I found this on-lineIt was created by the University of

Wisconsin School of Social Work

Created by: Kevin Kawamotosswwrite@u.washington.edu

Room 6 (206) 221-6141I made some modifications but the

work was his

Find the Citation Error:A Quick Quiz on APA Style

DirectionsAll of the following slides marked, “Catch the

Error,” break one or more APA citation rule. See if you can find the error(s), and then

revise the citation so that it is in conformity with APA style.

When you think you have corrected the error, move on to the next slide marked, “Revised,” and see if you revised the citation correctly.

Catch the Error #1Hollingshead measured aggressiveness in

children before and after exposure to violent videogames (2002, p. 15).

RevisedHollingshead (2000) measured

aggressiveness in children before and after exposure to violent videogames.

Explanation: The year comes after the researcher’s name. No page number is needed if there is no direct quote.

Catch the Error #2Neither group showed any significant growth

(Wong and Tuttle 2005).

RevisedNeither group showed any significant growth

(Wong & Tuttle, 2005).

Explanation: Use an ampersand (&) when citing parenthetically and put a comma between author(s) and year of publication.

Catch the Error #3Duffy & Petronius (2002, p. 23) found that

none of the subjects showed improvement.

RevisedDuffy and Petronius (2002) found that none

of the subjects showed improvement.

Explanation: Use “and” -- not ampersand -- when citing authors outside of parentheses. No page number needed since there was no direct quote.

Catch the Error #4Many interventions are ineffective because

they focus on reducing behaviors, but should focus on a comprehension program that includes educational interventions to address learning needs and styles. (Spencer J. Saend, 2003)

RevisedMany interventions are ineffective because

they focus on reducing behaviors, but should focus on a comprehension program that includes educational interventions to address learning needs and styles (Saend, 2003).

Explanation: Use the author’s last name in the parenthesis. Put period at the end of the parenthesis.

Catch the Error #5Parker (2003) found that there was “no

significant difference between the treatment group and the control group.”

Revision Parker (2003) found that there was “no

significant difference between the treatment group and the control group” (p. 12).

Explanation: Since a direct quote was used, a page number must be provided after the quote.

Catch the Error #6However, learning spelling rules and

figuring out how letters are put together to make words can have a positive impact on reading achievement (Moats, 2005/2006)

RevisedHowever, learning spelling rules and

figuring out how letters are put together to make words can have a positive impact on reading achievement (Moats, 2005, 2006)

Explanation: When citing an author that has multiple publications, use period to separate different publications by year.

Catch the Error #7Therefore, spelling instruction is either left

out or lessons are assigned as homework (Lee‐Vieira, Mayer, Cameron).

RevisedTherefore, spelling instruction is either left

out or lessons are assigned as homework (Lee‐Vieira, Mayer, & Cameron, 2006).

Explanation: With multiple authors, add “&” between the last two authors. Add year of publication at the end of author names.

Catch the Error #8Bretschneider, John Garrett and McCoy, Nancy

Lewis, 1968. Sexual Interest and Behavior in Healthy 80- 102-Year-Olds. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 14, pp. 343-350.

RevisedBretschneider, J. G., & McCoy, N. L. (1968).

Sexual interest and behavior in healthy 80- 102-year-olds. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 14, 343-350.

Explanation: 1)only initials for first names; 2)year in parentheses followed by period; 3)lower case in article title; 4)italicize journal name and capitalize first letters; 5)no “Vol.,” just italicize; 6)no “pp.”; 7)hanging indent.

Catch the Error #9Hashimoto, Thomas. (March 13, 2000, p. 23).

Seeing Red in November. Newsweek, vol. 199.

RevisedHashimoto, T. (2000, March 13). Seeing red

in November. Newsweek, 199, 23.

Explanation: Only initial for first name. Year comes first, then comma, then month and day, all in parentheses. Title of magazine is italicized, followed by comma, volume number italicized, then page number(s). Hanging indent,

Catch the Error #9Collier, V. P. and Thomas, W. P. (2001).

Educating linguistically and culturally diverse students in correctional settings. The Journal of Correctional Education, 52, 68-73.

Revised Collier, V. P. and Thomas, W. P. (2001).

Educating linguistically and culturally diverse students in correctional settings. The Journal of Correctional Education, 52, 68-73.

Explanation: Italicize journal title and volume number.

The Latest EditionAmerican Psychological Association. (2009).

Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

RemindersYou don’t have to memorize all the rules.

There are hundreds of APA style rules and lots of exceptions to the rules. Use reference sheets.

If you are planning to write scholarly papers for publication, get the book. Take it in slowly, not all at once. (Preserve your sanity.)

Have writing consultant review for conformity to APA style.

How did you do?