American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing System

Manual Referencing is an essential skill that university students must learn to be successful.

The American Psychological Association (APA) referencing system is a widely used citation style in academic writing. It requires the inclusion of in-text citations within the body of the text, consisting of the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses. These in-text citations link to a detailed list of references at the end of the document, which provides full information about the sources cited, including author names, publication titles, and publication details. Proper utilization of a referencing system is a fundamental component of scholarly writing.

The following paragraph is an example of the APA style:

“Cats, beloved companions in many households, have long captured the fascination of researchers and pet enthusiasts alike. These enigmatic creatures are the subject of various studies, with a particular focus on their behavior, physiology, and evolution. According to Bradshaw (2013), cats’ independent nature and unique communication styles make them intriguing and sometimes mysterious pets. Additionally, Clutton-Brock (1999) suggests that the domestication of cats can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with their role evolving from pest control to cherished companionship in modern times. The APA referencing system allows us to acknowledge the contributions of these scholars to our understanding of these captivating and beloved animals (Foldberg & Sharwood, 1977, p. 5).”

References in APA Format:

• Bradshaw, J. W. (2013). The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI.
• Clutton-Brock, J. (1999). A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals. Cambridge University Press.
• Foldberg, B., & Sharwood, S. W. (1977). Behavior of cats. The Journal of Cat Physiology, 28(3), 1-56. Retrieved from https://fakelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.100013/jphysiol.1977.sp005175.

In APA style, in-text citations are presented with the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses, and the reference list includes specific formatting guidelines as demonstrated above.

Differences between APA and Harvard:

APA (American Psychological Association) and Harvard referencing (author-date system) are both citation styles used in academic writing, but they have some differences in terms of formatting and citation conventions. Here are some key differences between APA and Harvard referencing:

1. Title Capitalization:
   • In APA, the titles of books and articles in the reference list are formatted in sentence case, where only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized (e.g., “The behavior of the domestic cat”).
   • In Harvard referencing, titles are often written in title case, with the first letter of each major word capitalized (e.g., “The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat”).
2. Italics:
   • In APA, the titles of books and journals are italicized in both in-text citations and the reference list.
   • In Harvard referencing, the titles of books and journals may or may not be italicized, depending on the specific style guide or institution’s preferences.
3. In-Text Citations:
   • In APA, in-text citations include the author’s last name and the year of publication (e.g., Smith, 2019).
   • In Harvard referencing, in-text citations also include the author’s last name and the year of publication (e.g., Smith, 2019).
4. Page Numbers:
   • In APA, if a direct quote is used, it is followed by the author’s last name, year, and page number (e.g., Smith, 2019, p. 25).
   • Harvard referencing generally omits page numbers from in-text citations but may include them in specific cases or follow institution-specific guidelines.
5. Reference List:
   • In APA, the reference list is organized alphabetically by the author’s last name. It provides more detailed information about the source, including the city of publication for books, journal volume and issue numbers, and specific page ranges for articles.
   • In Harvard referencing, the reference list may also be organized alphabetically, but it typically provides less detailed information about the sources. It often omits the city of publication for books and may not include specific page ranges for articles.
6. Abbreviations and Parentheses:
   • APA uses specific abbreviations (e.g., “et al.” for multiple authors) and parentheses for in-text citations.
   • Harvard referencing may use “et al.” but may have different conventions depending on the specific style guide being followed.
7. Preferred Use:
   • APA is widely used in the social sciences, psychology, and education.
   • Harvard referencing, in its various forms, is commonly used in the United Kingdom and some other regions, especially in the natural and physical sciences.

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