Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is APA Format?Citing a YouTube VideoChoosing a YouTube VideoCiting a Video PodcastHow to Cite a Film or Television Show in APA FormatTakeawayFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is APA Format?
Citing a YouTube Video
Choosing a YouTube Video
Citing a Video Podcast
How to Cite a Film or Television Show in APA Format
Takeaway
Frequently Asked Questions
Close
While books and journal articles are often the primary sources for psychology papers, it is becoming increasingly common to cite audiovisual sources. The types of videos you might need to cite include streaming movies, television programs, YouTube videos, or other online video clips. If you need to reference a video for a psychology paper, you need to follow APA format to ensure it is cited correctly.
At a GlanceAPA format specifies certain guidelines for citing different sources, including videos. This format differs slightly from how you would cite a printed source. It includes information about the video creator, date, and title, much like a printed source. However, it also includes the word [Video] in brackets after the title. Next, the citation should also include the host site and url where the video can be found.
At a Glance
APA format specifies certain guidelines for citing different sources, including videos. This format differs slightly from how you would cite a printed source. It includes information about the video creator, date, and title, much like a printed source. However, it also includes the word [Video] in brackets after the title. Next, the citation should also include the host site and url where the video can be found.
One challenge that students may face is figuring out how to cite different types of sources. A citation for a book reference, for example, will look somewhat different than that of an online source. Video content is becoming an increasingly important source of information, so how exactly would you cite something like a YouTube video or other online video in APA format?
APA Format for a YouTube Video
APA format for online videos is similar to that of other types of digital media and online content. The format should be:
Video Citation ExampleTED-Ed. (2018, May 21).How to stay calm under pressure.[Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqgmozFr_GM
Video Citation Example
TED-Ed. (2018, May 21).How to stay calm under pressure.[Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqgmozFr_GM
Because many online video creators utilize pseudonyms online, you should also include the author’s screen name in brackets when relevant.
Choosing a Video to Cite in APA Format
For instance, many established organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have YouTube channels and publish videos that would be considered reliable sources.
Even individual researchers or scientists may publish their research on YouTube—just be sure to do the research on the individual to be sure that the videos they post are coming directly from them (and not from someone else), and that this person is accredited or credentialed in the area of study they’re presenting.
Try to use up-to-date videos as often as possible to be sure you’re including the most recent research in your paper.
Citing a Video Podcast in APA Format
Video podcasts are another type of video format that you may want to cite. Such podcasts often feature interviews with experts, which can be a great source of unique information for your paper.
If you are citing a video podcast, whether it is hosted on YouTube or published on the author’s own website, use the following format:
Video Podcast Example
Also note in the above example that the title of the video podcast is in italics. The official APA publication manual states that when written, video, or audio posts are part of an overarching work (such as a blog or podcast series), the title of the total work should be included in italics. This follows the same format that you would use if you were citing an individual chapter that was part of a book.
The format for citing films and television programs is similar to that of online videos, but does not include a page URL.
Film:
Smith, K. (Director). (2022).The day it happened[Film]. Starling Cinema; Barkly Studios.
APA format has many different rules and guidelines for citing various types of sources, so you should always check the official guidebook to make sure that your citations and references are correct. Whenever you cite an online source—whether it’s a webpage or a video—you should follow the basic rules for citing electronic sources. This includes listing the author of the video, the date, the title, and the online location of the video.
Always type the creator’s username or screen name exactly as it appears, including both spelling and capitalization.
Include the name of the page or account that uploaded the video. Put this information at the beginning of the citation (where the author’s name would go).
That depends on the guidelines your instructor gives you. If you are unsure, ask them. But there are reasons why you might want to cite a YouTube video in your academic writing. The video may contain information not available elsewhere, it may feature an interview with an expert on a topic, or it may present unique examples that you want to reference in your paper.
If the name of the person who is interviewed is not mentioned in the title of the video, do not include it in the reference.One way to refer to the interview subject, however, is to refer to them in the text of your paper, where you cite the reference. “For example, Philip Zimbardo noted that… (Psych Interview, 2013).”
5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.YouTube Video References.APA Style Blog, 6th Edition Archive.How to create a reference for a Youtube video.American Psychological Association.APA style blog.Cho D, Cosimini M, Espinoza J.Podcasting in medical education: A review of the literature.Korean J Med Educ. 2017;(29)4:229-239. doi:10.3946/kjme.2017.69APA Style.Film and television references.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.Transcript of an audiovisual work references.American Psychological Association.YouTube video references.American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
5 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.YouTube Video References.APA Style Blog, 6th Edition Archive.How to create a reference for a Youtube video.American Psychological Association.APA style blog.Cho D, Cosimini M, Espinoza J.Podcasting in medical education: A review of the literature.Korean J Med Educ. 2017;(29)4:229-239. doi:10.3946/kjme.2017.69APA Style.Film and television references.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.Transcript of an audiovisual work references.American Psychological Association.YouTube video references.American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.YouTube Video References.APA Style Blog, 6th Edition Archive.How to create a reference for a Youtube video.American Psychological Association.APA style blog.Cho D, Cosimini M, Espinoza J.Podcasting in medical education: A review of the literature.Korean J Med Educ. 2017;(29)4:229-239. doi:10.3946/kjme.2017.69APA Style.Film and television references.
American Psychological Association.YouTube Video References.
APA Style Blog, 6th Edition Archive.How to create a reference for a Youtube video.
American Psychological Association.APA style blog.
Cho D, Cosimini M, Espinoza J.Podcasting in medical education: A review of the literature.Korean J Med Educ. 2017;(29)4:229-239. doi:10.3946/kjme.2017.69
APA Style.Film and television references.
American Psychological Association.Transcript of an audiovisual work references.American Psychological Association.YouTube video references.American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
American Psychological Association.Transcript of an audiovisual work references.
American Psychological Association.YouTube video references.
American Psychological Association.Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(7th ed.). Washington DC: The American Psychological Association; 2019.
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