- APA stands for American Psychological Association.

- It is one of many academic referencing styles (over 100 exist).

- The rules are outlined in the Publication Manual of the APA (6th ed.).

- UCOL programmes require APA style for assignments.

- Consistency is key: don’t mix styles.

Reference?

- Acknowledges the sources of information you use.

- Morally and legally important to credit others’ ideas.

- Prevents plagiarism and copyright infringement.

- Shows you’ve researched and supports your arguments.

- Helps readers verify sources or explore further.

- Allows you to retrace your research steps.

Two Main Parts of Referencing

1. In-text citations

- Appear within your assignment.

- Show where ideas, arguments, or evidence come from.

2. Reference list

- Full details of all sources cited.

- Alphabetical list at the end of your assignment.

- Rule: Everything cited in-text must appear in the reference list, and vice versa.

- Exception: Personal communications (cited in-text only).

APA is a standardized referencing style that ensures academic integrity, supports your arguments, and
helps readers trace your sources. It involves in-text citations plus a reference list at the end.

APA referencing requires in-text citations to acknowledge ideas and a reference list with full details. The
APA manual (6th ed.) provides the rules, and UCOL plus online tools can support you in applying them
correctly.

Three, Four, or Five Authors

- Example: (Watson, McKenna, Cowman & Keady, 2008)

- Subsequent citations: Use only the first author’s last name + et al.

- Example: (Watson et al., 2008)

- Reference list entry: Include all authors.

- Example:

Watson, R., McKenna, H., Cowman, S., & Keady, K. (Eds.). (2008). Nursing research: Designs and
methods. Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

- Use (Eds.) if they are edito

Six or Seven Authors

- In-text citations: Always cite first author’s last name + et al.

- Example: (Mikosch et al., 2010)

- Reference list entry: Include all authors’ names (up to seven).

- Example:

Mikosch, P., Hadrawa, T., Laubreiter, K., Brandl, J., Pilz, J., Stettner, H., & Grimm, G. (2010). Effectiveness
of respiratory-sinus-arrhythmia biofeedback on state-anxiety in patients undergoing coronary
angiography. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(5), 1101-111.

Eight or More Authors

- In-text citations:

- Always cite only the first author’s last name + et al.

- Example: (Vissing et al., 2004)

- Reference list entry:

- Include the first six authors’ names, then use an ellipsis (…), and finish with the last author’s name.

- Example:

Vissing, K., Brink, M., Lonbro, S., Sorensen, H., Overgaard, K., Danborg, K., ... Aagaard, P. (2008).
Muscle adaptations to plyometric vs. resistance training in untrained young men. Journal of Strength
and Conditioning Research, 22(6), 1799-1810.
 Groups as Authors

- Write the group’s name in full each time.

- Some groups may be abbreviated after the first citation (e.g., World Health Organization → WHO).

- Ensure the abbreviation still allows readers to locate the reference list entry easily.

- Example with abbreviation:

- First citation: (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2007)

- Subsequent citations: (MOH, 2007)

- Reference list entry:

Ministry of Health. (2007). Looking at long-term residential care in a rest home or hospital: What you
need to know. Wellington, New Zealand: Author.

If the author and publisher are the same, use Author in place of the publisher’s name.

- Example without abbreviation:

- In-text citation: (New Zealand House of Representatives, Health Committee, 2007)

- Reference list entry:

New Zealand House of Representatives, Health Committee. (2007, August). Inquiry into obesity and
type 2 diabetes in New Zealand: Report presented to the House of Representatives. Retrieved from
[Link]
DBSCHSCR3868_533

Similar Information from Multiple Authors

- When two or more sources support the same idea, list them together in one citation.

- Order them alphabetically by author’s last name.

- Separate each source with a semicolon.

- Example (in-text):

- (Dawson, 2006; Overton, 2005)

- Reference list entries:

Dawson, L. (2006). Wise up!: How to be fearless and fulfilled in midlife. Auckland, New Zealand:
Random House New Zealand.
 Overton, A. (2005). Stress less: Make stress work for you not against you. Auckland, New Zealand:
Random House New Zealand.

`Same Author, Same Date

- If the same author has multiple works published in the same year, distinguish them by adding
lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.) after the year.

- Assign letters based on alphabetical order of the titles (ignoring “A” or “The”).

- Examples (in-text):

- (Cancer Society of New Zealand, 2013a)

- (Cancer Society of New Zealand, 2013b)

- Reference list entries:

`Cancer Society of New Zealand. (2013a). Ocular melanoma: Information sheet. Retrieved from
[Link]

Cancer Society of New Zealand. (2013b). Reducing your cancer risk. Retrieved from
[Link]

Online Journal Articles (Database or Website)

- Database name & retrieval date → No longer required.

- Instead, include the home page URL of the journal.

- If no URL is available, reference as per the print version (check with lecturer).

Example (with URL):

`Marshall, M., Carter, B., Rose, K., & Brotherton, A. (2009). Living with type 1 diabetes: Perceptions of
children and their parents. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(12), 1703-1710. Retrieved from
[Link]

`Example (print-style, no URL):

`Huy, C., Becker, S., Gomolinsky, U., Klein, T., & Thiel, A. (2008). Health, medical risk factors and bicycle
use in everyday life in the over-50 population. Journal of Aging & Physical Activity, 16(4), 454-464.

Online Journal Articles with DOI

- APA 6th ed. emphasizes using DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers).

- Copy the DOI exactly as shown on the article.

- No retrieval date or database name needed.

Example (with DOI):

`Gabbett, T., Jenkins, D., & Abernethy, B. (2010). Physical collisions and injury during professional rugby
league skills training. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13(6), 578-583.
doi:10.1016/[Link].2010.03.007

Online Journal Articles – 8 or More Authors (No DOI)

- For 8+ authors: list the first six authors, then use an ellipsis (…), and finish with the last author.

- Provide the journal’s home page URL if no DOI is available.

Example:

`Crooks, C., Ameratunga, R., Brewerton, M., Torok, M., Buetow, S., Brothers, S., … Jorgensen, P. (2010).
Adverse reactions to food in New Zealand children aged 0-5 years. New Zealand Medical Journal,
123(1327). Retrieved from [Link]

Internet Sources – General Rules

- Follow the same order as other references: Who, When, What, Where.

1. Author(s) → Individual or organization/corporate author.

2. Date of publication → If no date, use (n.d.).

3. Title → Italicize the document or webpage title.

4. URL → Provide the complete and correct web address.

- Retrieval date → Not required for most online sources, but include if content is likely to change (e.g.,
wikis).

Internet Source – No Author, No Date

- Use the title in place of the author.

- Use (n.d.) if no date is available.

- Example (Reference list):

` Pet therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]

`- In-text citation:
 (Pet therapy, n.d.)

Internet Source – Organisation/Corporate Author

- Use the organization’s name as the author.

- Abbreviations can be introduced after the first citation.

- Examples:

Ministry of Health

- Reference list:

`Ministry of Health. (2014). Ebola: Information for the public. Retrieved from
[Link]
information-public

`- In-text citation:

- First citation: (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2014)

- Subsequent citations: (MOH, 2014)

SPCA New Zealand

- Reference list:

SPCA New Zealand. (2011). Your dog may be dying from the heat [Press release]. Retrieved from
[Link]

`- In-text citation:

(SPCA New Zealand, 2011)

Acts: Cite the Act name, year, update date, and URL.

- Blog posts: Cite author, date, title (not italicized), [Blog post], and URL.

- Brochures: Cite author, year, title [Brochure], place, and publisher.

Brochures without authors, use title as author, differentiate print vs. online with suffixes.

- ClickView, reference like a motion picture/DVD.

- Conference papers, cite authors, year, paper title, editors, proceedings title, page range, and location.

- Conference papers online, Cite authors, year, paper title, editors/proceedings, conference details, and
URL.
- Print dictionaries, Cite editor, year, title, edition, publisher.

- Online dictionaries, Cite dictionary name, year, URL.

- Specific entries, Cite entry word, year, dictionary name, URL.

- Dictionary entries, Cite editor, entry word, dictionary name, URL.

- Audiovisual sources, Cite producers/directors, year, title, format, distributor, or URL (for online).

- E-books, Cite author, year, title, edition, [e-book], and retrieval URL.

- Always cite the original source of the figure.

- Put the citation below the figure with author, year, and page/para if available.

- Include full publishing details in the reference list.

- Optional: add labels (Figure 1) and titles for clarity.

- Figures: Free to use for education, but must be referenced.

- Magazines: Cite author, date, article title, magazine title, issue, and pages.

- Moodle: Cite carefully, with lecturer approval.

- Music albums: Cite artist, year, album title, format, and publisher.

- Songs from albums: Cite artist, year, song title, album, format, publisher, and track number.

- Newspaper articles: Cite author, date, article title, newspaper, and page.

- No author: Use shortened title in quotation marks.

- Online newspapers: Add retrieval URL.

Here’s a clear summary of the APA 6th ed. rules for personal communications, podcasts, software,
television, and theses with examples:

Personal Communication

- Includes: letters, emails, interviews, telephone conversations, discussions during placement/work

- Cited in-text only - NOT included in the reference list.

- Format: (Author, personal communication, Date)

`No-tillage technologies have revolutionised the way arable farmers manage their farming operation and
practices (W.R. Ritchie, personal communication, September 30, 2014).

` Podcast (Audio or Video)

- Format:

- Author/Producer - Date -Title [Audio/Video podcast] → Retrieval URL.

Example (Reference list):

`Radio New Zealand. (2014, December 3). Filmmaker slams corporates for delay tactics on climate
change [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from [Link]

`In-text citation: (Radio New Zealand, 2014)

Software (Including Apps)

- Format:

- Author/Company -Year -Title (Version) [Software type] → Retrieval URL.

Example (Reference list):

`UBM Medica. (2010). iMIMS (Version 1.2.0) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from
[Link]

`In-text citation: (UBM Medica, 2010)

Television Series

- Format:

- Producer(s)/Director(s) -Year -Title [Television series] → Country: Distributor.

Example (Reference list):

`Flanagan, A., & Philipson, A. (Series producers & directors). (2011). 24 hours in A & E [Television series].
Belfast, Ireland: Channel 4.

`In-text citation: (Flanagan & Philipson, 2011)

Television (Single Episode from a Series)

- Format:
 - Producer/Director - Year - Episode title [Television series episode] -In Executive Producer, Series title -
Place: Distributor.

- If available, use writer or director instead of series producer.

Example (Reference list):

`Beaudry, C. (Series producer). (2014). Northland harbours [Television series episode]. In J. Curran
(Executive producer), Our big blue backyard. Dunedin, New Zealand: Natural History of New Zealand.

`In-text citation: (Beaudry, 2014)

Thesis (Print)

- Format:

- Author -Year -Title (Degree type thesis) → Institution, Location.

Example (Reference list):

Johnson, S. (2013). Style strategies (Master’s thesis). UCOL, Whanganui School of Design, Whanganui,
New Zealand.

In-text citation: (Johnson, 2013)

Thesis (Online)

- Format:

- Author - Year- Title (Degree type dissertation/thesis, Institution, Location) - Retrieval URL.

Example (Reference list):

`Mann, D. L. (2010). Vision and expertise for interceptive actions in sport (Doctoral dissertation, The
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia). Retrieved from
[Link]

`In-text citation: (Mann, 2010)

- Always check with your lecturer whether Wikipedia is acceptable as a reference source.

- Format:

- Title -Year -Retrieval date (if content may change) Source (Wikipedia) URL.
Example (Reference list): `

Moodle. (2014). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from Wikipedia: [Link]

`In-text citation:

`(Moodle, 2014)

`YouTube

- YouTube sources are referenced the same way as DVDs, videos, or motion pictures.

- Format:

- Author/Organization → Date → Title [Video file] → Retrieval URL.

- This follows the audiovisual citation rules already outlined for DVDs and ClickView.

Example (Reference list):

`Competenz NZ. (2014, October 16). The tattooed baker [Video file]. Retrieved from
[Link]