Mastering the APA citation for an interview is essential for maintaining academic integrity and providing proper attribution in scholarly writing. Unlike sources such as books or journal articles, interviews present unique challenges because they are often personal communications or unpublished works. This guide breaks down the specific rules set by the American Psychological Association, ensuring you can accurately cite both personal and published interviews with confidence.
Understanding the Two Interview Scenarios
The foundation of correct citation lies in distinguishing between the type of interview you conducted. APA style treats personal interviews, such as a conversation with a colleague or an expert, differently from published interviews found in print, video, or audio formats. The key difference is accessibility; personal interviews are considered private communications, while published interviews are retrievable sources available to other readers.
Personal Interviews
For personal interviews, which include emails, phone calls, or face-to-face conversations, you do not include the interview in your reference list. Instead, you provide an in-text citation only. This is because these sources are unique and not available for review by other researchers. The citation requires the interviewee's last name, the year of the interview, and the specific date if available.
Published Interviews
Published interviews appear in journals, books, magazines, newspapers, or as audiovisual files on platforms like YouTube or television. Because these are retrievable works, they must be included in your reference list. The format varies slightly depending on the medium, but the core principle remains the same: lead with the interviewee's name, followed by the publication details and retrieval information.
Citing a Personal Interview
When citing a personal conversation, the entry is concise and appears only in the text of your paper. You should signal to the reader that this is a direct communication from a specific individual. The standard format integrates the interviewee's name and the context of the conversation into your sentence.
Citing a Published Print or Online Interview
Citing a published interview follows the standard format for a periodical article or a chapter in a book. You need to identify the interviewee as the author, the publication title, the container (like a journal or website), and the URL if accessed online. This structure ensures that a reader can locate the exact source material.
Citing Audiovisual Interviews
Interviews found on video or audio platforms require a slightly different approach to ensure the reader can find the exact version you viewed. You should treat the interview as a distinct piece of content. If the interview has a specific title, it should be italicized; if it is part of a larger series, use plain text for the series title.
