Have you ever used a well-established psychological assessment tool only to realize you're not quite sure how to properly credit its creators in your research paper? Citing sources correctly is a cornerstone of academic integrity, and this extends beyond books and journal articles to include the standardized assessments we rely on for data collection and analysis. Failing to properly cite these tools can be seen as a form of plagiarism and weakens the credibility of your work.
The APA (American Psychological Association) style provides specific guidelines for acknowledging the sources of information you use in your research, including standardized tests, questionnaires, and other assessment instruments. Mastering these guidelines ensures you are giving proper credit where it's due, allowing readers to easily locate the tool you used, and contributing to the transparency and replicability of your research findings. Accurately citing assessment tools not only demonstrates your professionalism but also upholds the ethical standards within the field of psychology and related disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Citing Assessment Tools in APA Style
How do I cite a standardized test I took for research using APA format?
To cite a standardized test in APA format, you'll generally need the test's title, author (usually the publisher or organization), publication year, and any relevant edition or form information. The specific format varies slightly depending on whether you are citing the test itself or referring to scores obtained from the test.
When referencing the test *instrument* itself (e.g., you're discussing its properties or theoretical basis), treat it similarly to a book. Provide the author (usually the publisher), year, title of the test in italics, and any relevant version/form information in parentheses. For example: Pearson. (2020). *Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale* (WAIS-IV). If the test is available online, include the URL after the publisher information. Note that it may not be acceptable to include the whole test instrument within your published work (depending on the conditions of use) – citation is usually enough.
When you are reporting *scores* obtained from the test, as is more common in research papers, you generally do not include a full citation in the references section. Instead, you mention the test and its publication year in the text of your paper, usually the first time it is mentioned. After the first mention, you can use an abbreviation. For instance: "Participants completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV; Pearson, 2020). The WAIS-IV scores showed..." If you are using a widely known and used test, this in-text citation is often sufficient, and a full reference list entry is not required.
What's the APA citation format for a questionnaire I adapted from another study?
When adapting a questionnaire from another study, your APA citation should acknowledge the original authors and source material while clarifying your modifications. In the body of your text, mention the original authors when you first refer to the questionnaire, specifying that you adapted it (e.g., "The Anxiety Scale (Author, Year), adapted by the present study..."). In your reference list, cite the original source of the questionnaire, not your adaptation. In the method section, thoroughly describe the adaptations you made.
The key to correctly citing an adapted questionnaire in APA style is to clearly differentiate between the original source of the questionnaire and your modifications to it. In your writing, explicitly state that you adapted the questionnaire and detail what changes you made. This includes adding, removing, or modifying items, changing the response format, or altering the instructions. For example, you might write: "Participants completed an adapted version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1990). We modified the response scale from a 5-point Likert scale to a 7-point Likert scale to increase sensitivity."
In the references section, you only cite the *original* source of the questionnaire. Do *not* create a reference for your adaptation. The full citation will depend on the source of the questionnaire (e.g., a journal article, a book, a website). For example, if the CISS was originally published as a journal article, the reference would look something like this: Endler, N. S., & Parker, J. D. A. (1990). Multidimensional assessment of coping: A critical evaluation. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58*(5), 844–854. Your description of the modifications in the method section acts as the primary source of information about the adapted version.
How do I cite a commercially available assessment tool in APA 7th edition?
To cite a commercially available assessment tool in APA 7th edition, treat it similarly to a book, focusing on who is responsible for the tool, the year of publication, the title of the tool, and the publisher. The general format is: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of assessment tool* (Edition, if applicable). Publisher.
The key to citing assessment tools correctly lies in identifying the proper "author." This might be an individual, a team of researchers, or, very commonly, the organization that publishes the test (e.g., Pearson, WPS). If the publisher is also considered the author, use the publisher's name in the author position. The "title" should be italicized, just like a book title. Include edition information if it's not the first edition, and be sure to spell out words like "Edition" rather than abbreviating to "Ed."
Here's an example of a commercially available assessment citation: Pearson. (2021). *Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Fourth Edition*. Author.
Do I need to include the assessment tool in my APA reference list if I only mention it in passing?
Generally, if you only mention an assessment tool in passing and don't directly use it for data collection or analysis in your study, you don't need to include it in your APA Style reference list. The reference list should primarily contain sources you directly consulted and used in your research.
However, "mentioning in passing" can be subjective. If you're merely acknowledging the existence of a tool (e.g., "The Beck Depression Inventory is a commonly used measure of depression"), and it doesn't directly inform your methodology, analysis, or interpretation, then omitting it from the reference list is acceptable. On the other hand, if your passing mention significantly influences the reader's understanding of your study or implies that you based some element of your research on that tool, then a citation may be warranted.
Ultimately, the decision rests on whether including the assessment tool adds value or clarity for the reader. Consider whether citing the tool allows the reader to easily find more information about it, understand the context of your research, or replicate your study. If the answer is yes, err on the side of inclusion. If you are unsure, consult the APA Style guide or ask your instructor or supervisor for guidance.
How do I cite an online assessment tool in APA format?
To cite an online assessment tool in APA format, prioritize the core elements of author, date, title of the assessment tool, and source. The general format is: Author, A. A. (Date). *Title of assessment tool* [Assessment tool]. Publisher. URL.
If the assessment tool has a clearly identified author or organization responsible for its development, use that as the author element. If no specific author is listed, use the organization or entity that publishes or hosts the tool. The date should reflect the year the assessment tool was published or last updated. The title of the assessment should be italicized, followed by "[Assessment tool]" in square brackets to clarify the nature of the resource. Include the publisher or host organization, and crucially, provide the complete URL where the assessment tool can be accessed. Here's a concrete example: Mind Garden, Inc. (2023). *Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)* [Assessment tool]. Mind Garden. https://www.mindgarden.com/144-mindfulness-attention-awareness-scale. If you are citing a specific version or edition, include that information in parentheses after the title. For example: *Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)* [Assessment tool]. Remember that accuracy and completeness are key to proper citation.What is the correct APA in-text citation format for an assessment instrument?
The basic APA in-text citation format for an assessment instrument, like a test, scale, or inventory, includes the name of the instrument and the year of its publication (or the most recent version's publication). For example: (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition [WAIS-IV], 2008).
When citing an assessment instrument, the first mention in your text should include the full, formal name of the instrument, along with its abbreviation (if any) and the publication year. Enclose the full name, abbreviation (if applicable), and year in parentheses. Subsequent citations can use the abbreviated name (if one exists) and the year. It is important to be consistent throughout your document. If the instrument does not have a formal name or is widely known by a common name, use that name and the year.
It's crucial to cite the specific version of the instrument you used, as different editions often have revised norms, scoring, and content. If the instrument is not formally published or lacks a specific publication date, you can use the date it was developed or the date of the version you accessed, if available. For unpublished or informally published instruments, consider providing more context, such as where the instrument can be found or who developed it, within the body of your text.
And that's it! Hopefully, you now feel confident in citing those assessment tools in APA style. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your research! Feel free to come back anytime you have more citation questions – we're always happy to help.