There are several different forms of research paper citations. Each writing style requires similar and different rules for research paper citations. Discuss the style your professor prefers before beginning your research paper. If your professor does not have a style preference for your research paper, here are some simple tips to help you decipher the appropriate research paper citations.
The first of the research paper citations to discuss are those explained in the APA style manual. APA standards can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. APA style is used in research papers focused on education, psychology, sociology and any form of social science. For proper rules on research paper citations for APA, please be sure to refer to current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
The next popular form for rules on research paper citations is MLA. MLA, or Modern Language Association, style guidelines can found by referencing either the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. Research paper citations using MLA are commonly those in the arts and humanities area, such as literature papers.
Then there is AMA, or American Medical Association. Research paper citations using AMA style guidelines are generally those in the medical and biological courses of study. To find the proper research paper citations using AMA, refer to American Medical Association Manual of Style.
Even though there are several other writing style handbooks, the last two (and again, most commonly used along with those previously mentioned) resources for research paper citations are Chicago and Turabian styles. Turabian is generally used for all subjects for students studying at the undergraduate level. It is based on the Chicago Manual style. Chicago Style is the most commonly used format style for magazines, books, and newspapers.
For more information on research paper citations visit your library or local bookstore. You can also do a search for any other style guides and find a plethora of information online.