, pp. 321-25 in the APA 7th Manual has detailed information about formatting books and reference works. 

diagram of elements for a book citation.

APA 7 - CHAPTER IN AN EDITED BOOK

A simple diagram of elements for a chapter in an edited book citation in APA 7th.  Section 10.3, pp. 326-28 of the APA 7th Manual has additional information about correct formatting of chapters in an edited book.  

diagram for chapter in edited book citation.

APA 7 - DISSERTATION FROM A DATABASE (e.g., PROQUEST DISSERTATIONS & THESES GLOBAL)

A simple diagram of element for a dissertation citation from a database. Section 10.65, p. 334 in the APA 7th edition has more information about dissertation formatting. 

diagram for dissertation citation

APA 7 - DOI or URL? See when to use a doi number in a journal citation.

A simple diagram illustrating the format for an article with a doi number. Section 9.35, p. 299 in the APA 7th edition has the full information about formatting DOI or URLs. 

diagram of doi or URL use in citations.

APA 7 - WEBPAGE ON A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE - GROUP AUTHOR

Diagram illustrating the format for a Webpage found on a government website. In this case, the government department or agency is the author, a group author.  Section 10.16 of the APA 7th edition has detailed information for citing webpages. This is NEW to APA 7th. 

thesis apa 7th edition

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How to Cite a Brochure in APA Format: Key Rules to Follow

Updated 18 Jul 2024

Citing sources is a fundamental part of academic writing, including the citation of brochures. This blog post offers a comprehensive guide on correctly citing brochures in APA style, detailing how to format the citation and what information to include in a narrative citation. By the end of this post, you will clearly understand how to cite a brochure in APA format and confidently incorporate these citations into your academic work. Citing a brochure in APA format can be challenging, but mastering this citation style is crucial for ensuring accuracy and credibility in your nursing paper .

How to Cite a Brochure in APA: A Guide for Online Sources

Following these rules will make citing a brochure or pamphlet created in the APA 7 edition easy.

Author.  If an author(usually it’s an organization) is listed, include the author's name in the citation.

Year.  Include the year of publication, often found on the first or last page.

Title.  The title should be in italics, followed by the word [Brochure] in square brackets to indicate the format.

Publisher.  Include the publisher. If the publisher was already listed as an author, omit it.

URL.  Provide the direct URL to the brochure(if available).

Concluding, to cite a brochure accessed online in APA 7th edition, you should follow the following format:

Author, A. A(Organization). (Year). Title of brochure [Brochure]. Publisher. URL

For example, if you accessed an online brochure from the American Cancer Society, the citation would look like this:

American Cancer Society. (2021).  Breast cancer: Early detection  [Brochure]. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/online-documents/en/pdf/early-detection-brochure-a.pdf

In this example, the author is the American Cancer Society, the year of publication is 2021, the title is “Breast Cancer: Early Detection,” the print brochure format is indicated in square brackets, and the URL is the direct link to the brochure PDF.

Providing such examples is crucial as they demonstrate how to format and cite brochures and pamphlets correctly in APA Style.

While we showed how a reference citation looks, the in-text one only includes the author (usually an organization name) and the initial publication year. Example:

(American Cancer Society, 2021)

It's important to note that not all online brochures contain complete information. If any element, such as the author or publisher name, is missing, simply omit that part.

Additionally, verify the accuracy of the in-text citation format with your instructor or editor, as different institutions may have specific guidelines for citation formatting.

A well-structured reference list is essential for organizing your sources and ensuring your citations are complete and accurate.

Conclusion: Mastering APA Style Brochure Citations

Properly citing a brochure in APA format is a vital skill for maintaining the integrity and credibility of your academic work. By adhering to the guidelines outlined in this post, you can confidently incorporate brochure citations into your research papers and assignments. Remember to include essential elements such as the author, year, title, publisher, and URL to ensure accuracy.

While the process might seem daunting at first, practice and attention to detail will make citing brochures second nature. It's also crucial to verify the citation format with your instructor or editor, as institutional guidelines may vary. By mastering these citation techniques, you'll enhance the quality of your academic writing and demonstrate your commitment to rigorous research standards. Citing a brochure in APA format can be complex, so if you’re a first author struggling with this task, you might consider using a service to do my assignment for me cheap to ensure your citations are correctly formatted.

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COMMENTS

  1. Thesis/Dissertation

    Thesis, from a commercial database. Lope, M. D. (2014). Perceptions of global mindedness in the international baccalaureate middle years programme: The relationship to student academic performance and teacher characteristics (Order No. 3682837) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland].ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

  2. APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

    Basic guidelines for formatting the reference list at the end of a standard APA research paper. Author/Authors. Rules for handling works by a single author or multiple authors that apply to all APA-style references in your reference list, regardless of the type of work (book, article, electronic resource, etc.)

  3. Published Dissertation or Thesis References

    A dissertation or thesis is considered published when it is available from a database such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global or PDQT Open, an institutional repository, or an archive. ... Published dissertation or thesis references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.6 and the ...

  4. PDF APA Style Dissertation Guidelines: Formatting Your Dissertation

    your dissertation in APA Style, 7th Edition. rmatting Your DissertationPage and Text RequirementsPage SizeIt is recommended that Standard Letter. (8.5 x 11 inches) is used, unless otherwise specified.Margins1 inch for all ma. p, bottom, left, right) throughou. the entire document.SpacingAll text should b.

  5. How to Cite a Dissertation in APA Style

    To cite an unpublished dissertation (one you got directly from the author or university in print form), add "Unpublished" to the bracketed description, and list the university at the end of the reference, outside the square brackets. APA format. Author last name, Initials. ( Year ).

  6. APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.)

    Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines: Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides. Double-space all text, including headings. Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches. Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).

  7. APA Citation Style, 7th Edition: Dissertations & Thesis

    Dissertations and theses are formatted the same way in APA 7th edition. Theses are generally the culminating work for a master's or undergraduate degree and dissertations are often original research completed by doctoral students. Here are examples of a dissertation & a thesis, and how they would be formatted: Examples:

  8. Thesis

    APA 7th referencing style. This is a guide to using the APA7 referencing style from the American Psychological Association. It is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. ... Title of thesis - italicised (Publication No. - if available) [Doctoral dissertation or master's thesis, Institution]. Database Name ...

  9. How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in APA

    The guidelines below come from the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2020a), pages 333 and 334. Please note that the association is not affiliated with this guide. ... To cite a published thesis in APA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the author, publication year ...

  10. APA Style (7th Edition) Guide: Dissertation/Thesis

    This guide will help you cite your documents in using the APA 7th ed. publication manula. Skip to Main Content. Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez, Call Box 9000 Mayagüez, PR 00681 (787) 832-4040 ext. 3810, 2151, 2155 [email protected] ... APA Style (7th Edition) Guide: Dissertation/Thesis. This guide will help you cite your documents in using ...

  11. Dissertation & SPP Formatting

    APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources. Getting Started; Formatting the Paper; Dissertation & SPP Formatting. Dissertation & SPP Format Pieces; Creating a TOC in APA; ... If you are on this tab, you have probably been asked to format a dissertation or Scholarly Practice Project paper using APA format. Use the below information to help you ...

  12. Citation Help for APA, 7th Edition: Master's Thesis, Dissertation, or

    However, if the work will be published or read online, then APA advises to include live URLs. This would allow the reader to click on a link and go to the source. More Information. For more information, see Section 9.35 on pages 299-300 of the APA Manual, 7th edition. NOTE: Check your instructor's preference about using live URLs. Some ...

  13. APA (7th Edition) Referencing Guide

    A thesis is an unpublished document produced by student as part of the requirements for the degree. They come at various levels (e.g. Honours, Masters, PhD, etc). Check with your lecturer before using a thesis for your assignment.

  14. Dissertations and Theses

    APA 7th Edition Citation Guide Dissertations and Theses. Thesis or Dissertation from a Library Database. Reference Page Format: Author, A. A. (Year of Publication). Title of dissertation/thesis [Master's thesis/Doctoral dissertation, Name of institution awarding degree]. Database name. Reference Page Example:

  15. Theses and dissertations

    Auckland University of Technology (and other NZ universities) Thesis is either for a doctoral or a master's degree. Dissertation is either for a master's or a bachelor's degree with honours. Exegesis is the written component of a practice-based thesis where the major output is a creative work; e.g., a film, artwork, novel.

  16. Dissertations and Theses

    Title of dissertation/thesis: In italics. Capitalize the first word of the title, subtitle, and proper nouns. Publication number: Can be found in Dissertations and Theses database, listed in the item record as "Dissertation/thesis number." Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis: List whether it is a dissertation or a thesis.

  17. APA 7th Edition Citation Style Guide

    Title of doctoral dissertation or master's thesis [Doctoral dissertation or master's thesis, Name of Institution]. Name of Website. URL. Example: Buckman, A. (1997). MOOSE Crossing: Construction, community, and learning in a networked virtual world for kids [Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. DSpace@MIT.

  18. PDF Student Paper Setup Guide, APA Style 7th Edition

    Indent the first line of every paragraph of text 0.5 in. using the tab key or the paragraph-formatting function of your word-processing program. Page numbers: Put a page number in the top right corner of every page, including the title page or cover page, which is page 1. Student papers do not require a running head on any page.

  19. Research Guides: APA Citation Style 7th Edition: Dissertations

    Citing Dissertations (7th edition) Pamphlet or Brochure; Interviews, E-mail, Intranet, Religious Works, & Secondary Sources (7th edition) Footnotes This link opens in a new window; Formatting an Appendix; Evaluating Sources This link opens in a new window; Understanding Plagiarism; RefWorks This link opens in a new window

  20. Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis References

    If you find the dissertation or thesis in a database or in a repository or archive, follow the published dissertation or thesis reference examples. Learn more Unpublished dissertation or thesis references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.6 and the Concise Guide Section 10.5

  21. Thesis and Dissertations

    Thesis or Dissertation Title. Italicize the title. The first word of the title and subtitle is capitalized as are proper nouns but all other words are lowercase. If a title ends with a question mark or exclamation point, use those punctuation marks instead of a period at the end. Identify Type of Dissertation or Thesis.

  22. How To Cite A Dissertation APA 7th Edition

    Updates in the APA 7th Edition:Beyond dissertation and thesis citation, the APA 7th edition brought other notable updates, such as: The use of singular "they" as an inclusive pronoun. Specific formats for different source types, like podcasts, tweets, and more. Guidance on using font styles and sizes that enhance readability.

  23. APA In-Text Citations (7th Ed.)

    In-text citations briefly identify the source of information in the body text. They correspond to a full reference entry at the end of your paper. APA in-text citations consist of the author's last name and publication year. When citing a specific part of a source, also include a page number or range, for example (Parker, 2020, p.

  24. APA 7th Edition Style

    APA 7 - DISSERTATION FROM A DATABASE (e.g., PROQUEST DISSERTATIONS & THESES GLOBAL) A simple diagram of element for a dissertation citation from a database. Section 10.65, p. 334 in the APA 7th edition has more information about dissertation formatting.

  25. PPT PowerPoint Presentation

    Chapter in Edited Book Dissertation Reference French, M. (2006). The alignment between personal meaning and organizational mission (Publication No. 3241802) [Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University]. ... Check our Writing Support Community Web page Obtain a copy of the APA Publication Manual, 7th edition Check the APA Style Website Learn ...

  26. How to Cite a Brochure in APA Format

    Citing a brochure in APA format can be challenging, but mastering this citation style is crucial for ensuring accuracy and credibility in your nursing paper. How to Cite a Brochure in APA: A Guide for Online Sources Following these rules will make citing a brochure or pamphlet created in the APA 7 edition easy.