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Libraries and Learning Skills

APA 6th Edition - University of Lincoln

Referencing system for Psychology

Citing specialised software

  • References are not necessary for standard software and programming languages, such as Microsoft Word, Java, Adobe Photoshop and SPSS. In the text, give the proper name of the software, along with the version number – e.g. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0.
  • Do provide reference entries for specialised software or computer programmes with limited distribution.
  • Do not italicise the title of software.
  • The rightsholder may be an individual, a group or a company.
  • If an individual has proprietary rights to the software, name them as the author; otherwise, treat such references as un-authored works.
  • The date is the year the version you used was released, even though previous versions may have been released in different years. 

Specialised software

Software

In-text citation

(Alloway, Wilson & Graham, 2005)

 

Reference List

Alloway, T., Wilson, G., & Graham, J. (2005). Sniffy: The virtual rat (pro version 2.0.) [Computer software]. Belmont, CA:

       Thomson/Wadsworth.

 

Format:


Software author(s) surname, Initial(s). (Date of software release). Title of software (Version number) [Source of software e.g.    

       computer programme, language etc]. Location and name of organisation who produced the work.

 

Apps

In text citation

(NASA, 2013)

 

Reference List

NASA. (2013). NASA App (Version 1.43) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from https://play.google.com

 

Format:

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of software or programme (Version number) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved

       from URL