What is a list of references?

• The last page of your text should be a list of the references you have used.
Readers (assignment markers in particular) often look at the reference list
before reading the whole text. It shows them the range of your reading as
well as giving them enough information to find your references or quotes
for themselves if they want to check them.
• Page layout
• Title: put ‘References’ as a title at the top of the page
• Order: list each reference in alphabetical order, beginning with the
author/s’ surname/s, or the name of an organisation (corporate author).
Where there is no author, use the title.
• Format: use the ‘hanging indent’ option (under the
format/paragraph/special’ function on Microsoft Word, for example). This
means that the first line of the entry for each source begins on the margin,
and subsequent lines are indented. It makes the author names stand out and
helps the reader scan the list quickly
• Titles of books and journals are italicised.
• Titles of articles are not italicised, nor are they placed in quotations.
• Only the first word of article and book titles, the first word after a colon,
and words that would normally require capitalization are capitalised.
• The first letter of each major word of a journal title is capitalised.
• Use only the initials of the author’s first and middle names.
• A full stop follows the date, article title, book title, and journal page
numbers.
• A comma follows the journal title, and (Ed.)
• When not including the authors’ names as part of your sentence (note the
use of ‘&’ to replace ‘and’) e.g. The process of perception can be divided
into three stages (Devito, O’Rourke & O’Neill, 2000).
• When using the author’s names as part of your sentence, you use ‘and’ and
not ‘&’ e.g. Devito, O’Rourke and O’Neill (2000) divide the process of
perception into three stages.
• Listing the references: there are many different types of sources, and
each has its specific format conventions under APA. Some of the most
common types of sources are given below.
 Use the following examples as models

Book
Elements of the citation: author(s) of the book – family name and initials, year of publication,
title of book –italicised/underlined. Place of publication: Publisher
Reference In-text examples Reference list example Type of
type reference
material
One author Sophisticated searching Berkman, R.I. (1994). Find it fast: How to uncover Book
techniques are important expert information. New York: Harper Perennial.
in finding information
(Berkman, 1994)
OR
Berkman (1994, p. 25)
claimed that ...
Two authors It is futile to maintain Moir, A., & Jessel, D. (1991). Brain sex: The real Book
that the sexes are difference between men and women. London:
interchangeable (Moir & Mandarin.
Jessel, 1991)
OR
Moir and Jessel (1991)
found students ...
Always list the authors
in the order they
appear in the
publication
Three or It was argued that ... Jonson, L., Lewis, K., Peters, M., Harris, Y., Book
more (Johnson et al., 2005) Moreton, G., Morgan, B. et al. (2005). How far is
authors OR far? London: McMillan.
Johnson et al. (2005)
talks about ... For a work with 21 or more authors, include the
Cite just the last name first 19 authors’ names, insert an ellipsis (…),
of the first author but no ampersand, and then write the final
followed by et al. and author’s name.
year

Other citations
No author Management is The CCH Macquarie Dictionary of business Book
defined as (CCH (1993). North Ryde, NSW: CCH Australia.
Macquarie Dictionary,
1993)
OR
 CCH Macquarie
Dictionary (1993)
defines ...
Cite in the text the
first few words of the
title and year
Multiple ... geology of Willmott, W.F. (2004). Rocks and landscapes of Book
works by the Queensland’s national the national parks of Southern Queensland.
same author parks (Willmott, 2004, Brisbane: Geological Society of Australia,
2006). Queensland Division.

Willmott, W.F. (2006). Rocks and landscapes of

the national parks of Southern Queensland.
Brisbane: Geological Society of Australia,
Queensland Division.
Order chronologically from the earliest in the
reference list
Multiple (Dawkins, Dawkins, R. (1996a). Climbing mount improbable. Book
works by the 1996a,1996b) London: Viking.
same author,
published in Dawkins, R. (1996b). River out of Eden. London:
the same year Phoenix.
Order alphabetically by title in the reference list
Book by an (Queensland Health, Queensland Health (2002). Best practice guidelines Book
organisation 2002) for the management of type 1 diabetes in children
or institution Queensland Health and adolescents. Brisbane, Qld.: Queensland
(corporate (2002) recommends Health.
author) that ...
Different (DeHart et al., 1995) DeHart, G. B., Alan Sroufe, L., & Cooper, R.G. Book
editions DeHart et al. (1995) (1995). Child development: Its nature and course
state the idea that ... (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
The edition statement is placed after the title of
the work. This is not necessary for a first
edition.
Edited book (Friedman & Wachs, Friedman, S. L., & Wachs, T. D. (Eds.). (1999). Edited
1999) Measuring environment across the life span: book
Emerging methods and concepts. Washington, DC:
(Everson, 1991) American Psychological Association.

Everson, S. (Ed.). (1991). Psychology. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.
Book series (Simons, 1996) Simons, R. C. (1996). Boo!: Culture, experience Book
Simons (1996) argues and the startle reflex. Series in affective science. Need to
that ... New York: Oxford University Press. add in
series
name
 manually
into
reference
list
Electronic ... globalisation Pettinger, R. (2002). Global organizations. Oxford: Electronic
book – entire concerns (Pettinger, Capston Publishing. Available from NetLibrary book
book 2002) database. Put
NetLibrar
y in Mane
of the
Database
field
Translation of (Ylinen, 2008) Ylinen, J. (2008). Stretching therapy: For sport Book
a book and manual therapies (J. Nurmenniemi, Trans.). Include
Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. translator
name in
translator
field
Chapter in a book
Elements of citation: author(s) of chapter-family name and initials, year of publication, ‘title of
chapter, in Editor(s) of book (eds), title of book – italicised, edition, publisher, place of publication,
page numbers
Chapter in a (Baker & Lightfoot, Baker, F. M., & Lightfoot, O. B. (1993). Book
book 1993) Psychiatric care of ethnic elders. In A. C. Gaw section
Use the chapter (Ed.), Culture, ethnicity, and mental illness (pp.
authors, NOT the 517-552). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
editors of the book Press.
Chapter from (Scott, 2005) Scott, D. (2005). Colonial governmentality. In J. X. Electronic
an electronic Inda (Ed.), Antropologies of modernity (pp. 21-49). book
book Retrieved from Wiley Interscience database. Manually
add page
numbers
and
italicise
the book
title
Book review

Review author(s), Date of publication, Review title, Medium being retrieved, Work being reviewed,
Periodical title, volume, pages
Book review (Berg, 2000) Berg, D. K. (2000). Writing at university [Review Boom
of the book Writing guidelines for business review
students]. Second Language Writing, 45, 456-470.
Dictionary or Encyclopaedia
Elements of the citation: author(s) of work – family name and initials, year of publication, title of work, in
Editor(s) of book (eds.), title of book-italicised, Edition, publisher, place of publication, page numbers
Dictionary or (Wolman, 1989) Wolman, B. B. (1989). Dictionary of behavioural Dictionary
nd
Encyclopaedia science (2 ed.). san Diego: Academic Press
If multiple volumes, list after edition in brackets
(e.g. 2nd ed., Vols. 1-5)
Journal articles
Elements of citation: author(s) of journal article – family name and initials, year of publication, title of
journal article- title of journal- italicised, volume, issue or number, page number (s)
Journal article (Mellers, 2000) Mellers, B.A. (2000). Choice and the relative Journal
– one author OR pleasure of consequences. Psychological Bulletin, article
Mellers (2000) 50(2), 49-52.
thought that ...
Journal article (Schafer & Kang, Schafer, J. L. & Kang, J. (2008). Average causal Journal
– two authors 2008) effects from nonrandomized studies: A practical article
guide and simulated example. Psychological
Methods. 13, 279-313.
Journal article (Skenderian et al., Skenderian, J., Siegel, J. T., Crano, W. D., Alvaro, Journal
– three or 2008) E. E., & Lac, A. (2008). Expectancy change and article
more adolescents’ intentions to use marijuana.
Use only first Psychology of Addictive Behaviours, 22(3), 53-69.
author’s last name
then et al., including Does the article have a DOI? Include a DOI for
for first time citation all works that have one. Do not put a period
used after the DOI.
Journal article (Williams & Beattie, Williams, S. & Beattie, H. J. (in press). Problem Journal
– in press in press) based learning in the clinical setting – a systematic article
review. Nurse Education Today Put ‘in
press’ in
year field
Article from (Wharton, 1996) Wharton, N. (1996). Health and safety in outdoor Electronic
electronic activity centres. Journal of Adventure Education article
and Outdoor Leadership, 12(4), 8 -9. Retrieved Put
November 10, 2007, from ABI/INFORM Global database
database. name in
The details required are the same as for a URL field
journal article in print BUT a retrieval
statement must also be given with the name of Need to
the database. add
retrieval
date
manually
Conference papers
Author(s) of paper – family name and initials, year of publication, title of paper, title of published
proceeding which may include place held and date(s)- italicised, publisher, place of publication, page
number(s), (viewed date in full, web address – if accessed electronically)
Published (Bohrer, Zielke & Bohrer, S., Zielke, T. & Freiburg, V. (1995). Conference paper
conference Freiburg, 1995) Integrated obstacle detection framework for Add ‘Detroit,
paper intelligent cruise control on motorways. MI: Piscataway’
Paper presented at IEEE Intelligent to conference
Vehicles Symposium. Detroit, MI: title field as well
Piscataway.
Unpublished (Bowden and Fairley, Bowden, F. J. & Fairley, C. K. (1996, June). Conference paper
conference 1996) Endemic STDs in the Northern Territory: Add ‘scientific
paper estimations of effective rates of partner meeting of the
change. Paper presented at the scientific Royal Australian
meeting of the Royal Australian College of College of
Physicians, Darwin. Physicians,
Darwin’ in the
conference name
field

Add ‘1996, June’

in the year field
Newspaper and magazine articles
Author(s) of article-family name and initials, year of publication, title of article, title of newspaper –
italicised, day month, page number(s)
Newspaper (Cook, 2002) Cook, D. (2002, January 28). All in the Newspaper article
article with mind. The Age, p. 8
author
Newspaper (Meeting the needs, Meeting the needs of counsellors. (2001, Newspaper article
article without 2001) May 5). The Courier Mail, p. 22
author
Magazine (Marano, 2008) Marano, H. E. (2008, March – April). Magazine article
article Making of a perfectionist. Psychology
Today, 41, 80-89.
Electronic (Sandy, 2008) Sandy, A. (2008, January 22). Cheaper to Electronic article
newspaper or fly than hire a bike in Brisbane. The Put date in year
magazine Courier Mail. Retrieved from field
article http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story
/0,23739,24949645-952,00.html

Government publications
Author(s) of report - (person or organization), year of publication, title of report –italicised, publisher,
place of publication, (viewed date in full, web address – if accessed electronically)
Government (Queensland Health, Queensland Health (2009). Health Systems Report
report 2009) Review Final Report. Brisbane:
Queensland Government
Thesis
Author of thesis – family name and initials, year of preparation of thesis, title of thesis, award, institution
issuing degree, location of institution
Thesis – (Axford, 2008) Axford, J. C. (2008). What constitutes Thesis
retrieved from success in Pacific island community
institutional or conserved areas? (Doctoral dissertation,
personal University of Queensland, 2008).
website Retrieved from
http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:15
8747

Thesis – (Sheehan, 2009) Sheehan, L. R. (2009). Destination Thesis

retrieved from management organizations: A stakeholder
database perspective. Retrieved from Proquest
Digital Dissertations (AAT NR25719)
WebPages
Author(s) of page – person or organization, year (page created or revised), title of page, viewed date in full,
web address

Remember to be sceptical about what you find on the Internet; not everything is reliable. It’s safest to
use university sites or on-line periodicals, as they are more likely to have accurate information.

A standard template/model for citing electronic sources of information is not yet agreed
Web page – (Atherton, 2006) Atherton, J. (2006). Behaviour Web page
with author Modification. Retrieved February 5, 2008,
from
http://www.educational –
psychologist.org.uk/

Web page- no (Behaviour Behaviour notification (2006). Retrieved Web page

author modification, 2006) February 5, 2008, from
Use title instead of http://www.educational –
author name psychologist.org.uk/

Web page – no (Society of Clinical Society of Clinical Psychology (n.d.). Web page
date Psychology, n.d.) About clinical psychology. Retrieved
January 24, 2008, from
http://www.educational –
psychologist.org.uk/
Web page- (Queensland Health, Queensland Health (2008). Healthy start in Web page
corporate 2008) life. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from
author http://www.educational –
As stated by psychologist.org.uk/
Queensland Health
(2008)
Web article (Kenardy & Piercy, Kenardy, M. & Piercy, J. (2008). Effect of Electronic web page
freely available 2008) information provision on trauma
on web symptoms. Australian Psychologist, 43(3),
205-230. Retrieved from
 http://www.educational –
psychologist.org.uk/
Image on a web The image of the Scarlet Fever Rash Picture [Image] (n.d.). Web page
page rash (Scarlet Fever retrieved December 19, 2007 from Add image to ‘type
Rash Picture, n.d.) http://www.educational – of medium’ field
psychologist.org.uk/

Other internet sources

Author (year). Title. (type of media). Date accessed, year accessed, web address
Podcasts (Al Zabi & Beji, Al Zabi, M. (Producer) & Beji, K. Film or broadcast
2008) (Presenter) (2008, November 2). Diabetes Add ‘producer’
in the elderly [Podcast radio programme]. and ‘presenter’ in
Sydney: ABC Radio National. Retrieved manually
December 19, 2007 from
http://www.educational –
psychologist.org.uk/
Email or K. P. Miles (personal Some information may come from Entered into text
personal communication, personal interviews, telephone manually
communication August 6, 2008) conversations rather than from written
(Spoken OR material.
sources) (L. J. Henderson,
personal The citation goes in the text of your
communication, assignment, but should not be included in
February 5, 2007) your list of your references because no
one else can ‘refer’ to it independently;
only you experienced it and it can’t be
checked by anyone else.
Provide the initials as well as the surname
of the communicator, and provide as exact
a date as possible
Message posted (Winther, 2009) Winther, M. (2009, January 14). The Generic
to a newsgroup, unconscious is spirit [Msg 1]. Message Add 2009, January
online forum or posted to http://groups.google.com/group/ 14 to year field
discussion
group Add ‘the
unconscious is
spirit [Msg 1] in
secondary title
field

Add ‘message
posted to
http://groupd.goog
le.com...’
to publisher field
Blog post (Reville, 2006) Reville, L. (2006, September 5). Where to Generic
find fundraising ideas. Message posted to Add ‘2006,
http://nlrp.blogspot.com/ September 5’ to
year field

Add ‘where to find

fundraising ideas’
in secondary title
field

Add ‘message
posted to
http://nlrp.blog...

Email (Vuinovich, 2001) Vuinovich G. (2001, April 4). Report on Generic

discussion list – malaria outbreak. Message post to
web archive HCMATTERS electronic mailing list, Add 2001, April 4
archived at http://www.hcmatters.org/ to year field

Add ‘report on
malaria outbreak’
in secondary title
field

Add ‘message
posted to
HCMATTERS ...’
to publisher field
Abstract from a Holt (2000) Holt, R. F. (2000). The discourse ethics
CD-ROM or of sports print journalism. Culture,
on-line index: Sport, Society (UK) 25, 77-100.
Abstract from: SilverPlatter File:
SPORT Discus Item: 5-666789.

Brochures
Author (year), title of brochure (brochure), place: use author as publisher
Brochure (University of University of Queensland, student services, Book
Queensland, student personal counselling program (2000). Put ‘author’ in
services, 2000) Eating disorders [brochure]. Brisbane: publisher field
Author.
Add [brochure]
after title
manually
 Lecture notes
Name of author(s) or the institution responsible, year of publication, title and subtitle of publication –
italicised, name of institution, location

Note that it is not customary to cite university lectures. They are unpublished, and are designed to be a
guide to your reading only.

An exception is when their notes have been posted online or when the notes are in printed form e.g. in a
form of PowerPoint slides

Lecture notes – (Johnson, 2008) Johnson, A. (2008). Week three: Foucault Unpublished work
print [powerpoint slides]. Unpublished Add [powerpoint
manuscript, BESC1001, University of slides] manually
Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
List name of city, state and country. Do Add ‘manuscript’
not include state if listed in university to type of work
name field

Add “BESC1001,
University of
Queensland, St.
Lucia, Australia”
Lecture notes – (Johnson, 2008) Johnson, A. (2008). Week three: Foucault Web page
online [powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from Add ‘week three:
BESC1001, University of Queensland Foucault
Blackboard Online: [powerpoint slides]
http://www.elearning.uq.edu.au/ to title field

Add BESC1001,
University of
Queensland
Blackboard
Online:
http://www.elearni
ng.uq.edu.au/

Video or DVD
Title of video or DVD – italicised, year of publication, format, publisher, place of recording
Video or DVD (Spielberg & Rodat, Spielberg, S. (director) & Rodat, R. Film or broadcast
1998) (writer) (1998). Saving Private Ryan
[motion picture]. United States: Paramount In the medium
Pictures. field, put in motion
picture
Television programs
Writer, title of the program, year of the program, medium, place of broadcast, who broadcast the program
Television or (Bryant, 2001) Bryant, A. (writer) (2001, September 12). Film or broadcast
radio programs The Bryant medical hour [television In year field, add
broadcast]. Sydney, NSW: Public 2001, September
Broadcasting Service. 12

In the medium
field put in
television
broadcast
Indirect citation
An indirect citation is when the ideas of one author are published in another author’s text; however, you have
not read or accessed the original author’s work. In the list of references provide the details of the author of
the work you have read
Indirect citation Miller (cited in Agrios, M. (2005). Plant pathology (5th Book
or secondary Agrios 2005) found ed.). Burlington, Massachusetts: Elsevier Use the relevant
source ... Academic Press. reference for what
... it was found you are citing.
(Miller, cited in Cite the source where you found the Include ‘cited in’
Agrios 2005) citation. This indicates that you did not manually using
read the original (Miller), i.e. if there’s a ‘edit citation’
mistake, it’s Agrios’ and not yours. option.

• The key is consistency in format, using a standard sequence of commas, stops and italics.
Underline the italicised items in hand-written documents