Citations and Bibliographies

This handout is also available in hard copy at the Reference Desk at Neumann University Library.

This handout is also available in hard copy at the Reference Desk at Neumann University Library.

This guide covers the basics. If you have further questions, consult the APA Manual which can be found on reserve at the circulation desk at Neumann University Library

APA Style is created by the American Psychological Association and is used prominently in the science disciplines.

While the APA Manual is the authoritative source for citation and bibliography information, the following links provide examples of the most commonly used resources:

Taken from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), Sixth Edition.

Writing well involves more than correct grammar and citations. Writing with clarity and without bias is essential to a complete research paper.

• Writing with Clarity.Word choice is essential to strong writing.  Avoid jargon (overly technical vocabulary) and colloquialisms (slang-like expressions) in your writing.  Always be sure that pronoun use is not confusing.  Readers should should easily understand to whom a pronoun is referring.  Be mindful of wordiness and redundancy; they can lead to confusion about what you are trying to express.  Using these skills, and others recommended by the APA, will help you write stronger research papers.
• Writing without Bias.All research writers must be careful to avoid any implied judgement of the subject(s) of their research.  Certain topics and peoples are prone to face bias in writing.   Be mindful of gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identity, disabilities, age, and historical and interpretive inaccuraciesin your writing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Furthermore, The APA has laid out several guidelines for avoiding bias in writing:
  • Use the Appropriate Level of Specificity.Use the appropriately specific terms when referring to a person or to groups of people.  For example, rather than writing "men" when referring to people in general, write "men and women."  However, do not identify differences that are irrelevant to the study or research.  For example, avoid mention martial status or race if it is not necessary.
  • Be Sensitive to Labels.Call people or groups of people what they prefer to be called. Be mindful that this can change with time.  For example, rather than writing "the elderly," use "older adults."
  • Acknowledge Participation.Use language that acknowledges people as active participants in a study. Terms such as "subjects" and "sample" are language of the scientific field and are commonly used when describing participants.