Creating References Using 7th Edition APA Style

Introduction

• Presenter: Marc Dirk
• Organized by: ACRL and Choice
• Sponsored by: American Psychological Association (APA)
• Purpose: Webinar on creating references using APA 7th edition style
• Format: 60-minute interactive discussion for academic library community

Webinar Features

• Presentation materials on the main screen
• Q&A and Chat panels available
• Use hashtag #ACRLChoiceWebinars
• Follow on Twitter: @choice_reviews

Speakers

• Hailey S Kaman
• Chelsea L Lee
• Timothy L McAdoo

Learning Objectives

1. Fundamentals of APA style references, reference lists, and in-text citations
2. APA style secrets
3. Use of DOIs and URLs
4. Handling missing key information in references
5. Creating references for academic databases
6. Interactive exercises on APA referencing

Elements of a Reference

• Four Key Elements: Author, Date, Title, and Source
• Answer questions: Who, When, What, and Where
• Examples used: Journal articles, books, reports, web pages

Author Element

• Definition: Whoever is responsible for the work (e.g., individual, group, government agency)
• Format:
  • Individual names: First author surname, First Initials
  • Group names
  • Government agencies: Use the most specific agency
• New Change: Up to 20 authors can be listed

Date Element

• Generally just the year
• More frequent publications may require more specific dates
• Use templates and examples for guidance

Title Element

• Capitalization: Sentence case (first word, proper nouns, subtitle)
• Italicize depending on the document type
• Use bracketed descriptions for non-text-based works

Source Element

• Depends on document type
• May include: Periodical title, publisher, DOI, URL
• Parent agencies for government reports

Reference List Formatting

• Begin on a new page, titled "References"
• Double-space, use hanging indent
• Alphabetize entries, chronological order for the same author

In-text Citations

• Cite every reference used
• Types: Parenthetical or narrative
• Format: Author surname(s) and year
• Use "et al." for three or more authors
• Abbreviate group authors when first cited

APA Style Secrets

1. Document Type vs. Retrieval Method: Focus on type (e.g., journal, book) not how it was retrieved
2. Wide vs. Limited Circulation: Determines database information inclusion
3. Web Pages/Website Category: Last resort for citation
4. Online and Print Identical Format: Only URL or DOI may differ
5. Site What You See: Abbreviate names, capitalize titles correctly, add more info if needed
6. Format Patterns: Italic title or source
7. Adaptation of APA Style: Adjust to fit audience needs

DOIs, URLs, and Retrieval Dates

• DOIs: Include when present, prioritize over URLs
• URLs: Include if no DOI and the URL is accessible
• Retrieval Dates: Include for content that changes over time

Handling Missing Information

• Author: Use group as author if applicable, otherwise move title to author position
• Date: Use "n.d." for no date
• Title: Use the best guess or bracketed description
• Source: Ensure URLs work, omit recoverable references

Database References

• DOI Present: Include DOI, omit database name
• No DOI: Determine wide vs. limited circulation
  • Wide: Omit database name
  • Limited: Include database name and possibly a URL

Practice Cases

• Interactive exercises with open textbooks and YouTube videos

Conclusion

• Resources: APA style website, email for queries
• Recording Available: ACRL Choice YouTube channel

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These notes should help capture the essence of the webinar on APA 7th edition referencing style. They focus on key points and practical guidance for academic writing using APA style.