正式來說,APA格式指的就是[[美國心理學會]]('''A'''merican '''P'''sychological '''A'''ssociation)出版的《美國心理協會刊物準則》,目前已出版至第七版(ISBN 978-1-4338-3217-8),總頁數428頁,而此協會是目前在[[美國]]具有權威性的[[心理學]]學者組織。APA格式起源於1929年,當時只有7頁,刊登於《心理學期刊(Psychological Bulletin)》<ref>Roediger, R. (2004). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1549 "What should they be called?"] ''aps Observer'', Association for Psychological Science, 17.4, p. 1.</ref>。
*A recent study found a possible genetic cause of alcoholism (Pauling, 2004, 2005a, 2005b).
*Pauling (2004, 2005a, 2005b) conducted a study that discovered a possible genetic cause of alcoholism
==== 多篇文獻,多位作者 ====
根據上一個的規則,並且使用'''分號'''隔開。排序先依照作者姓氏的字母,接著是發表年份。
*A recent study found a possible genetic cause of alcoholism (Alford, 1995; Sirkis, 2003; Pauling, 2004, 2005)
==== 直接引述 ====
格式與前述無不同,一樣為「'''(作者,年份,頁數)'''」。
*When asked why his behavior had changed so dramatically, Max simply said "I think it's the reinforcement" (Pauling, 2004, p. 69).
=== 參考文獻清單 ===
APA格式規定「參考文獻」部分的人名必須以'''姓氏'''的字母順序來排列,包括姓氏的前綴。譬如,Martin de Rijke應被改成「De Rijke, M.」;Saif Al Falasi則改成「Al-Falasi, Saif.」。(阿拉伯文名字通常在姓氏和前綴之間加上連字號「−」,所以姓氏和前綴自成一體。)
==== 紙本资料 ====
* 單一作者著作的書籍
** Sheril, R. D. (1956). The terrifying future: Contemplating color television. San Diego: Halstead.
* 兩位作者以上合著的書籍
** Smith, J., & Peter, Q. (1992). Hairball: An intensive peek behind the surface of an enigma. Hamilton, ON: McMaster University Press.
* 文集中的文章
** Mcdonalds, A. (1993). Practical methods for the apprehension and sustained containment of supernatural entities. In G. L. Yeager (Ed.), ''Paranormal and occult studies: Case studies in application'' (pp. 42–64). London: OtherWorld Books.
* 期刊中的文章(連續頁碼)
** Crackton, P. (1987). The Loonie: God's long-awaited gift to colourful pocket change? ''Canadian Change, 64''(7), 34–37.
* 期刊中的文章(非連續頁碼)
** Rottweiler, F. T., & Beauchemin, J. L. (1987). Detroit and Narnia: Two foes on the brink of destruction. ''Canadian/American Studies Journal, 54'', 66–146.
* 月刊雜誌中的文章
** Henry, W. A., III. (1990, April 9). Making the grade in today's schools. Time, 135, 28-31.
* 報紙中的文章
** Wrong, M. (2005, August 17). Misquotes are "Problematastic" says Mayor. Toronto Sol. p. 4.
* 政府官方文獻
** Revenue Canada. (2001). Advanced gouging: Manual for employees (MP 65–347/1124). Ottawa: Minister of Immigration and Revenue.
** Marlowe, P., Spade, S., & Chan, C. (2001). Detective work and the benefits of colour versus black and white [Electronic version]。''Journal of Pointless Research, 11,'' 123–124.
* 電子期刊的文章(只有網路版的期刊)
** Blofeld, E. S. (1994, March 1). Expressing oneself through Persian cats and modern architecture. ''Felines & Felons, 4,'' Article 0046g. Retrieved October 3, 1999, from [http://journals.f+f.org/spectre/vblofeld-0046g.html http://journals.f+f.org/spectre/vblofeld-0046g.html]{{dead link|date=2017年11月 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* 電子簡訊(newsletter)的文章
** Paradise, S., Moriarty, D., Marx, C., Lee, O. B., Hassel, E., et al. (1957, July). Portrayals of fictional characters in reality-based popular writing: Project update. ''Off the beaten path, 7''(3). Retrieved October 3, 1999, from [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327002726/http://www.apastyle.org/ http://www.newsletter.offthebeatenpath.news/otr/complaints.html]
* 單篇線上文獻(無作者及著作日期)
** ''What I did today.'' (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2002, from [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327002726/http://www.apastyle.org/ http://www.cc.mystory.life/blog/didtoday.html]
* 從大學課程或系上網站取得的文獻
** Rogers, B. (2078). ''Faster-than-light travel: What we've learned in the first twenty years.'' Retrieved August 24, 2079, from Mars University, Institute for Martian Studies Web site: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327002726/http://www.apastyle.org/ http://www.eg.spacecentraltoday.mars/university/dept.html]
* 從資料庫搜尋的期刊文章的電子複製版本(3至5位作者)
** Costanza, G., Seinfeld, J., Benes, E., Kramer, C., & Peterman, J. (1993). Minutiæ and insignificant observations from the nineteen-nineties. ''Journal about Nothing, 52,'' 475–649. Retrieved October 31, 1999, from NoTHINGJournals database.
* 電子郵件或其他個人通訊(限定文字)
** (A. Monterey, personal communication, September 28, 2001).
==== 其他资料 ====
* 儲存於光碟的書籍
** Nix, G. (2002). Lirael, Daughter of the Clayr [CD]。New York: Random House/Listening Library.
* 儲存於錄音帶的書籍
** Nix, G. (2002). Lirael, Daughter of the Clayr [Cassette Recording No. 1999-1999-1999]。New York: Random House/Listening Library.