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APA Format Style Guide: Data Sets, Software, and Tests

This guide will assist you in writing research papers using the American Psychological Association (APA) Style. It will help explain formatting your paper as well as proper citation for various resources.

Basic Citation

Data Set

Author Date Title Source - Publisher Source - DOI or URL

Author, A.A., & Author, B.B.

Name of Group.

(2020).

(2015-2019).

Title of data set (Version 1.2). [Data set].

Title of data set [Unpublished raw data].

[Description of untitled data set] [Unpublished raw data].

Publisher Name.

Source of Unpublished Data.

https://doi.url/xxxx

https://xxxx

Retrieved October 21, 2020, from https://xxxx

Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, Equipment

Author Date Title Source - Publisher Source - URL

Author, A.A., & Author, B.B.

Name of Group.

 (2020).

Title of work (Version 1.2) [Computer software].

Title of work (Version 4.5) [Mobile app].

Name of apparatus (Model number) [Apparatus].

Name of equipment (Model number) [Equipment].

Publisher.

App Store.

Google Play Store.

 https://xxxx

Mobile App Reference Works

Author Date Entry Title Source - Mobile App Information Source - URL

Author, A.A., & Author, B.B,

Name of Group.

 (2020). Title of entry. In Title of work (Version 1.2) [Mobile app]. Publisher Name or App Store. https://xxxxx

 

Data Sets

Remember to indent the second and following lines of your reference list entries!

Data set

D'Souza, A., & Wiseheart, M. (2018). Cognitive effects of music and dance training in children (ICPSR 37080; Version V1) [Data set]. ICPSR. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37080.v1

National Center for Educational Statistics. (2016). Fast Response Survey System (FRSS): Teachers' use of educational technology in U.S. public schools, 2009 (ICPSR 35531; Version V3) [Data set and code book]. National Archive of Data on Arts and Culture. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR35531.v3

Pew Research Center. (2018). American trends panel Wave 26 [Data set]. https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-26/

  • Parenthetical Citations: (D'Souza &Wiseheart, 2018); (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2016); (Pew Research Center, 2018)
  • Narrative Citations: D'Souza and Wiseheart (2018); National Center for Educational Statistics (2016); Pew Research Center (2018)

 

Unpublished raw data

Baer, R.A. (2015) [Unpublished raw data on the correlations between the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills]. University of Kentucky.

Oregon Youth Authority. (2011). Recidivism outcomes [Unpublished raw data].

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Baer, 2015); (Oregon Youth Authority, 2011)
  • Narrative Citations: Baer (2015); Oregon Youth Authority (2011)

 

Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, and Equipment

Remember to indent the second and following lines in your reference list entries!

Software

Borenstein, M., Hedges, L., Higgins, J., & Rothstein, H. (2014). Comprehensive meta-analysis (Version 3.3.070) [Computer software]. Biostat. https://www.meta-analysis.com/

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Borenstein, 2014)
  • Narrative Citations: Borenstein (2014)

Apparatus or equipment

SR Research. (2016). Eyelink 1000 plus [Apparatus and software]. https://www.sr-research.com/eyelink1000plus.html

Tactile Labs. (2015). Latero tactile display [Apparatus]. http://tactilelabs.com/products/haptics/latero-tactile-display/

  • Parenthetical Citations: (SR Research, 2016); (Tactile Labs, 2015)
  • Narrative Citations: SR Research (2016); Tactile Labs (2015)

Mobile App

Epocrates. (2019). Epocrates medical references (Version 18.12) [Mobile app]. App Store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epocrates/id281935788?mt=8

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Epocrates, 2019)
  • Narrative Citations: Epocrates (2019)

Entry in a mobile app reference work

Epocrates. (2019). Interaction check: Aspirin + sertraline. In Epocrates medical references (Version 18.12) [Mobile app]. Google Play Store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epocrates&hl=en_US

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Epocrates, 2019)
  • Narrative Citations: Epocrates (2019)

Tests, Scales, and Inventories

Remember to indent the second and following lines of your reference list entries!

Manual for a test, scale, or inventory

Tellegen, A., & Ben-Porath, Y.S. (2011). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2 RF): Technical manual. Pearson.

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Tellegen & Ben-Porath, 2011)
  • Narrative Citations: Tellegen and Ben-Porath (2011)

Test, scale, or inventory itself

Project Implicit. (n.d.). Gender-Science IAT. https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Project Implicit, n.d.)
  • Narrative Citations: Project Implicit (n.d.)

Database record for a test

Alonso-Tapia, J., Nieto, C., Merino-Tejedor, E., Huertas, J.A., & Ruiz, M. (2018). Situated Goals Questionnaire for University Students (SGQ-U, CMS-U) [Database record]. PsycTESTS. https://doi.org/10.1037/t66267-000

Cardoza, D., Morris, J.K., Myers, H.F., & Rodriguez, N. (2000). Acculturative Stress Inventory (ASI) (TC022701) [Database record]. ETS Test Link.

  • Parenthetical Citations: (Alonso-Tapia et al., 2018); (Cardoza et al., 2000)
  • Narrative Citations: Alonso-Tapia et al. (2018); Cardoza et al. (2000)

Remember!

  • Capitalize only the first word in the document title and any proper nouns.  If there is a colon in the title (a subtitle), capitalize only the first word after the colon and any proper nouns.
  • Alphabetize your reference list by the first word of the citation, usually the author's last name.  If there is no author, alphabetize by the first main word in the title, ignoring "a," "an," or "the."
  • Double space all of the citations on your reference list.
  • Indent the second and following lines of the citation 5 to 7 spaces.