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How to Cite an Interview in APA for a Synthesis Paper

Seven blind men feel different parts of an elephant and come to seven different conclusions as to the elephant's essential nature. Scholarship is often the same. If seven scholars examine a single event or phenomenon, they often reach seven different or at least dissimilar conclusions. As the writer of a synthesis paper, your task is to summarize, or "harmonize," as Drew University's S. Jamieson says, differing scholastic points of view. And if you're using the style of the American Psychological Association (APA) in your paper, you'll want to cite any interview sources correctly. Let the APA show you how.

Instructions

  1. Recorded Interview Available in an Archive

    • 1

      Write the last name and first initials of the person interviewed separated by a comma and followed by a period for your reference-list citation of an archive-available interview in APA style. For example, James, H. Z.

    • 2

      Write the year and date (if available) of the interview within parentheses, separated by a comma and followed by a period. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7).

    • 3

      Write the words "Interview by" and the first initials and last name of the person conducting the interview. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7). Interview by V. V. Marsh.

    • 4

      Write the words "Tape recording" within square brackets and followed by a period. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7). Interview by V. V. Marsh [Tape recording]. The APA specifies square brackets in citations for "nonroutine information."

    • 5

      Write the name of the collection containing the interview you're citing followed by a period. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7). Interview by V. V. Marsh [Tape recording]. Oral History Project of the North Borders, Association for the Study of Historical Land-Use.

    • 6

      Write the name of the archive that holds the interview you're citing followed by a period. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7). Interview by V. V. Marsh [Tape recording]. Oral History Project of the North Borders, Association for the Study of Historical Land-Use. ASHL Archives.

    • 7

      Write the city and state where the archive is located separated by a comma and followed by a period. For example, James, H. Z. (1973, April 7). Interview by V. V. Marsh [Tape recording]. Oral History Project of the North Borders, Association for the Study of Historical Land-Use. ASHL Archives, Pelham, MA.

    • 8

      Write the last name of the person interviewed and the year of the interview separated by a comma and enclosed within parentheses for an in-text citation of the interview in APA style. For example, "... as inhabitants of the area repeatedly pointed out (James, 1973)."

    Transcription Only of a Recorded Interview

    • 9

      Write the last name and first initials of the person interviewed separated by a comma and followed by a period for your reference-list citation of a transcription-only interview in APA style. For example, Wender, A. L.

    • 10

      Write the year and date (if available) of the interview within parentheses, separated by a comma and followed by a period. For example, Wender, A. L. (1903).

    • 11

      Write the title of the transcription followed by a period. Capitalize only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. For example, Wender, A. L. (1903). Transmigration folk-minstrels. Italicize the transcription title in an actual APA citation.

    • 12

      Write the name of the collection or program that contains the transcription followed by a period. For example, Wender, A. L. (1903). Transmigration folk-minstrels. Oral History Program of the Ozarks.

    • 13

      Write the city and state in which the archive holding the interview is located. For example, Wender, A. L. (1903). Transmigration folk-minstrels. Oral History Program of the Ozarks. Oster, MO. Write the last name of the person interviewed and the year of the interview separated by a comma and enclosed within parentheses for an in-text citation of the interview in APA style. For example, "... a melodic refrain that was prevalent and popular at the time (Wender, 1903)."

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