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Social Work

This is a subject guide for library resources in social work.

APA Citation Style, 6th Edition

Text Citations
References are cited in text with an author-date citation system, while each item referenced in text must appear in the reference list (174).

One author: You are required to include the authors’ last names and year of publication, and encouraged to provide a page number where the information that is cited may be found. Ex: (Taylor & Green, 2004, p. 56)
No author: Abbreviate title. Ex:  (“Quest for Redemption,” 2007) 
Multiple authors:

2 authors: List both authors when you cite the work (175). Ex: (Wagner & Clarke, 1999)
3 to 5 authors: List all authors the first time you cite the work (175). Ex: (Kern, Cornwell, Jones, Berry, & Howard, 2003) In subsequent citations, list the first author followed by et al. Ex: (Kern et al., 2003)
6 or more authors: List the first author followed by et al. each time you cite the work (175). Ex: (Williams et al., 2007)

References
APA requires that the reference list be double-spaced and that entries have a hanging indent (180). 

Book (202): 

Author, A. A. (Year). Title: Subtitle. Location: Publisher. 

Ex: 

Berk, R. (1981). Water shortage: Lessons in conservation from the great California drought, 1976-1977. Cambridge, MA: Abt Books.

 

Web page (205): 

Author, A. A. (Year). Title: Subtitle. Retrieved from URL

Ex: ​

California Department of Fish and Game (2017). Coho Salmon. Retrieved from https://www.wildlife .ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Coho-Salmon

 

Journal article from an online database with DOI (198): 

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of PeriodicalVolume number(Issue number), Page numbers. doi: 

Ex: 

Hladik, M. L., Domaglski, J. L., & Kuivila, K. M. (2009). Concentrations and loads of suspended sediment-associated pesticides in the San Joaquin River, California and tributaries during storm events. Science of the Total Environment408(2),356-364. doi:/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.040

Numbers
The general rule on the use of numbers is to use numerals to express numbers 10 and above and words to express numbers below 10 (111).

Use numbers expressed in numerals when (111-112): 

  • Numbers are 10 and above.
  • Numbers are in the abstract of a paper.
  • Numbers that immediately precede a unit of measurement. Ex: a 5-mg dose
  • Numbers that represent statistical or mathematical functions, decimal quantities, percentages, ratios, and percentiles. Ex: 3 times as many [proportion]
  • Numbers that represent time, dates, ages, scores and points on a scale, exact sums of money, and numerals as numerals. Ex: 2-year-olds
  • Numbers that denote a specific place in a numbered series, parts of books and tables, and each number in a list of four or more numbers. Ex: Grade 8

Use numbers expressed in words when (112): 

  • Any number that begins a sentence, title, or text heading.
  • Common fractions.
  • Universally accepted usage.

Combine numerals and words to express numbers when (112-113):

When conveying back-to-back modifiers. Ex:  ten 7-point scales

When readability may suffer, spell out both numbers. Ex: first two items

Ordinal numbers (113): 

Treat ordinal numbers as you would cardinal numbers (113). Ex: the fourth graders; four grades

Commas in numbers (114):

Use commas between groups of three digits in most figures of 1,000 or more (114).

Exception: page numbers       page 1029

Plurals in numbers (114): 

To form the plurals of numbers, add s or es along, without an apostrophe (114).

Ex: 10s and 20s; fours and sixes

Citation help using Credo Information Literacy Core!

If you need any assistance please text, chat, call, or visit us in-person or visit our Credo Information Literacy Core guide.

Location: Library 222, 2nd Floor​​​​​​​
Phone: (209) 667-3642
Email: writingcenter@csustan.edu

APA Citations from Library Databases

Many library databases provide citations to items displayed on the screen formatted for an APA style References list. 

Note: These preformatted citations are not always 100% accurate.  Please especially the database citation versus APA style guidelines  (especially the authors, date, and titles) for errors.

OneSearch

OneSearch Citation button The OneSearch Citation button (usually found at the top of each OneSearch record) will provide a citation for the book or article displayed on the screen. Be sure to choose APA style and you will be able to copy and paste the item into an APA References list.

EBSCOHost

EBSCO Citation button The EBSCO Cite button (usually found on the right side of a record in EBSCOHost) will provide a citation for the article or book displayed on the screen.  Be sure to choose APA 7th edition and you will be able to copy and paste the item into an APA References list.

ProQuest

ProQuest Cite button The ProQuest Cite button  (usually found on the top right side of a record in ProQuest) will provide a citation for the article or book displayed on the screen.  Be sure to choose APA 7th edition and you will be able to copy and paste the item into an APA References list. 

Technically, APA style citations should not include the URL at the end linking to ProQuest.  (The only links that should be included are those to DOI addresses, starting with https://doi.org.) Check with your instructor to see if ProQuest links are acceptable for course assignments. (They should not be included in thesis or project References.)

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