APA (American Psychological Association) style is widely used in social sciences to ensure consistency and clarity in academic writing. When it comes to citing sources, APA provides a specific format for charts, graphs, and other visuals. Here's an example of how to cite a chart in APA format.
First, let's consider a scenario where you've used a chart from an online source in your research paper. The chart, titled "World Population Growth", was created by the United Nations and is available on their official website. Here's how you would cite it in APA format:
Citing a Chart from an Online Source
In the text, you would write: (United Nations, 2021). After the comma, you would include the year the data was published or last updated. If the source is not dated, use "n.d." (no date).
In the reference list, the citation would look like this:
- United Nations. (2021). World population growth. United Nations.
Citing a Chart from a Print Source
Now, let's say you've used a chart from a book. The chart, "Life Expectancy by Country", is from the book "The World in 2050" by the World Bank. Here's how you would cite it:
In the text, you would write: (World Bank, 2020, p. 56). After the comma, you would include the page number where the chart appears.
In the reference list, the citation would look like this:
- World Bank. (2020). The world in 2050. World Bank.
Citing a Chart with No Author
Sometimes, you might encounter a chart with no author. In this case, you would cite the source by its title in the text and reference list.
In the text: ("Global Temperature Anomalies", 2021).
In the reference list:
- "Global temperature anomalies". (2021). NASA's Global Climate Change Vital Signs.
Remember, consistency is key in APA style. Always ensure that your in-text citations match your reference list entries. Also, double-check the APA guidelines for your specific field, as there might be slight variations.
Now that you've seen various examples of chart citations in APA format, you're ready to cite charts in your own academic work. Happy writing!