Provide guidance on APA format style based on the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual.
Citing an unpublished dissertation in APA Style To cite an unpublished dissertation (one you got directly from the author or university in print form), add “Unpublished” to the bracketed description, and list the university at the end of the reference, outside the square brackets.
Dissertations & Theses Dissertations and theses are formatted the same way in APA 7th edition. Theses are generally the culminating work for a master's or undergraduate degree and dissertations are often original research completed by doctoral students. Here are examples of a dissertation & a thesis, and how they would be formatted: Examples:
A thesis is an unpublished document produced by student as part of the requirements for the degree. They come at various levels (e.g. Honours, Masters, PhD, etc). Check with your lecturer before using a thesis for your assignment.
In the 7th edition of APA Style, the definition of what is considered a published thesis or dissertation has changed. This type of work is considered "unpublished" if it was "retrieved directly from the college or university in print form."
Notes Dissertations or theses can be either published or unpublished. Those that are unpublished are usually obtained from the respective university in print format. Those that are published, are usually available from a research database or a university archive/repository. The examples below show how to reference both types of dissertation/thesis. See also the guidance on the APA's Style ...
Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation Last name, Initial (s). (Year). Title of Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis [Unpublished Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis). Name of Institution. Example Pope, S. (2013). Parental participation in the child protection process [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Swansea University.
How to Cite a Dissertation or Thesis in APA 7th Edition The APA dissertation or thesis citation isn’t a one size fits all type of citation. The reason behind this is because APA offers a different format for a published and unpublished thesis or dissertation. However, you’ll need to include information like: Author, A. A. (Year).
Unpublished thesis or dissertations are usually sourced directly from the university in print form. Reference format
The following are examples of citing both styles. The examples are taken from the 7th ed. APA manual, and can be found on pp. 333-334, 10.6. ex.64-66. Unpublished: Author, A.A. (2020). Title of dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Name of Institution Awarding the Degree. Author, A.A. (2020). Title of thesis [Unpublished master's ...
Unpublished (in print from a university library) General Rule: Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis]. Name of Institution. Example: Long, R.P. (1972). A study of instructional objectives and methods for interpersonal communication. [Unpublished master ...
General Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation/thesis [Unpublished Type of dissertation/thesis]. University. Example: Cooper, A. S. (2018). Sexual harassment in the working environment [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Chicago. Reference Source: APA 7th Ed Manual Made Easy: Full concise Guide Simplified for ...
Identify the work as a doctoral dissertation / master’s thesis in parentheses after the title. When a dissertation or thesis is unpublished, include the description “ [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]” or “ [Unpublished master’s thesis]” in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title.
An examination of constitutional, economic and health issues in post-Apartheid South Africa [Unpublished baccalaureate thesis]. John Cabot University, Rome, Italy.
General Rule: Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis]. Name of Institution. Example: Long, R.P. (1972). A study of instructional objectives and methods for interpersonal communication. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. West Virginia University.
Gender education and development: Women's quest for higher education in Kenya [Master's thesis, Morgan State University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. As in-text citation: (Njuguna, 2002) Example 3: Only Available in Print Saba, D. R. (1987). Segmenting the sports market: A benefit analysis [Unpublished Master's thesis].
Learn how to cite and format papers using APA 7th edition. This complete guide covers in-text citations, reference lists, formatting rules, examples, and common mistakes.
General Rule: Author, A. A. (year). Title of doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis]. Name of Institution. Example: Long, R.P. (1972). A study of instructional objectives and methods for interpersonal communication. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. West Virginia University.
