Citing interviews in APA style can seem tricky, but with a clear understanding of the format and a few helpful examples, it becomes straightforward. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to correctly cite interviews in your APA papers, regardless of whether the interview was conducted in person, over the phone, or via email.
Understanding the Basics of APA Interview Citations
The core principle of APA citation is to provide enough information for a reader to locate the source. For interviews, this means clearly identifying the interviewee, the date of the interview, and the method of communication. Unlike books or journal articles, interviews aren't usually published, so the focus is on providing enough detail for someone to potentially recreate the research.
There are two key components to citing interviews:
- In-text citations: These brief citations appear within the body of your paper, directly after the information you're referencing.
- References list entry: This provides a more detailed citation at the end of your paper, in the "References" section.
In-Text Citations for Interviews
The format of your in-text citation will depend on how you introduce the information from the interview. Here are some examples:
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Paraphrasing: If you paraphrase information from the interview, include the interviewee's last name and the year of the interview in parentheses. For example:
"The challenges faced by small businesses were significant" (Smith, 2023).
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Direct Quote: If you use a direct quote, include the page number (if applicable, such as for a transcript) in addition to the author's last name and year. For example:
Smith (2023) stated, "The economic downturn severely impacted our ability to secure funding" (p. 12). If no page number is available, you can omit this element.
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Introducing the Interviewee: You can also introduce the interviewee's name in the sentence itself, followed by the year in parentheses:
In a 2023 interview, John Smith described the challenges of...
Remember to replace "Smith" and "2023" with the actual interviewee's last name and the year you conducted the interview.
References List Entry for Interviews
The "References" section at the end of your paper provides the full details of the interview. The general format is:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from [URL or location details, if applicable].
Examples:
- In-person interview:
Smith, J. (2023). Interview on the challenges faced by small businesses [Interview transcript].
- Phone interview:
Jones, A. (2024). Telephone interview regarding the impact of social media [Interview transcript].
- Email interview:
Brown, B. (2022). Email interview concerning the future of education [Interview transcript].
Important Considerations:
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Personal Communication: If the interview was not recorded and is only part of your personal communication, it should not be included in the References section. Instead, you can include the information in parentheses within the text itself: (J. Smith, personal communication, October 26, 2023).
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Unpublished Interviews: Since most interviews are not formally published, it is perfectly acceptable to use the term "[Interview transcript]" in the reference.
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URLs and File Paths: If you have a digital copy of the interview transcript (e.g., a Word document or PDF), you can provide the file path or a URL in the reference. However, if you only have notes, you are not required to provide a URL or file path.
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Accuracy is Key: Ensure all information in your citations—names, dates, and any URLs—is accurate. Errors can lead to inconsistencies and questions regarding the validity of your work.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly cite interviews in your APA-style papers, demonstrating accurate and reliable scholarship. Remember to consult the latest Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for the most current standards.
