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Dissertations or theses can be either published or unpublished. Those that are unpublished are usually obtained from the respective university in print format.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 website at:
https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/unpublished-dissertation-references
(unpublished dissertations)
And
https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/published-dissertation-references
(published dissertations)
Parenthetical citation
(Aggrey, 2012)
Narrative citation
Aggrey (2012)
Reference List
Aggrey, K. K. (2012). The collaboration between the NHS Trusts (Lincolnshire Foundation Partnership Trusts)
and the voluntary sector on performance of mental health care delivery in Lincolnshire [Unpublished doctoral
dissertation]. University of Lincoln.
1. Author(s)’ surname, comma, initial(s) with a full stop after each initial
2. Year of submission in round brackets followed by a full stop
3. Title of thesis/dissertation in italics
4. Description in square brackets [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] or [Unpublished master’s dissertation] followed by a full stop
5. Name of institution followed by a full stop
Parenthetical citation
(El-Chab, 2016)
Narrative citation
El-Chab (2016)
Reference list
El-Chab, A. (2016). The effect of dietary standardisation on exercise performance and physiological
responses in male athletes (Publication No. 10588261) [Doctoral dissertation, Oxford Brookes University].
Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global.
1. Author(s)’ surname, comma, initial(s) with a full stop after each initial (and comma if more than one author)
2. Year of publication in round brackets followed by a full stop
3. Title of thesis/dissertation in italics
4. Publication number in round brackets
5. Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis in square brackets, name of institution followed by a full stop
6. Database name followed by a full stop
Parenthetical citation
(Lund, 2017)
Narrative citation
Lund (2017)
Reference list
Lund, T. W. (2017). Perceptions of academic dishonesty in a cross-cultural context: Students views on cheaters, cheating,
and severity of offences [Master’s thesis, Marietta College]. OhioLINK: Electronic Theses & Dissertation Center.
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_olink/r/1501/10?p10_etd_subid=150733&clear=10
Format:
Author surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of dissertation [Doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis, Name of Institution).
Name of resource. URL
