A reference is the bibliographic information of a work cited in the text. In APA, a reference includes four core elements: Author, Date, Title and Source. You can find examples for different source types below.
Author | Date | Title | Source |
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. | (Year). | Title of book (edition). | Publisher. DOI or URL |
Burns, A. C., & Bush, R. F. | (2014). | Marketing research (7th ed.). | Prentice Hall. |
American Psychological Association. | (2020). | Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). | https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000 |
Note: When the author and the publisher are the same, omit the publisher.
Book with a single author |
Addison, P. (2012). Principles of program design: Problem solving with JavaScript (International ed.). Course Technology Cengage Learning. |
Book with multiple authors |
Bowerman, B. L., O'Connell, R. T., Murphree, E. S., & Orris, J. B. (2012). Essentials of business statistics (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Burns, A. C., & Bush, R. F. (2014). Marketing research (7th ed.). Prentice Hall. Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2019). Cite them right: The essential referencing guide (11th revised and expanded ed.). Red Globe Press. |
Book with an editor. Use "Eds." if there are two or more editors. |
Woodside, A. G. (ed.). (2006). Advances in culture, tourism and hospitality research. Elsevier JAI. |
Book with a group author |
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000 |
Chapter in an edited book |
Axelsson, B., & Easton, G. (1992). Foreign market entry - The textbook vs the network theory. In B. Axelsson & G. Easton (Eds.), Industrial networks: a new view of reality (pp. 46-59). Routledge. Scerri, M., & Presbury, M. (2022). The power of words: A case study of service language in an Australian five-star hotel. In S. M. Perry (Ed.), Case based research in tourism, travel, hospitality and events (pp. 117-133). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4671-3_7 |
E-book |
Power, J. (2011). Movement, knowledge, emotion: Gay activism and HIV/AIDS in Australia. ANU Press. https://www.doabooks.org/doab?func=search&query=rid:15033 Svendsen, S., & Løber, L. (2020). The big picture/Academic writing: The one-hour guide (3rd digital ed.). Hans Reitzel Forlag. https://thebigpicture-academicwriting.digi.hansreitzel.dk/ |
Dictionary or Encyclopedia |
Bringsjord, S., & Govindarajulu, N. S. (2024). Artificial intelligence. In E. N. Zalta & U. Nodelman (eds.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2024 ed.). Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2024/entries/artificial-intelligence/ Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Semantics. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semantics Merriam-Webster. (2003). Litmus test. In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (11th ed., p. 727).
Note: If there are no named authors or editors, treat the company responsible for the dictionary/encyclopedia (e.g. Merriam-Webster) as a group author. |
Author | Date | Title | Source |
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. | (Year). | Title of article. | Title of Journal, volume(issue), page numbers. DOI or URL |
Elbanna, S., & Armstrong, L. | (2024). | Exploring the integration of ChatGPT in education: Adapting for the future. | Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review, 3(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/MSAR-03-2023-0016 |
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. | (Year, Month DD) | Title of article. | Title of Magazine/Newspaper. URL |
Ferguson, C. J. | (2012, December 20). | Sandy Hook shooting: Video games blamed, again | Time. http://ideas.time.com/2012/12/20/sandy-hook-shooting-video-games-blamed-again/ |
Author, A. A. OR Group Author |
(Year, Month DD) | Title of blog post. | Blog Name. URL |
Batts, S. | (2007, April 24). | Antioxidants in berries increased by ethanol (but are daiquiris healthy). |
ScienceBlogs. http://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2007/04/antioxidants_in_berries_icre_1.php |
Journal article with a DOI |
Elbanna, S., & Armstrong, L. (2024). Exploring the integration of ChatGPT in education: Adapting for the future. Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review, 3(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/MSAR-03-2023-0016 Ruxton, C. (2016). Tea: Hydration and other health benefits. Primary Health Care, 26(8), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1162 |
Journal, magazine, newspaper article without a DOI, from most academic research databases or print version |
Avari, J., & Hoferer, D. (2009, December). Windows 7: The definitive review. Chip Malaysia, 48-53. Nairne, D. C., & Wilkinson, H. (2018). What’s love got to do with it? Vermont Connection, 39(1), 106-112. Randerson, J. (2008, February 26). Researchers find fish that can count up to four. The Guardian, 14. Trefts, K., & Blaksee, S. (2000). Did you hear the one about Boolean operators? Incorporating comedy into library instruction. Reference Services Review, 28(4), 369-378. |
Journal article without a DOI from a website |
Fichten, C, Jorgensen, M, Havel, A, Legault, A, & Budd, J. (2022). Academic performance and mobile technology use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 35(1), 61-77. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/AHEAD/38b602f4-ec53-451c-9be0-5c0bf5d27c0a/UploadedImages/JPED/JPED_Vol_35/JPED_35_1_.pdf |
Journal article with an article number |
Hughes, T., Stone, M., Aravopoulou, E., Wright, L. T., & Machtynger, L. (2018). Academic research into marketing: Many publications, but little impact? Cogent Business & Management, 5(1), Article 1516108. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/23311975.2018.1516108 Marion, T., Reese, V., & Wagner, R. F. (2018). Dermatologic features in good film characters who turn evil: The transformation. Dermatology Online Journal, 24(9), Article 4. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1666h4z5 |
Journal article - in press or advance online publication |
Jin, X.-L., Zhou, Z., & Tang, Z. (in press). Using smart and connected health services to cope with pandemics: The interaction effects of event and coping appraisals. Information & Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2024.103964 Prasad, S., & Hommel, B. (2024). The role of stimulus uncertainty and curiosity in attention control. Experimental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1027/1618-3169/a000608
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Magazine article |
Ferguson, C. J. (2012, December 20). Sandy Hook shooting: Video games blamed, again. Time. http://ideas.time.com/2012/12/ 20/sandy-hook-shooting-video-games-blamed-again/ Where angels no longer fear to tread. (2008, March 19). The Economist. http://www.economist.com/node/10875666 |
Newspaper article |
Asher-Schapiro, A. (2022, June 17). US states take centre stage in battles for control over social media. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2022/06/17/us-states-take-centre-stage-in-battles-for-control-over-social-media Convery, S. (2020, August 13). When Covid closed the library: Staff call every member of Victorian library to say hello. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/aug/13/when-covid-closed-the-library-staff-call-every-member-of-victorian-library-to-say-hello |
Blog post |
Batts, S. (2007, April 24). Antioxidants in berries increased by ethanol (but are daiquiris healthy). ScienceBlogs. http://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2007/04/antioxidants_i n_berries_icre_1.php |
Author | Date | Title | Source |
Author, A. A. OR Group Author. |
(Year, Month DD). | Title of webpage. | Site Name. URL |
Eddy, K. | (2024, April 3). | 6 facts about Americans and TikTok. | Pew Research Center. https://pewrsr.ch/3Qbc01N |
Note: When the author and the site name are the same, omit the site name.
Webpage on a website with an individual author |
Eddy, K. (2024, April 3). 6 facts about Americans and TikTok. Pew Research Center. https://pewrsr.ch/3Qbc01N Maizland, L. (2023, December 5). Global climate agreements: Successes and failures. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/paris-global-climate-change-agreements Miller, K. (2024, May 3). For older adults, breaking a hip can be deadlier than cancer. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/breaking-hip-deadlier-than-cancer-8641084 |
Webpage on a website with a group author |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (n.d.). The benefits of foreign investment. Australian Government.https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/investment/the-benefits-of-foreign-investment Department of Home Affairs. (2024, May 29). Australian citizenship statistics. Australian Government. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/citizenship-statistics Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, November 21). Consumer health basics. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthylifestyle/consumer-health/basics/consumer-health-basics/hlv20049491 National Library of Medicine. (2017, June 19). Child abuse. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/childabuse.html World Health Organization. (2023, March 28). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). https://shorturl.at/LYVNW
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Webpage on a website with a retrieval date |
Senheng. (n.d.). Laifen SE Lite high speed hair dryer Lazada. Retrieved June 10, 2024, from https://s.lazada.com.my/s.QCN5l U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). U.S. and world population clock. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://www.census.gov/popclock/
Note: When contents of a page are designed to change over time but are not archived, include a retrieval date in the reference. |
Webpage on a news website |
Amos, J. (2020, February 5). World's biggest iceberg makes a run for it. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51389690 CBC News. (2020, April 22). Air Canada to temporarily suspend flights to U.S. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-to-temporarily-suspend-flights-to-u-s-1.5539796 Sandhu, S., Crocker, R., & Lodhia, S. (2020, July 21). What makes people switch to reusable cups? It’s not discounts, it’s what others do. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-switch-to-reusable-cups-its-not-discounts-its-what-others-do-142254
Note: If the sites do not have associated daily or weekly newspapers, cite them as websites. Common examples are Bernama, BBC News, Bloomberg, CNN, HuffPost, MSNBC, and Reuters. |
Blog post |
Batts, S. (2007, April 24). Antioxidants in berries increased by ethanol (but are daiquiris healthy). ScienceBlogs. http://scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2007/04/antioxidants_i n_berries_icre_1.php |
Author | Date | Title | Source |
Author, A. A. OR Group Author. |
(Year, Month DD). | Title of report (Report No. 123). | Publisher. DOI or URL |
National Cancer Institute. | (2019). | Taking time: Support for people with cancer (NIH Publication No. 18-2059). | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/takingtime.pdf |
Note: When the author and the publisher are the same, omit the publisher.
Report with individual authors |
Anderson, J., & Rainie, L. (2023, June 21). As AI spreads, experts predict the best and worst changes in digital life by 2035. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2023/06/PI_2023.06.21_Best-Worst-Digital-Life_2035_FINAL.pdf Stuster, J., Adolf, J., Byrne, V., & Greene, M. (2018). Human exploration of Mars: Preliminary lists of crew tasks (Report No. NASA/CR-2018-220043). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190001401.pdf |
Report by a group author |
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2023, August). Current population estimates, administrative district, 2023. https://www.dosm.gov.my/uploads/release-content/file_20231108161130.pdf National Cancer Institute. (2019). Taking time: Support for people with cancer (NIH Publication No. 18-2059). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/takingtime.pdf
Note: For government departments, provide the specific name of the department as the author, and the 'parent' agency as the publisher. Include the report number in brackets where relevant. |
Annual report |
Woolworths Group Limited. (2022). We are Woolworths Group: 2022 annual report. https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/content/dam/wwg/investors/reports/2022/full-year/Woolworths%20Group%20Annual%20Report%202022%20print%20friendly.pdf |
Company report |
MarketLine. (2024, March 17). Toyota Motor Corporation [Company profile]. https://research.ebsco.com/ Toyota Motor Corporation. (2013). Sustainability report 2013. http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/report/sr/ pdf/sustainability_report13_fe.pdf |
Market report/ industry report |
Fitch Solutions Group Limited. (2024). Malaysia food & drink report - Q4 2024: Includes 5-year forecasts to 2028 [Industry report]. BMI. https://www.proquest.com/ ReportLinker. (2024, March). Malaysia healthcare market overview 2024-2028 [Industry report]. https://member.reportlinker.com/ Spearman, J., Gewiese, J., Rau, S., & Liesen, M. (2023, September). Consumers in Malaysia. Statista. https://www.statista.com Statista. (n.d.). Coffee - Malaysia [Market insight]. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.statista.com
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Press release/ media release |
Starbucks Corporation. (2022, March 15). Starbucks affirms commitment to a planet positive future through innovation and learnings from store partners [Press release]. https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/starbucks-affirms-commitment-to-a-planet-positive-future-through-innovation-and-learnings-from-store-partners/ |
Working paper/ research paper/ discussion paper |
Rammstedt, B., Lechner, C., & Danner, D. (2024, March 19). Beyond literacy: The incremental value of non-cognitive skills (OECD Education Working Papers No. 311). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/7d4fe121-en |
White Paper |
Department for Business Innovation & Skills. (2016). Success as a knowledge economy: Teaching excellent, social mobility and student choice [White paper]. Crown. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523396/bis-16-265-success-as-a-knowledge-economy.pdf |
Fact sheet |
World Health Organization. (2023, March 16). Hypertension [Fact sheet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension |
Conference paper |
Egege, S., & Parker, S. (2019, July 7-10). Think, talk, write, reflect: How to teach students to think critically [Paper presentation]. The 5th STARS Conference, Melbourne, Australia. https://unistars.org/papers/STARS2019/10D.pdf
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Dataset |
O’Donohue, W. (2017). Content analysis of undergraduate psychology textbooks (ICPSR 36966; Version V1) [Data set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36966.v1 |
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Figures/ images |
Hanower, F. (2011, July 4). Pizza [Photograph]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/a1xZxD IMF. (October 5, 2023). Malaysia: Inflation rate from 1987 to 2028 (compared to the previous year) [Graph]. Statista. https://www.statista.com |
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Google map |
Google. (n.d.). [Google map of Sunway College Johor Bahru]. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://maps.app.goo.gl/wW1ypHcazQ5kguio8 Google. (n.d.). [Google Maps direction for driving from Sunway College Johor Bahru, to Holiday Villa Johor Bahru]. Retrieved June 9, 2024, from https://maps.app.goo.gl/bfuRCw31X95MmuhA9 |
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Lecturer note |
Chaw, S. P. (2024). Introduction to referencing [PowerPoint presentation]. iLearn. https://ilearn.sunway.edu.my/login/index.php Chin, R. (2012, March). BSTA 0202 Quantitative methods 2 [Study guide]. Sunway College Johor Bahru. |
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Legislation |
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Patents and standards |
Australian Accounting Standards Board. (2023). Leases (AASB 16). https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB16_02-16_COMPnov22_01-24.pdf Shen, Y., Tang, X., & Zhuo, Y. (2024). Rotary drum recycling of photovoltaic panels (Australian Patent No. 2024901281). IP Australia. https://ipsearch.ipaustralia.gov.au/patents/2018100960 |
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Slides |
Jones, J. (2016, March 23). Guided reading: Making the most of it [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/hellojenjones/guided-reading-making-the-most-of-it |
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Social media |
Sunway College JB Library. (2020, July 20). What makes you a good leader? [Image]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sunwayjblib/photos/a.201447589896906/4077206422320984/ Sunway College JB Library [@sunwayjblib]. (2020, August 13). Here are key databases for science [Image]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0nMvODSor/ |
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Thesis |
Bickmore, T. W. (2003). Relational agents: Effecting change through human-computer relationships [Doctoral thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. https://www.khoury.northeastern.edu/home/bickmore/bickmore-thesis.pdf See, B. P. (2009). Determinants of career maturity of final-year undergraduates in selected Malaysian private higher education institutions [Master’s thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia]. MyTO. http://myto.upm.edu.my/find/Record/my-upm-ir.7536
Note: Include the bracketed description “Doctoral dissertation” or “Master’s thesis” or "Undergraduate hoors thesis" followed by a comma and the name of the institution that awarded the degree. |
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Video |
Rowe, S. (2015, April 13). How to do referencing in Word document [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWnooifg6N8 |
Click here to check how to compile a reference list.