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How to Cite Research Paper – All Formats and Examples

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Research Paper Citation

Citing research papers is a crucial part of academic writing. Proper citations give credit to the original authors, help readers locate the sources, and strengthen the credibility of your work. Different disciplines use specific citation styles, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and IEEE, each with unique guidelines. Understanding how to format citations correctly is essential for any student or researcher.

Why Citation is Important

• Acknowledging Sources : Citations give credit to the original authors, acknowledging their contributions.
• Avoiding Plagiarism : Proper citations help avoid plagiarism by clearly identifying borrowed ideas or information.
• Allowing Verification : Citations enable readers to find the original sources, allowing them to verify information and explore further.

How to Cite a Research Paper in Different Formats

1. apa (american psychological association).

APA style is widely used in social sciences, psychology, education, and other fields. It follows the author-date format.

In-Text Citation (APA):

• Parenthetical : (Author’s Last Name, Year)
• Narrative : Author’s Last Name (Year)

Reference List Format (APA):

• Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of the paper. Journal Name , Volume(Issue), page range. DOI
• In-Text : (Smith, 2021)
• Reference List : Smith, J. A. (2021). Understanding cognitive processes in children. Journal of Educational Psychology , 53(4), 289-300. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000324

2. MLA (Modern Language Association)

MLA style is commonly used in humanities, literature, and cultural studies. It emphasizes the author’s name and page number in citations.

In-Text Citation (MLA):

• (Author’s Last Name page number)

Works Cited Format (MLA):

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Paper.” Journal Name , vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. page range.
• In-Text : (Smith 289)
• Works Cited : Smith, John. “Understanding Cognitive Processes in Children.” Journal of Educational Psychology , vol. 53, no. 4, 2021, pp. 289-300.

3. Chicago Style (Author-Date and Notes and Bibliography)

Chicago style offers two formats: Author-Date and Notes and Bibliography. The Author-Date format is common in sciences, while the Notes and Bibliography style is used in humanities.

Author-Date In-Text Citation (Chicago):

• (Author’s Last Name Year, page number)

Reference List Format (Chicago Author-Date):

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. Year. “Title of the Paper.” Journal Name Volume(Issue): page range. DOI or URL.
• In-Text : (Smith 2021, 289)
• Reference List : Smith, John. 2021. “Understanding Cognitive Processes in Children.” Journal of Educational Psychology 53(4): 289-300. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000324

Notes and Bibliography In-Text Citation (Chicago):

• Use a superscript number in the text and a corresponding note with full citation details.

Bibliography Format (Chicago Notes and Bibliography):

• Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Paper.” Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): page range.
• Note : ¹John Smith, “Understanding Cognitive Processes in Children,” Journal of Educational Psychology 53, no. 4 (2021): 289-300.
• Bibliography : Smith, John. “Understanding Cognitive Processes in Children.” Journal of Educational Psychology 53, no. 4 (2021): 289-300.

4. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

IEEE style is often used in engineering, computer science, and related fields. IEEE uses numbered citations in square brackets within the text.

In-Text Citation (IEEE):

Reference List Format (IEEE):

• Author’s First Initial. Last Name, “Title of the paper,” Journal Name , vol. Volume, no. Issue, pp. page range, Month Year. DOI
• In-Text : Cognitive processes are analyzed in [1].
• Reference List : [1] J. A. Smith, “Understanding cognitive processes in children,” Journal of Educational Psychology , vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 289-300, Oct. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000324

5. Harvard Style

Harvard is a widely used citation style that follows the author-date format, with minor variations across institutions.

In-Text Citation (Harvard):

• (Author’s Last Name, Year)

Reference List Format (Harvard):

• Author’s Last Name, Initial(s). Year, “Title of the paper,” Journal Name , vol. Volume, no. Issue, pp. page range, DOI or URL.
• Reference List : Smith, J.A., 2021, “Understanding cognitive processes in children,” Journal of Educational Psychology , vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 289-300. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000324

How to Cite Different Types of Sources in a Research Paper

• APA : Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Book Title . Publisher.
• MLA : Last Name, First Name. Book Title . Publisher, Year.
• Chicago : Last Name, First Name. Book Title . Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
• APA : Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Date). Title of page. Website Name . URL
• MLA : Last Name, First Name. “Title of Web Page.” Website Name , Publisher, Date published, URL.
• Chicago : Last Name, First Name. “Title of Web Page.” Website Name . Last modified Month Date, Year. URL.
• IEEE : Author’s Initial(s). Last Name, “Title of the paper,” in Conference Proceedings , vol., pp., Year.

Tips for Citing Research Papers

• Know Your Required Citation Style : Each discipline has a preferred citation style. Ensure you know which style is expected and apply it consistently throughout your paper.
• Use Citation Management Tools : Tools like EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley can help format citations and organize references.
• Double-Check Citations : Ensure all citations in the text are included in the reference list and vice versa.
• Include DOIs for Online Sources : When available, include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) in the citation to make it easier for readers to locate the source.

Citing research papers accurately and consistently is vital in academic writing. Each citation style serves a specific purpose and discipline, whether APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE, or Harvard. By following the appropriate guidelines and using tools to manage references, you can ensure your citations are clear, accurate, and professional.

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
• Modern Language Association of America. (2016). MLA Handbook (8th ed.). Modern Language Association of America.
• University of Chicago Press. (2017). The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (2020). IEEE Editorial Style Manual .

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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