How to Cite an Inventory in APA

Citing inventories correctly is essential when incorporating them into your academic work. In APA style, there are specific guidelines to follow when citing inventories. This article will provide expert guidance on how to cite inventories in APA format.

Citing the Inventory Itself

If a manual or other supporting literature is not available for the inventory, you can cite the inventory itself. Follow these steps to cite the inventory:

Format: Author’s Last Name, Author’s Initials. (Year). Title of the Inventory (in italics) [Inventory]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Smith, J. (2022). Inventory of Personality Traits [Inventory]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/inventory

Remember to capitalize the title of the inventory using title case whenever it appears in your paper. In the reference list, the title should be italicized.

Citing Supporting Literature

If a manual or other supporting literature is available for the inventory, it is preferred to cite the supporting literature instead of the inventory itself. Follow these steps to cite supporting literature:

Format: Author’s Last Name, Author’s Initials. (Year). Title of the Supporting Literature (e.g., manual or journal article) [Manual]. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Johnson, A. (2019). Manual for the Inventory of Personality Traits [Manual]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/manual

Provide the author’s name, year of publication, title of the supporting literature, and any additional information such as a database record or URL.

Citing a Database Record

When citing a database record for an inventory, include the database name (e.g., PsycTESTS or ETS TestLink) and the DOI or URL of the database record. If no database record is available, follow the guidelines for citing the inventory itself or its supporting literature.

Remember to follow APA guidelines for formatting, capitalization, and punctuation in your citations.

Conclusion

Properly citing inventories is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit to the original authors. Whether you are citing the inventory itself or its supporting literature, following the APA guidelines ensures accuracy and consistency in your references.

Sources:

• “Tests, Scales, & Inventories – APA Citations (7th ed.) – LibGuides at Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center.” Morningside College Library, URL: https://morningside.libguides.com/APA7/tests_scales_inventories
• “Tests, scales and inventories – APA 7th Edition – University of Lincoln – Guides at University of Lincoln.” University of Lincoln Library Guides, URL: https://guides.library.lincoln.ac.uk/c.php?g=683973&p=4882483
• “Datasets & Tests – APA 7th ed. Style Guide – Research Guides at Wake Forest University.” Wake Forest University Library Guides, URL: https://guides.zsr.wfu.edu/c.php?g=1014307&p=7541362

FAQs

Can I cite an inventory itself if there is no supporting literature available?

Yes, if a manual or other supporting literature is not available for the inventory, you can cite the inventory itself. Include the author’s name, year of publication, title of the inventory (in italics), and the URL where it can be accessed.