APA Referencing Style

Facilitator: Ms. Lynelle Coxen

E-mail address: Lynelle.coxen@nwu.ac.za
Contact number: 016 910 3565
Office number: Building 7, Office 108A3
Why do we cite / reference?

Avoid plagiarism / self-plagiarism

To give credit to someone else for using their theories

or ideas

To not use the words or ideas of others as your own

IMPORTANT: Paraphrasing (Own words)

 Accuracy
Consistency

Layout

Technically sound paper

General Layout
Setting up your Word Document
 Margins: 2.54 cm on all sides (Normal) → 1”
 Line spacing: Double (with paragraph spacing → 0 pt) OR 1.5 (with paragraph spacing →12 pt after)
 Font + size: Times New Roman (12pt)
 Language: UK English (Not US)

 Important: Only one space after a full stop, comma, semicolons, etc.
 Running header: Include a page header (running head) in the upper left-hand corner of every page
 Page number: Include a page number in the upper right-hand corner of every page
 Cover page: No page number / No running header
 Justify text (NWU Guideline)
Running head Page number

Text is not left-aligned,

instead it is justified
How do we justify text?
 Headings
• Consistency in terms of headings!

First level • CAPITAL LETTERS + BOLD

heading

Second level • Sentence Case + Bold

heading

Third level • Lower case + underlined

heading
Table of contents

Note: Positioning of page numbers in Table of

Contents
Grammar and Punctuation
Using a scientific writing style with proper punctuation
Spelling / Grammar

Proper academic writing = Important!

Using numbers in text

• Type out the word

1 - 10 • One - ten
Example:
There were eight apples.

> 10 • Type the number Example:

There were 72 apples.
In text referencing / citations
Citing your sources within your document
 Notice where the
full stop is
placed

One author
According to Bryman (2012), research is important.
OR
Research is important (Bryman, 2012).

Two authors (one source, two authors)

According to Foxcroft and Roodt (2013), psychological assessment is defined as
… OR
Psychological assessment is defined as …(Foxcroft & Roodt, 2013).

Cite both
authors name
every time
 First citation –
Type all authors
out

Three to five authors

According Clapp-Smith, Vogelgesang, and Avey (2009), ...
OR
… (Clapp-Smith, Vogelgesang, & Avey, 2012).

Second citation
According to Clapp-Smith et al. (2009), …
OR
… (Clapp-Smith et al., 2013).

Second citation
– Use et al.
Six authors and more

Use et al. right from the start!

‘And’ versus ‘&’

‘And’ is used outside the brackets / ‘&’ is used inside the brackets

Examples

 In a study by Coetzee, Schreuder, and Roodt (2014)…

 Similarly: … (Coetzee, Schreuder, & Roodt, 2014).
 However: Coetzee and Schreuder (2014) OR
(Coetzee & Schreuder, 2014).
 Citing groups or organisations that are readily
identified by their abbreviations
 Only a recognised and existing abbreviations
 Do not make up your own abbreviations
 First: Type out entire word
 Subsequent: Only abbreviation

Example
First citation
 According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA, 2014) ethics is very important. OR
 …ethics is very important (Health Professions Council of South Africa [HPCSA], 2014).

Subsequent citation
 According to the HPCSA (2014) …
 … (HPCSA, 2014).
 Citing groups or organisations (no abbreviations)

Always type out full name if there is no recognised abbreviation

Example

According to ArcelorMittal (2010) … OR (ArcelorMittal, 2010).

 Semicolon (Citing different sources)

Used when referring to different authors from different sources

Alphabetical order
Example

There are different research methods that can be

used (Bryman, 2012; Creswell, 2008).

2008 2012
Quotations (when you do not paraphrase)
Quotation of LESS than 40 words
 Double quotation marks “…”
 Exact words of author should be used
 Page number is of utmost importance
Example
According to Evans (2012), “organisational support is
crucial for high levels of job satisfaction” (p. 23).
“Organisational support is crucial for high levels of job
satisfaction” (Evans, 2012, p. 23).
Quotation of MORE than 40 words
 NO quotation marks
 Block quotation (indented at 0.5 – both sides)
Example
Evans (2012) found the following:
The job satisfaction of employees is likely
to be higher if they feel valued and
respected within their organisation. Lower
job satisfaction levels seems to be
associated with the lack of organisational
support (p. 54).
Personal communication

May include interviews, private letters, e-mails, etc.

Example

C. N. Adams (personal communication, July 20, 2018) stated that …

OR
I feel healthier eating apples (C. N. Adams, personal communication, July
20, 2018).

Cite in-text only (not included in the reference list)

 Reference list
Listing the references that you have used at the end of your paper
Reference list (Technical editing)

Reference list should be on a separate page (new page)

Title: References (Bold and centred)

Alphabetical order

Hanging indent – 0,8 cm

Example
 Same author – different publications

Arrange in reference list by year of publication (date).

Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.).

New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.).
New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

2012 2016
Same author and same year – different
publications

Bryman, A. (2012a). First publication you cite in text

Bryman, A. (2012b). Second publication you cite in text

Remember to cite the ‘a’ and ‘b’ in text as well!

Authors (References)
• One author ALWAYS One space between initials
 Olivier, B. H. (2017).

• Two to Seven authors Comma before &

 Coxen, L., Van der Vaart, L., & Stander, M. W. (2016).
Authors (References)
List the first 6 authors
• More than seven authors
 Peltzer, K., Setswe, G., Matseke, G., Ramlagan, S., Weis, S. M.,
Rodriguez, V. J., … Jones, D. (2018).
Finally, list the last author

10 authors!
Books / Chapters
• Books

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book (? ed.). City,

Country: Publisher.
Creating a reference in the reference list
Books / Chapters
• Books

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book (? ed.). City, Country:
Publisher.

Example

Struwig, F. W., & Stead, G. B. (2001). Planning, designing and reporting research.
Cape Town, South Africa: Pearson Education.
 Second edition onwards

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). New

York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Books / Chapters

• Chapter in a book
Chapter author(s) Editor of book

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B.

Editor, & C. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. XX–XX). City, Country:
Publisher.
Table of contents
 Books / Chapters

• Chapter in a book
Chapter author(s) Editor of book
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, B. Editor, & C.
Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. XX–XX). City, Country: Publisher.

Example
Botha, E. (2017). Biology in work behaviour. In Z. Bergh (Ed.),
Introduction to work psychology (2nd ed.). (pp. 88–94). Cape
Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.
Rules: Country of publishing
Please note:

• US states are abbreviated

• Other states or countries should be typed out
Examples

… New York, NY: Sage Publications.

… Pretoria, South Africa: Sage Publications.

… London, England: Sage Publications.

… Washington, DC: Sage Publications.

 Periodicals (e.g. Journal articles)

• Journal article with DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume
number(issue number if available), page numbers. doi:XXXXX
No space between volume number and bracket No space

doi = digital object identifier

2(11)
 Periodicals (e.g. Journal articles)

• Journal article with DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume
number(issue number if available), page numbers. doi:XXXXX

No space between volume number and bracket No space

Example

Redelinghuys, K., Rothmann, S., & Botha, E. (2018). Flourishing-at-work: The role of positive organizational
practices. Psychological Reports, 2(11), 1-23. doi:10.1177/0033294118757935
Journal articles
• Remember:

 Include the DOI in the reference (if one is assigned)

 There should be no space after DOI and it should be referenced in
lowercase
 If no DOI and the article was retrieved online, include the URL (Retrieved
from http:// …..).
Periodicals (e.g. Journal articles)

• Journal article without DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume
number(issue number if available), page numbers. Retrieved from http://...
This URL should take me directly to the article

Example
Goodwin, V. L., Whittington, J. L., Murray, B., & Nichols, T. (2011). Moderator or mediator? Examining the role of trust in
the transformational leadership paradigm. Journal of Managerial Issues, 23(4), 409–425. Retrieved from
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/23209107.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Aa8bfdf1acb1c242d3143f20d12943333

IMPORTANT: URL should NEVER be blue and underlined!

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/23209107.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Aa8bfdf1acb1c242d3143f20d12943333
Online sources
• Online sources
 Retrieved from URL

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Retrieved

from http://...
Online sources
URL: Remove hyperlink
Not underlined
Black font
• Online sources
 Retrieved from URL

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Retrieved

from http://...

Example
The Skills Portal. (2017). Managing social media use in the workplace. Retrieved from
https://www.skillsportal.co.za/content/managing-social-media-use-workplace
 E.g. NWU Library
Theses / Dissertations database

• Master’s dissertation / Doctoral thesis from institutional database

Author, A. A. (Date of publication). Title of master’s dissertation / doctoral thesis

(Doctoral thesis OR Master’s dissertation). Retrieved from https://...

Example
Van der Vaart, L. (2012). Employee well-being, turnover intention and perceived employability: A
psychological contract approach (Master’s dissertation). Retrieved from
https://repository.nwu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10394/9230/Van_der_Vaart_L.pdf?sequence=1&isAllo
wed=y
Theses / Dissertations
• Master’s dissertation / Doctoral from the Web

Author, A. A. (Date of publication). Title of master’s dissertation / doctoral thesis

(Doctoral thesis OR Master’s dissertation, University, Country). Retrieved
from https://...

Example
Schoeman, J. D. (2012). The relationship between work place well-being, psychological capital and work
place trust (Doctoral thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa). Retrieved from
http://contentpro.seals.ac.za/iii/cpro/app?id=8615355919551170&itemId=1013044&lang=eng&servic
e=blob&suite=def
Reference
Thank you