Ever found yourself referencing that fascinating Harvard Business School case study in your paper, only to get tripped up on how to properly cite it in APA style? You're not alone. Accurately citing sources is a cornerstone of academic integrity, demonstrating that you've not only done your research but also give credit where it's due. And when it comes to case studies, the specific format can be a bit tricky, given their unique structure and varied origins.
Mastering APA citation for case studies is essential for students, researchers, and professionals across numerous disciplines, from business and psychology to law and education. Incorrect citations can lead to accusations of plagiarism, damage your credibility, and ultimately detract from the quality of your work. Getting it right ensures clarity, avoids confusion, and allows readers to easily locate the original sources you've used.
What are the most frequently asked questions about citing case studies in APA?
How do I cite a case study found online in APA format?
To cite a case study found online in APA format, you need to identify the author (or organization), the publication date, the title of the case study, and the source URL. The general format is: Author, A. A. (Year). *Title of case study*. Source URL
APA style emphasizes clear attribution and reproducibility. When citing a case study, first determine the author. If the case study is published by a specific person, use their name. If it's a corporate case study, the organization becomes the author (e.g., "Harvard Business School"). Next, find the publication or copyright year; this information is usually near the case study title or at the bottom of the webpage. The title of the case study should be italicized. Finally, provide the direct and stable URL where you accessed the case study. Avoid shortened URLs or those that redirect, if possible. Keep in mind that some online case studies might be behind a paywall or require registration. If this is the case, and you are unable to provide a direct link that the reader can use to access the study, consider the availability implications. If the case study is also available elsewhere (e.g., a library database), cite that more accessible source instead. Also, if the case study is part of a larger, formally published work (like a journal article or book chapter), cite it as such, providing the book or journal details instead of just the webpage.What APA format is used for citing a case study from a book?
The APA format for citing a case study from a book follows the general format for citing a book chapter or contribution to an edited book. The citation includes the author(s) of the case study, the year of publication, the title of the case study, the editor(s) of the book, the title of the book, the page range where the case study appears, and the publisher.
When citing a case study from a book, remember that you are citing the *author of the case study*, not the editor of the book (unless they are the same person). If the case study has a distinct title separate from the book's title, that should be included in the citation. The specific page numbers where the case study appears within the book are also crucial for accurate referencing. Here's the general structure: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of case study. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), *Title of book* (pp. xxx–yyy). Publisher. For example: Smith, J. (2023). The Enron Scandal: A case study in corporate ethics. In A. Jones & B. Williams (Eds.), *Business ethics in the 21st century* (pp. 125-150). Routledge.What if the case study has no author; how do I cite it in APA?
When a case study lacks a clearly identified author, use the title of the case study in place of the author's name in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry. Follow the standard APA format, adjusting the first element to be the title.
To elaborate, the APA Style guidelines prioritize the "who, when, what, and where" of a source. If the "who" (author) is absent, the "what" (title) takes precedence. In your reference list, begin with the full title of the case study. If the title is long, you might need to shorten it for the in-text citation, ensuring it's recognizable and directs the reader to the correct entry in the reference list. Remember to italicize the title of the case study if it's a standalone document (like a report or a book). If the case study is part of a larger work (like a journal article or edited collection), then only the title of the larger work is italicized, and the case study title is enclosed in quotation marks. Here's an example: Reference list: * *Case study on the effects of social media on adolescent mental health.* (2023). Institute for Social Research. In-text citation: * (*Case study on the effects of social media*, 2023)How do I cite a Harvard Business School case study using APA?
To cite a Harvard Business School case study in APA format, include the author(s), year, case title, case number, and source. The general format is: Author, A. A. (Year). *Case title* (Case number). Publisher. If the case study is retrieved online, add the URL at the end.
When citing a Harvard Business School case study, remember that the "author" is usually the case writer or the Harvard Business School faculty member credited with the case. The case number is crucial for locating the specific case study within the Harvard Business School Publishing database. For example, a typical citation might look like this: Quelch, J. A., & Jocz, K. E. (2008). *Nespresso: What next?* (9-509-017). Harvard Business School Publishing. If you accessed it online, you would then add the URL. It's important to distinguish between in-text citations and the full reference list entry. In your text, you'll use the author(s) and year: (Quelch & Jocz, 2008). If you are directly quoting from the case study, include the page number as well (Quelch & Jocz, 2008, p. 15). The full reference entry in your reference list provides all the necessary information for your reader to locate the original source. Ensure accuracy in the case number and URL to facilitate easy access.How does the in-text citation differ from the full reference for a case study in APA?
In APA style, the in-text citation for a case study is a brief mention within the body of your paper, providing immediate source identification, while the full reference appears in the reference list at the end, offering complete bibliographic information to locate the original source. The in-text citation generally includes the author's last name(s) and the year of publication, whereas the full reference contains details such as author(s), year, title, source (journal, book, website), and other retrieval information like DOI or URL.
The key difference lies in the level of detail. Imagine the in-text citation as a pointer, quickly directing the reader to the full entry in your reference list. For example, an in-text citation might look like this: (Smith, 2023). The full reference, however, provides a comprehensive description, allowing readers to find the exact case study you used. This includes not just the author and year but also the full title of the case study, the publication it appeared in (if any), and any other information needed to locate it, adhering to a specific format depending on the nature of the source. To illustrate further, let's say you read a case study by John Smith published in 2023 in the "Journal of Applied Psychology." Your in-text citation would simply be (Smith, 2023). However, the full reference would be: Smith, J. (2023). *Title of the case study*. *Journal of Applied Psychology*, *volume*(issue), page numbers. doi: or URL (if applicable). This distinction helps maintain readability within the text while providing thorough sourcing for verification and further reading.What information is needed to correctly cite a case study in APA style?
To correctly cite a case study in APA style, you generally need the author(s) of the work containing the case study, the year of publication, the title of the work (which could be a book, journal article, or report), and the source information (e.g., journal name, volume, issue, page numbers; or publisher and location). Specific requirements can vary slightly depending on where the case study is found (e.g., within a book, in a journal article, or as a standalone report).
When the case study is part of a larger work like a book chapter or journal article, the citation should reference the entire work, not just the case study within it. In the reference list, you will cite the author(s) and title of the book or journal article in which the case study appears. If the case study has a specific title of its own, it is typically not included in the reference list entry; instead, you might mention it within the body of your text when you discuss the case study. For example, "In their study of organizational culture, Smith and Jones (2020) examined the 'Alpha Corporation' case..."
If the case study is published as a standalone report or paper, you will cite it like any other report. This would involve including the author (usually an organization), year of publication, the title of the case study report, and the source information (e.g., the organization that published it and, if available, a URL). If a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is available, including it is strongly encouraged. The level of detail you provide ensures that readers can efficiently locate the specific case study you are referencing.
Is there a difference in citing a published versus unpublished case study using APA?
Yes, there is a significant difference in citing a published versus an unpublished case study using APA style. The core difference lies in the availability and accessibility of the source. Published case studies follow the standard APA citation format for books, journal articles, or reports, depending on where they were published. Unpublished case studies, on the other hand, are cited differently because they lack a formal publication outlet and require more information to help the reader locate them, if possible.
When citing a published case study, follow the format appropriate for the source type. For instance, a case study published in a journal would follow the journal article format, including author(s), year of publication, article title, journal title, volume, issue, page range, and DOI (if available). A case study published as a book chapter would follow the book chapter format, including the book title, editor(s), and page range of the chapter. The goal is to provide enough information for the reader to easily locate the published source. Conversely, citing an unpublished case study requires a different approach. Since it lacks a formal publication, provide as much detail as possible to identify the case and its location. This might include the author or creator, the date, a descriptive title, and information about where it is archived or who holds the data. If the case study is part of a course or project, include that information as well. Note that unpublished case studies might not always be easily accessible to other researchers, so transparency about its accessibility is important in your citation. For example, you might add a statement indicating "Available from the author" or "Personal communication."And there you have it! Citing case studies in APA doesn't have to be a headache. Hopefully, this guide has cleared things up for you. Thanks for taking the time to read through it – we appreciate it! Feel free to swing by again whenever you need a little citation help. Good luck with your writing!