Comprehensive Guide to Bibliographic Citation According to APA Standards, 7th Edition
Marc Jacquinet, November 2025
Introduction
The American Psychological Association (APA) published the seventh edition of its style manual in 2019, introducing significant changes to citation and bibliographic referencing procedures. This manual is one of the most widely used standardization systems in the social, behavioral, and educational sciences, establishing rigorous standards for academic and scientific communication. This presentation aims to provide a detailed analysis of the main types of sources and their respective citation formats, including practical examples that illustrate the application of the guidelines established by the APA.
Fundamental Principles of APA Standards 7th Edition
General Structure of References
APA standards establish a standardized structure for bibliographic references, consisting of four fundamental elements: author, date of publication, title, and source. This informational architecture allows readers to unambiguously identify and locate the works cited, promoting the verifiability and transparency characteristic of academic discourse.
The list of references should be organized alphabetically by the first author’s last name, using double spacing between lines and applying a hanging indent of 1.27 cm from the second line of each entry. This formatting facilitates the visual location of references and highlights the hierarchical structure of the information.
In-Text Citations
In-text citations, or parenthetical citations, are the primary mechanism for author attribution in APA standards. These citations should include the author’s last name and the year of publication and can be integrated narratively or presented in parentheses. When it comes to direct citations, it is imperative to include the page number, preceded by the abbreviation “p.” (for a single page) or “pp.” (for multiple pages).
There are variations when using the author-date system, for example Silva (2022: 23) or Silva (2023: 23-25).
Examples of citations in the text:
Narrative citation: Silva (2023) argues that metacognition is a fundamental process in self-regulated learning.
Parenthetical citation: Metacognition is a fundamental process in self-regulated learning (Silva, 2023).
Direct citation: According to Santos (2022), “digital literacy transcends mere technical competence, encompassing critical and ethical dimensions” (p. 145).
Types of Bibliographic References
- Books
Book with a single author
The referencing of monographs follows the format: Last name, Initials of the first name. (Year). Title of the book in italics. Publisher.
Example: Damásio, A. (2010). The book of consciousness: The construction of the conscious brain. Círculo de Leitores.
Book with two authors
When the work has two authors, they should be separated by the symbol “&” (ampersand) in the list of references, although in narrative citations in Portuguese the conjunction “e” is used.
Example: Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (2013). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Book with three or more authors
The seventh edition of the APA standards has substantially simplified the treatment of works with multiple authors. Regardless of the number of authors, all names should be included in the reference list, separated by commas and using “&” before the last author.
Example: Costa, M. E., Ferreira, J. A., Santos, P. L., & Oliveira, R. M. (2021). Developmental psychology: Contemporary perspectives. Climepsi Editores.
Edited book (collective work)
For collective works organized by editors, use the abbreviation “(Ed.)” for a single editor or “(Eds.)” for multiple editors.
Example: Monteiro, A. P., & Santos, M. J. (Eds.). (2020). Qualitative research in education: Advances and challenges. Edições Sílabo.
Chapter of an edited book
Citing specific chapters requires clear identification of the individual contribution within the collective work, including the corresponding pages.
Example: Rodrigues, L. P. (2019). Neuroplasticity and lifelong learning. In C. Nunes & T. Sousa (Eds.), Neuroscience and education (pp. 87-112). Porto Editora.
Electronic book (e-book)
For electronic books, the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) should be included when available, or, in its absence, the URL. APA 7 standards have eliminated the requirement to include the phrase “Retrieved from” before the URL.
Example: Prensky, M. (2020). Digital natives, digital immigrants. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
- Scientific Articles
Scientific journal article with DOI
Scientific journal articles are the most frequently cited category in academic research. Including the DOI, when available, facilitates the unambiguous location of the publication.
Example: Melo, A. S., Carvalho, F. T., & Almeida, L. S. (2023). Impact of emotional intelligence on academic performance: A longitudinal study. Revista Portuguesa de Educação, 36(2), 145-167. https://doi.org/10.21814/rpe.23456
Scientific journal article without DOI (print version)
In the absence of a DOI, particularly in older publications or journals that do not use this identifier, the reference ends with the pagination data.
Example: Ferreira, M. M. (2018). Differentiated teaching strategies in inclusive contexts. Revista de Educação Especial, 45(3), 234-251.
Online scientific journal article without DOI
When the article is available exclusively online and does not have a DOI, the URL of the journal or the specific page of the article should be included.
Example: Santos, P. R., & Costa, J. M. (2022). Gamification and intrinsic motivation in learning.
Digital Journal of Educational Technology, 8(1), 78-95. https://www.revistateduc.pt/artigos/2022/vol8n1/
Article with more than twenty authors
The seventh edition introduced a significant change from previous editions: in citations in the text, “et al.” is used after the first author when the work has three or more authors. However, in the list of references, up to twenty authors are included; if there are more than twenty, the first nineteen are listed, followed by an ellipsis (…) and the last author.
Example: Smith, J., Anderson, K., Brown, L., Davis, M., Evans, N., Foster, O., Garcia, P., Harris, Q., Irving, R., Johnson, S., King, T., Lewis, U., Martin, V., Nelson, W., Owen, X., Parker, Y., Quinn, Z., Roberts, A., Stevens, B., … Wilson, C. (2021). Collaborative research in neuroscience. Nature Neuroscience, 24(5), 567-589. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-021-00000-0
Article published online ahead of print
Articles accepted and published online before being assigned to a specific volume and issue should be identified with the phrase “Published online ahead of print.”
Example: Oliveira, T. C., & Ribeiro, A. F. (2024). Virtual reality in cognitive rehabilitation: A systematic review. Psychology: Theory and Research. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e38427
- Web Sources and Digital Resources
Web page with identified author
Institutional websites or author pages should include the author’s name, date of publication (or n.d. for “no date”), page title, and URL.
Example: Directorate-General for Education. (2023, March 15). National strategy for citizenship education. https://www.dge.mec.pt/estrategia-nacional-de-educacao-para-cidadania
Web page without author
When it is not possible to identify an individual or organizational author, the title moves to the beginning of the reference.
Example: Cognitive neuroscience: Fundamentals and applications. (2022, July 8). https://www.neurocienciacognitiva.pt/fundamentos
Complete website
To reference a website in its entirety, only the URL is mentioned in the body of the text, without entering it in the list of references.
Example in the text: The Foundation for Science and Technology (https://www.fct.pt) provides information on research funding.
Blog or online post entry
Posts on academic or scientific blogs should be treated as online periodicals.
Example: Carvalho, A. A. A. (2023, January 20). Generative artificial intelligence in education: Opportunities and challenges [Blog post]. Educational Technology Blog. https://www.tecnologiaeducativa.pt/ia-generativa-educacao
Online institutional reports and documents
Technical reports, government documents, and institutional publications follow a specific format that identifies the responsible entity.
Example: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2022). PISA 2022 results: What students know and can do. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/13205490-en
- Audiovisual and Multimedia Materials
YouTube video or similar platform
Online videos should include the name of the content creator, date of publication, video title (in italics), description of the format in square brackets, and URL.
Example: TED. (February 14, 2020). Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
Podcast
Podcast episodes are treated as contributions in periodic series, identifying the presenters, date, episode title, and podcast name.
Example: Silva, R. (Host). (2023, May 10). Neuroplasticity and education (No. 45) [Podcast episode]. In Cérebro em Foco. Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/episode/xyz123
Film or documentary
Film or documentary productions require identification of the director, year of release, title, and distributor.
Example: Guggenheim, D. (Director). (2010). Waiting for Superman [Film]. Paramount Pictures.
- Legislation and Legal Documents
Law or decree-law
Legislative documents must include the official designation, date of publication, and source of disclosure.
Example: Law No. 46/86, of October 14. Diário da República No. 237/1986, Series I. Assembly of the Republic. https://dre.pt/
Regulation or normative order
Regulatory documents follow a similar structure to laws, clearly identifying the issuing entity.
Example: Normative Order No. 10-B/2018, of July 6. Official Gazette No. 128/2018, 1st Supplement, Series II. Ministry of Education.
- Academic works
Master’s dissertation or doctoral thesis (published)
Academic works deposited in institutional repositories must include the degree designation, institution, and URL of the repository.
Example: Martins, F. J. (2021). Metacognitive strategies and self-regulation of learning in higher education [Doctoral thesis, University of Lisbon]. University of Lisbon Repository. http://repositorio.ul.pt/handle/10451/49876
Unpublished dissertation
Works not made publicly available should mention their unpublished status.
Example: Sousa, M. L. (2022). Impact of digital technologies on literacy: Case study [Unpublished master’s dissertation]. University of Porto.
- Social Media
Twitter/X Post
Social media posts should include the user’s name, username in square brackets, date, post text (up to 20 words), and URL.
Example: Gates, B. [@BillGates]. (2023, March 22). Artificial intelligence is the most important technology of our time [Post]. X. https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1638567890123456789
Facebook or Instagram post
Example: UNESCO [@unesco]. (2023, April 15). Education transforms lives [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CqT4h8hP9Yz/
- Conferences and Communications
Article in conference proceedings
Communications published in proceedings follow a format similar to book chapters, identifying the scientific event.
Example: Alves, P. M., & Dias, C. R. (2022). Augmented reality in science education: Preliminary results. In A. Santos & M. Ferreira (Eds.), Proceedings of the XIII National Meeting on Science Education (pp. 456-470). University of Aveiro.
Oral presentation or poster (unpublished)
Unpublished communications include the type of presentation in square brackets.
Example: Ribeiro, J. C. (2023, June 8-10). Strategies for pedagogical differentiation in mathematics [Oral presentation]. XXV Colloquium of AFIRSE Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Images, Graphs, and Data
Photograph or online image
Example: Salgado, S. (2019). Amazonia [Photograph]. Taschen. https://www.taschen.com/
Dataset
Datasets used in research must be properly referenced, including the version when applicable.
Example: World Bank. (2023). World development indicators (Version 2023.1) [Dataset]. https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators
- Support Materials and Software
Software or application
Example: R Core Team. (2023). R: A language and environment for statistical computing (Version 4.3.1) [Software]. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.R-project.org/
Psychological test or assessment tool
Example: Wechsler, D. (2014). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (5th ed.) [Assessment tool]. Pearson.
Special Cases and Particularities
Corporate Authorship
When the author is an organization, the full name should appear in the first citation, and an acronym may be used in subsequent citations if it is widely recognized.
Example: First citation: (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023) Subsequent citations: (WHO, 2023)
Works Without a Date
In the absence of an identifiable date, the abbreviation “n.d.” (no date) is used.
Example: Silva, A. M. (n.d.). Qualitative methodologies in educational research. Porto Editora.
Classic Works
Classic or historical texts that have multiple editions should include the date of the original publication when relevant.
Example: Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press. (Original work published in 1936)
Translations
Translated works identify the translator and, when relevant, the date of the original publication.
Example: Vygotsky, L. S. (2001). Thought and language (J. L. Camargo, Trans.; 3rd ed.). Martins Fontes. (Original work published in 1934)
Reprints
Example: Dewey, J. (2010). Experience and education. Vozes. (Original work published in 1938)
Personal communications
Personal communications (emails, conversations, unpublished interviews) are cited only in the text and do not appear in the reference list.
Example in the text: A. Santos (personal communication, March 15, 2023) suggested that the results require further analysis.
Formatting the Reference List
Ordering
The reference list is organized alphabetically by the last name of the first author. Works by the same author are ordered chronologically, from oldest to most recent. Publications by the same author in the same year are distinguished by lowercase letters (2023a, 2023b).
Example:
Silva, A. M. (2021). First work.
Silva, A. M. (2023a). Second work.
Silva, A. M. (2023b). Third work.
Spacing and Indentation
Double spacing is applied throughout the reference list. From the second line of each entry, use a hanging indent of 1.27 cm.
Italics
The following are written in italics: titles of books, scientific journals, newspapers, films, complete websites, and volumes. The following remain in normal text: titles of articles, book chapters, and specific web pages.
Main Differences between APA 6 and APA 7
The transition from the sixth to the seventh edition introduced substantive changes that are worth highlighting:
Simplification of citations with multiple authors: “et al.” is used after the first author for works with three or more authors from the first citation onwards (previously only from six authors onwards).
Inclusion of up to 20 authors: The reference list can include up to twenty authors before using ellipsis.
Elimination of “Retrieved from”: The expression that preceded URLs has been eliminated, retaining only cases of resources that can be removed or altered.
DOI in URL format: DOIs are now presented as complete URLs (https://doi.org/10.xxxx) instead of the previous format (doi: 10.xxxx).
Greater typographical flexibility: The use of different fonts is permitted (sans serif fonts such as Calibri or Arial are recommended), with a size between 11 and 12 points.
Location of the publisher’s city: The requirement to include the publisher’s city in book references has been eliminated.
Ethical Considerations and Academic Integrity
The correct application of citation rules transcends purely formal issues, constituting a fundamental ethical imperative in scientific communication. Proper attribution of sources not only fulfills academic requirements, but also demonstrates intellectual respect for researchers whose work supports new contributions to knowledge. Plagiarism, in its various manifestations—from the literal appropriation of text without citation to the inappropriate paraphrasing of others’ ideas—represents a serious violation of the principles that underpin scientific production.
Strict implementation of APA standards contributes to the construction of an academic ecosystem based on transparency, verifiability, and intellectual honesty. These practices allow readers to critically evaluate the evidence presented, replicate studies when appropriate, and trace conceptual genealogies that illuminate the evolution of scientific knowledge.
Conclusion
Mastery of the APA standards in their seventh edition is an essential skill for researchers, academics, and students working in the social, behavioral, and educational sciences. The standardization of citation and referencing procedures facilitates international scientific communication, allowing researchers from different geographical and linguistic contexts to share knowledge efficiently and unambiguously.
Although the multiplicity of formats may initially seem intimidating, the logical structure underlying APA standards becomes progressively intuitive with systematic practice. The fundamental principles—clear identification of authorship, temporality of publications, distinctive titles, and verifiable sources—remain consistent across the various document types, offering a coherent conceptual framework for bibliographic referencing.
This presentation has sought to provide a comprehensive overview of the main types of sources and their respective citation formats, complemented by practical examples that illustrate the concrete application of the established guidelines. However, it is recommended that the complete APA manual be consulted for clarification of specific situations not covered in this document, as well as for continuous updates regarding any revisions or addenda that the American Psychological Association may publish.
Excellence in scientific communication requires not only methodological rigor and analytical depth, but also formal precision in the presentation and attribution of sources. Investing in learning and carefully applying citation standards is therefore an investment in the credibility and impact of the academic work produced.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Lipson, C. (2022). Cite right: A quick guide to citation styles (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Pears, R., & Shields, G. (2019). Cite them right: The essential referencing guide (11th ed.). Bloomsbury Academic.
Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2023). APA formatting and style guide (7th ed.). Purdue University. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
Other resources
https://esjcff.pt/site/images/documentos/biblioteca/refer_bibliograficas_normas_estilos_APA.pdf
https://www.ihmt.unl.pt/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bol-Bib-Biblioteca-Supl-Abr-2021-Guia-de-apoio-para-citar-e-referenciar-no-IHMT-.pdf
[An other version in Portuguese as been published on this site for the use of students]
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Marc Jacquinet (30 novembre 2025). Comprehensive Guide to Bibliographic Citation According to APA Standards, 7th Edition. Critique du management. Consulté le 10 mai 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/158qv

