Introduction
An essential element described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the use of in-text citations. I chose this element because it is one of the hallmarks of APA that sets it apart from other styles. In addition, compliance with the rules for formatting in-text citations ensures a high-quality publication.
The Role of In-Text Citations
In-text citations are a necessary component of almost any journal. They convey information, data, or direct quotations from primary sources to new research, ensuring a reasonable theoretical basis. Representation in the text of someone else’s ideas or conclusions without quoting is plagiarism. In addition, “it is unethical to fabricate citations and/or reference list entries” (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 390). All this violates the principles of academic integrity and cannot be used in publications.
Formatting In-Text Citations
The design of citations differs depending on the number of authors and the type of reference. For example, if the cited source has one author or two authors, then their names and year of publication are indicated in brackets at the end of the sentence (American Psychological Association, 2020). In addition, if the names of researchers are mentioned in the sentence, then after them in brackets, it is necessary to indicate the year of publication. To convey ideas and concepts using paraphrasing, page quoting is optional; however, a page or paragraph number for websites is required for direct quotations (American Psychological Association, 2020). In addition, for sources with three or more authors, only the first name is given, followed by ‘et al.’ (American Psychological Association, 2020).
Conclusion
Hence, compliance with the rules for citing is essential in scientific activities and publications. It helps to avoid plagiarism or representing the ideas of other authors as your own. Moreover, correctly formatting citations in texts makes it possible to provide the necessary theoretical basis for the study and determine which aspects of the research topic have not yet been thoroughly analyzed. Citation formatting also helps the audience to better understand the author’s concepts and ideas by providing access to other sources of information related to the research topic.
Reference
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) [PDF document]. Web.