Research Guides: APA: E. Secondary (or Indirect) Sources

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Sometimes an author writes about research that someone else has done, but you are unable to track down the original research report.

In this case, because you did not read the original report, you will include only the source you did consult in your References.

The words “as cited in” in the parenthetical reference indicate you have not read the original research.

General Format

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Author Surname, Year qtd. as cited in Author Surname [of the source you read], Year)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

(Author Surname, Year qtd. as cited in Author Surname [of the source you read],

Year, page number)

References:

Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial [of the source you read]. (Year). Book title:

Subtitle. Place of Publication: Publisher.

NOTE: If you were using an indirect source from an article, refer to the journals

section of this guide.

Example

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

Fong’s 1987 study (as cited in Bertram, 1996) found that older students’ memory can

be as good as that of young people, but this depends on how memory is tested.

References:

Do not include Fong (1987) in your References; do include Bertram (1996).

Adapted from Hacker/Sommers, The Bedford Handbook, 8th ed.