How Many Authors in Reference List APA 7?
The APA 7th edition, which is widely used in the field of psychology, education, and social sciences, provides specific guidelines for formatting reference lists. One of the common questions that researchers and students often ask is, “How many authors should be included in the reference list?” This article aims to clarify this issue and provide a comprehensive understanding of the APA 7th edition guidelines regarding the inclusion of authors in reference lists.
Single Author
In the APA 7th edition, if a source has only one author, the entire name of the author should be included in the reference list. For example:
Smith, J. (2020). The impact of social media on young adults. Journal of Communication Studies, 10(2), 45-58.
Multiple Authors
When a source has two or three authors, all of their names should be listed in the order they appear on the source. For example:
Johnson, A., Smith, J., & Brown, L. (2020). The effects of exercise on mental health. Journal of Psychology, 15(4), 78-92.
More Than Three Authors
If a source has four or more authors, only the first author’s name should be listed, followed by “et al.” (meaning “and others”). For example:
Miller, J., et al. (2020). The role of technology in education. Journal of Educational Technology, 20(3), 123-145.
Order of Authors
It is important to note that the order of authors in the reference list should match the order in which they appear in the source. If the order of authors is different in the source, it should be adjusted accordingly in the reference list.
Additional Considerations
While the number of authors in the reference list is a crucial aspect of APA 7th edition formatting, it is also essential to ensure that the rest of the reference list follows the correct format. This includes providing the correct publication date, volume, issue number, and page numbers for journal articles, as well as the correct publication information for books, conference papers, and other types of sources.
In conclusion, the APA 7th edition guidelines for including authors in the reference list are straightforward. For single authors, include the entire name; for two to three authors, list all names; and for four or more authors, list only the first author followed by “et al.” Adhering to these guidelines will help ensure that your reference list is accurate and meets the requirements of the APA 7th edition.
