The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
Questions about the APA Publication Manual?
Contact the librarians at the
NJM Health Sciences Library
healthlibrary@umanitoba.ca
200 level, Brodie Centre
Responsibilities in Research
Academic writing builds upon the arguments and ideas that previous scholars have written. It is not only important to credit their work, but also to demonstrate your understanding of their work and how it links to your own. It is important to "cite the work of those individuals whose ideas, theories, or research have directly influenced your work" (APA, 2020, p. 253). Referencing the work of others in your own writing will contextualize your work and showcase your academic integrity.
Consider the multiple functions of referencing:
References serve 3 primary purposes—documentation, acknowledgment, and directing or linking the reader to additional resources. Authors may cite a reference to support their own arguments or lay the foundation for their theses (documentation), to credit the work of other authors (acknowledgment), or to direct the reader to more detail or additional resources (directing or linking). (Fischer & Frank, 2020)
Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as "the act of presenting the words, ideas, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due. Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship" (APA, 2020, p. 254). According to the University of Manitoba, all information or data included in academic assignments should be cited. Not citing could result in a charge of plagiarism (see UM Academic Integrity website). The only time you are not expected to provide a source is when the information you write is your original analysis of the information/data you are presenting (i.e. no other researcher has reached similar conclusions), the results of an experiment you conducted, and in some cases “common knowledge,” and personal or lived experience (Academic Learning Center, 2022).
For definitions of what is considered “common knowledge” or “lived experience” refer to the original document.
What is Citation Justice?
Citation Justice is the act of citing authors based on their identity to diversify research and raise marginalized voices. Citation justice comes in response to evidence demonstrating that, across disciplines, authors who are women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), gender diverse, or LGBTQIA+ are cited less often than authors who are white, cis, heterosexual, and male.
This power imbalance not only affects the professional impacts and advancement of marginalized scholars, but it also affects knowledge by limiting the variety of narratives presented in literature (Mott & Cockayne, 2017). If the same group of people is receiving tenure, influence, research grants, etc., then the cycle of marginalization and restricted scholarly discourse only deepens.
How can I Adopt Citation Justice Into my Research Practice?
Diversifying Citations
Intentionally seeking out diverse authors will give you the opportunity to infuse your own research with new perspectives, while disseminating the work of marginalized authors in your field. Here are some sources to help you start out:
Citation Auditing
If your source doesn't come from a curated list or database of verified diverse authors, try checking yourself by searching their academic, researcher, online, or social media profiles. If you use citation management software, make a note or use this GoogleSheet for Tracking Citations from the University of Maryland Libraries LibGuide on citation justice.
Positionality Statements
Consider including a positionality statement in your work. A positionality statement is an act of internal reflection and provides a sense of transparency in your work by informing your reader about your lived experience any potential bias in your work that from your lived experience. This list from the Queen's University webpage on equity, diversity, and inclusivity provides elements that you may want to contemplate:
You only need to supply details if they apply to you, and you are free to include additional elements that are not listed here. Usually a positionality statement appears in the "Methods" section of your work.
For more details on positionality statements and some helpful examples, see this document published by Wiley Online Library.
Content adapted from:
Note: Below is an overview of when to cite. For further details on formatting in-text citations and more examples, go to Step 2: Citing Items In-Text.
Author-Date Citation System
The APA Style uses author-date citations to cite references. Each work that is used in an APA style paper has two parts: a shorter in-text citation and a corresponding longer reference list entry.
In-Text citations
In-text citations may appear in the body of the paper, including text, tables, figures, footnotes, or appendices. There are two core elements of an in-text citation: the author and date of publication (or equivalent information). A third element, such as a page number, can be used in certain situations where a specific part of a source is being cited, and is always required in a direct quotation.
There are two kinds of in-text citations: parenthetical and narrative. Parenthetical citations are separate from the running text while narrative citations are part of the running text.
Examples
Type 1 diabetes is a known risk for cardiovascular disease (Hajjar & Kaczynski, 2020).
In the study, parents with type 2 diabetes revealed the pressure involved with their children's increased risk of also being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: "I'm worried that if we don't follow all the doctor's advice, down the line, it'll all be my fault if they get sick" (Takahashi et al., 2021), p. 87).
According to Singh (2020), several longitudinal studies have evaluated the effects of type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Research shows decreased mortality due to renal failure in the last 10 years (Banner et al., 2019).
With Type 1 diabetes, hypertension starts in childhood (Hajjar & Kaczynski, 2020; Singh, 2020).
"Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations have a higher risk of developing diabetes due to obesity, cigarette smoking, and high blood pressure" (Health Canada, 2023, para. 4).
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is when you restate the passage or idea from another work into your own words. A paraphrased passage is generally shorter and more condensed than the original. Summarizing is very similar to paraphrasing in that it also involves putting someone else’s ideas into your own words to condense the material (and to show that you understand the source material). A summary includes only the main points and/or ideas in a longer passage or entire work.
When paraphrasing in APA, you are not required to provide a page or a paragraph number unless it would be helpful for a reader to know where to find the the referenced passage in a longer work, such as a book.
Paraphrasing is the preferred method when writing in the APA style.
Additional examples of paraphrasing, including “poor”, “better” and “best”, are available from the University of Manitoba Academic Learning Center’s document on “Paraphrasing” (Academic Learning Center, 2022).
Example
Raw food diets are a subset of vegan diets consisting of fruit, berries, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, legumes, and cereals (Chen et al. 2018; Piretti & Clark, 2023; Zamal, 2021). According to Fontaine (2024), many variants of the raw food diet exist and there is no one definition. Some articles required that 40%-85% of an individual’s total dietary intake contain uncooked foods in order to be considered raw. High plant protein diets did include a small intake of meat products (Piretti & Clark, 2023; Timms, 2020).
Direct Quotation
A direct quotation is taken word-for-word from the original text. Indicate it is a quote by using double quotation marks around the original phrase. The citation appears after the closing quotation mark.
Because a direct quotation cites a specific part of a source, additional information about where to find it must be included. This can be a page number, paragraph number, chapter, etc.
Use direct quotations sparingly, and only choose passages that convey meaningful and relevant information; remember-- paraphrasing is the ideal way to express ideas and demonstrate your own interpretation!
If a quote contains forty words or more, use a block quote instead.
Examples
"The basic ideas of a 'living-food' or 'raw food' diets are consuming all or primarily uncooked foods" (Tahir et al., 2018, p. 13).
"While most raw diets are vegan, there are a small number that do include animal products, such as meat, fish, and dairy" (Sanchez-Duarte, 2015, pp. 46-47).
"The potential outcomes from adhering to a raw diet are still being studied" (Dieticians of Canada, 2021, para. 11).
Block Quotation
If a quote contains forty or more words, it should be set off in a block indented 1/2 inch from the left margin without quotation marks. Include the citation at the end of the block quote. Typically, a single phrase with a colon introduces the block quotation.
Example
It is important to keep in mind:
Raw food diets are extreme dietary regiments that have not been investigated extensively. For those that have been investigated the benefits are still considered controversial. There is also little information about the effect of consuming a raw vegan diet on the immune system. Extra caution is suggested when studying vulnerable populations and assessment of the nutritional adequacy of the diet is most reliably made on a case-by-case basis. (Tahir et al., 2018, pp. 92-93)
Reference List
A labeled reference list appears at the end of a paper, on a new page, and is organized alphabetically, providing citation details for each reference used in-text. For formatting and details required for various common references, see Step 3: Creating Your Reference List.
The sections above were adapted from "Chapter 8: Works Credited in the Text", in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.), as well as the APA webpage on in-text citations. Content from "Paraphrasing" adapted from the Hamersly Library. Example text, author, and date attributions are fictitious.
Academic Learning Center. (2023, May). Citing common knowledge & lived experience. Academic Learning Center, University of
Manitoba. https://umanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/2020-07/common-knowledge-handout.pdf
Academic Learning Center. (2023, April). Paraphrasing. Academic Learning Center, University of
Manitoba. https://umanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/2020-07/paraphrasing.pdf
American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American
Psychological Association.
American Psychological Association (2024). In-text citations, APA style. American Psychological Association.
https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations
Fischer L., & Frank P. (2020). References. In: JAMA Manual of Style Committee (Eds.) AMA manual of style: A guide for authors and
editors. (11th ed., pp. 59-112). Oxford University Press. http://www.amamanualofstyle.com/
Hamersly Library. (2013). In-text citations. Western Oregon University, Hamersly Library.
https://research.wou.edu/ld.php?content_id=52666486
Liu, F., Rahwan, T., & AlShebli, B. (2023). Non-white scientists appear on fewer editorial boards, spend more time under review, and
receive fewer citations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(13). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2215324120
Mott, C., & Cockayne, D. (2017). Citation matters: Mobilizing the politics of citation toward a practice of ‘conscientious
engagement’. Gender, Place & Culture, 24(7), 954-973. DOI: 10.1080/0966369X.2017.1339022
Rubin, H. (2022). Structural causes of citation gaps. Philosophical Studies, 179(7), 2323–2345. https://doi-org.uml.idm.oclc.
org/10.1007/s11098-021-01765-3