Understanding the Basics
* Journal Title: The full name of the journal, usually italicized or underlined.
* Volume & Issue: The volume and issue number of the journal where the article appears.
* Page Numbers: The specific pages the article occupies.
* Author(s): The name(s) of the author(s) in the order they appear on the article.
* Year of Publication: The year the journal was published.
* DOI (Digital Object Identifier): A unique code that identifies the article online.
Common Citation Styles
Here are the most widely used citation styles:
* APA (American Psychological Association)
Example:
Smith, J. A., & Jones, B. (2023). The impact of social media on mental health. *Journal of Psychology*, *125*(3), 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-022-09876-5
* MLA (Modern Language Association)
Example:
Smith, John A., and Barbara Jones. "The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health." *Journal of Psychology*, vol. 125, no. 3, 2023, pp. 25-38.
* Chicago (Author-Date)
Example:
Smith, John A., and Barbara Jones. "The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health." *Journal of Psychology* 125, no. 3 (2023): 25-38.
* Harvard
Example:
Smith, J. A. and Jones, B. (2023) 'The impact of social media on mental health', *Journal of Psychology*, 125(3), pp. 25-38.
Tips for Referencing
* Use a Citation Manager: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help you automatically format citations and generate bibliographies.
* Consult a Style Guide: Refer to the specific style guide used by your field or institution.
* Double-Check for Accuracy: Ensure your citation is complete, accurate, and follows the formatting rules of the chosen style.
Beyond Basic Journal Articles:
* Books: Include author, title, publisher, and year of publication.
* Chapters in Edited Books: Reference the chapter author(s), chapter title, book editor(s), book title, publisher, and page numbers.
* Websites: Include the author, website title, URL, and date accessed.
Need More Help?
* Online Citation Generators: Use free tools like Citation Machine or EasyBib to format your citations.
* Library Resources: Your local library or university library likely offers guides and resources for creating citations.
Let me know if you have any more questions about referencing a journal article or any other types of sources!