How to Cite Surveys in a Research Paper
Neither the American Psychological Association style manual nor the Modern Language Association style manual offers specific instructions for citing a survey in a research paper. However, because a survey is a kind of interview, you can cite it as such in your List of Works Cited.
Cite a survey using APA style
Cite an unpublished survey by using an in-text reference that includes the full name of the person who was surveyed and the date of the communication. For example: "At the conference, Margaret Cahill said (Margaret Cahill, survey, January 11, 2011) ..."
Cite a published survey by creating a standard APA interview citation and inserting information about the survey in brackets after the surveyor's information. For example: Cahill, Margaret. (2010, November 16). [Survey of Davidson Elementary School Fifth Grade Students]. Retrieved January 11, 2011, from the Davidson Elementary School website: http://...
Place the published survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.
Cite a survey using MLA style
Cite a printed survey using a standard MLA style interview citation. For example: Harris, Amy. "Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Survey. 11 January 2011.
Place the printed survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.
Cite a survey conducted online by creating a standard MLA interview citation and then adding information about the website. For example: Harris, Amy. "Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Survey. Name of website in italics. Publisher of website, 16 November 2010. Accessed online. 11 January 2011. http://...
Place the online survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.
Tips
- Use the preferred citation style of your institution.
- If a website does not offer all of the required authorship and publishing information, simply provide as much information as you can.
Things Needed
- Full name of person surveyed
- Full name of person who conducted survey
- Date of survey
- Name of survey
- Date on which survey was accessed online (if necessary)
- Website where survey is located (if necessary)
Photo Credits
- female interviewer image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com