Depending on the institution awarding the degree, the terms thesis and dissertation might have distinct meanings. To find out exactly what the work is, always look at the title page or later pages. Then, utilize that information as a reference.1
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APA Dissertation Citation – In a Nutshell
- Whether the dissertation or thesis is accessible through a database, published or unpublished, the procedure for citing someone else’s work in APA dissertation citation Style varies.
- The methods below show how to reference a thesis or dissertation that you found in a database.
- The type of dissertation or thesis and the university must be included in the square brackets.
- Like other database providers, there is no URL or DOI provided.
- It is crucial to keep in mind that not every thesis or dissertation posted online will be connected to a particular repository or collection.
- If the work is accessible only through a private website, simply the URL should be provided as the source element.
Definition: APA dissertation citation
The style differs when citing a dissertation or thesis depending on if it was accessed through a database or somewhere else. According to the APA Style guide, a dissertation or thesis retrieved from a database must be cited as followed:1
| APA Format: | Last name, Initials of author. (Year). The title (Publication No. if present) [Type of dissertation/thesis, University Name]. Database. |
| APA dissertation citation Reference List Entry: | Behrens, B. (2020). Linguistic markers of maternal focus within emotional conversations: The role of depressive symptoms and maltreatment [Master’s thesis, University of Notre Dame]. CurateND. |
| APA dissertation citation in-Text Citation: | (Behrens, 2020) |
APA dissertation citation: Published elsewhere
When the dissertation or thesis was posted elsewhere such as on a personal website or in an academic archive (typically in PDF form), the URL/DOI must be included:2
| APA Format: | Last name, Initials of author. (Year). The title [Type of dissertation/thesis, University Name]. Database. URL/DOI |
| APA dissertation citation Reference List Entry: | Behrens, B. (2020). Linguistic markers of maternal focus within emotional conversations: The role of depressive symptoms and maltreatment [Master’s thesis, University of Notre Dame]. CurateND. https://curate.nd.edu/show/9k41zc80w8w |
| APA dissertation citation in-Text Citation: | (Behrens, 2020) |
APA dissertation citation: Unpublished
An unpublished dissertation or thesis is usually retrieved directly from the author or university in physical pages. In the APA dissertation citation style, add “Unpublished” to the description within square brackets and mention the university at the conclusion of the citation, outside the brackets as shown:3
| APA Format: | Author last name, Initials. (Year). Dissertation title [Unpublished type of dissertation/thesis]. University Name. |
| APA dissertation citation Reference List Entry: | Smith, J. (2020). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on agoraphobic patients [Unpublished master’s thesis]. University of Amsterdam. |
| APA dissertation citation in-Text Citation: | (Smith, 2020) |
FAQs
Author, A. A. (Year). Title (Publication No. if present) [Doctoral dissertation/Doctoral thesis/Master’s dissertation/Master’s thesis, Institution Name].
When a dissertation or thesis is accessible from a database such as ProQuest, Dissertations and Theses Global, or PDQT Open, an academic repository, or an archive, it is deemed to have been published.
You’d be surprised at how many students never see their dissertations published. A publishing won’t happen without careful planning and arranging for it to published.
Sources
1 Mandernach, B. Jean, Maria Zafonte, and Caroline Taylor. “Instructional Strategies to Improve College Students’ APA Style Writing.” International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 27.3 (2016): 407-412.
2 Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J., Rebecca K. Frels, and John R. Slate. “Evidence-Based Guidelines for Avoiding the Most Prevalent and Serious APA Error in Journal Article Submissions-The Citation Error.” Research in the Schools 17.2 (2010).
3 Porter, Alan L., and Dael Wolfle. “Utility of the doctoral dissertation.” American Psychologist 30.11 (1975): 1054.