How to Cite American Sociological Review in APA Format

Complete guide to citing American Sociological Review in APA 7th edition with examples, unique formatting requirements, and common issues specific to this source.

American Sociological Review presents unique citation challenges that require specific guidance beyond general source type rules. This page provides targeted help for finding citation information, handling American Sociological Review's particular format requirements, and avoiding common mistakes specific to this platform.

Quick Reference: American Sociological Review Citations

Reference List Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

American Sociological Review-Specific Notes:
When citing the American Sociological Review (ASR) in APA 7th edition, students should pay attention to specific details that are unique to this source. Generally, the formatting for citing articles from ASR follows the standard APA guidelines for journal articles. This includes listing the authors' last names followed by their initials, the year of publication in parentheses, the title of the article in sentence case, the title of the journal in italics and title case, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range. However, ASR's emphasis on sociological context means that students should be meticulous about ensuring that all elements reflect precision and consistency, especially when dealing with multiple authors.

One unique aspect of citing ASR articles is the potential number of authors. APA 7th edition allows the listing of up to 20 authors before using an ellipsis, which is often seen in comprehensive sociological studies published in ASR. It's crucial to list all authors up to 20 in the order they appear, using commas to separate names and an ampersand before the last author's name. Students frequently confuse the use of "et al." in such contexts, but it should only be applied when there are more than 20 authors.

To avoid common pitfalls, students should double-check their formatting for accuracy, particularly the journal's title and volume/issue numbers, as these are often overlooked. They should also ensure that digital object identifiers (DOIs) are formatted correctly, using the full URL form (e.g., https://doi.org/...). Best practices include using citation management tools to keep track of sources and consulting the APA manual or trusted academic resources for complex citations. By adhering to these guidelines, students can effectively manage the nuances of citing the American Sociological Review and avoid common errors.

In-Text Citation:
- Parenthetical: ([Author], [Year])
- Narrative: [Author] ([Year])

Key Points:
- Use Journal Article format with American Sociological Review specifics
- Locate citation info on American Sociological Review's website
- Handle American Sociological Review's unique formatting requirements

Last Updated: 2025-10-30 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Where to Find Citation Information on American Sociological Review

When citing articles from the American Sociological Review (ASR) via the SAGE Journals website, it’s crucial to gather all necessary citation details efficiently. Here’s a step-by-step guide to locating author, publication date, article title, and URL/access information on the ASR website:

1. Navigating to the Journal:
   - Begin by visiting the American Sociological Review homepage on SAGE at https://journals.sagepub.com/home/asr.
   - Use the search bar at the top right to find articles by keyword, author, or topic. Alternatively, browse through available issues by clicking on "Browse" in the navigation menu and selecting "All Issues."

2. Locating the Article:
   - Once you find the article of interest, click on the article title to open its detailed page.

3. Finding the Author(s):
   - On the article’s main page, the author byline is prominently displayed below the article title. This section lists all contributing authors. Take note of the full names as they appear, as this is crucial for accurate citation.

4. Determining the Publication Date:
   - Directly underneath the author names, you will find the publication date. It is typically formatted as Month, Day, Year, ensuring clarity for citation purposes.

5. Identifying the Article Title:
   - The article title is at the top of the page, in bold and larger font than the rest of the text, making it easily identifiable.

6. Retrieving the URL/Access Information:
   - The URL for the article is found in your browser's address bar. It is essential to copy the complete URL, ensuring that it leads directly to the article for future access. This URL is stable and can be used in your citation.

7. Unique Features of ASR on SAGE:
   - One unique aspect of the ASR on the SAGE website is the option to download citations directly. You can find this feature on the right side of the article page by clicking on "Cite" or "Tools." This option provides formatted citations in various styles, including APA, which can be a time-saver.
   - Additionally, for comprehensive referencing, check if the article includes a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), often found near the publication date. This DOI provides a permanent link to the article.

By following these steps, you can efficiently gather all necessary citation information for articles in the American Sociological Review on the SAGE platform. This will ensure your citations are complete and accurate, adhering to academic standards.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your American Sociological Review Citation

How to Create an American Sociological Review Citation

Creating accurate citations is essential for academic writing, and the American Sociological Review (ASR) follows specific guidelines. This guide will help you create a citation in APA format for an article published in the ASR. Follow these detailed steps to ensure your citation is correct.

What You Need

• Access to the article you want to cite.
• Basic information about the article (authors, year, title, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers).
• A computer or mobile device with internet access.
• A reference management tool (optional, but helpful for efficiency).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Identify the Authors
   - Action: Look for the names of the authors of the article.
   - Verification: Confirm that you have the correct names, including their initials. For example, if the article is by John Doe and Jane Smith, write them as Doe, J. and Smith, J.
   - Estimated Time: 1-2 minutes.
   - Tip: If there are multiple authors, list them in the order they appear in the article.

2. Note the Publication Year
   - Action: Check the publication date of the article. This is usually found near the title or in the header of the article.
   - Verification: Ensure the year is accurate. For instance, if the article was published in 2022, write (2022).
   - Estimated Time: 1 minute.
   - Tip: Keep track of the publication date to avoid confusion with articles published in different years.

3. Record the Article Title
   - Action: Write down the title of the article exactly as it appears, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns.
   - Verification: Double-check for spelling and formatting. For example, "Understanding Social Behavior".
   - Estimated Time: 2 minutes.
   - Tip: Use a notepad or digital document to keep all information organized.

4. Find the Journal Title
   - Action: Identify the full title of the journal, which is "American Sociological Review".
   - Verification: Ensure you use italics for the journal title. It should appear as American Sociological Review.
   - Estimated Time: 1 minute.
   - Tip: Familiarize yourself with the journal titles in your field to make this process quicker in the future.

5. Locate the Volume and Issue Numbers
   - Action: Look for the volume number and, if applicable, the issue number of the journal.
   - Verification: Ensure you write the volume number in italics, followed by the issue number in parentheses and not in italics. For example, if the volume is 85 and the issue is 4, write it as 85(4).
   - Estimated Time: 1-2 minutes.
   - Tip: Volume and issue numbers are typically found on the first page of the article or in the citation information provided by the journal.

6. Gather Page Numbers
   - Action: Identify the page range of the article.
   - Verification: Make sure to include all pages where the article appears. For example, if the article spans pages 123-145, write it as 123-145.
   - Estimated Time: 1 minute.
   - Tip: Page numbers can often be found in the header or footer of the first page of the article.

7. Find the DOI
   - Action: Look for the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the article, which provides a permanent link.
   - Verification: Ensure the DOI is correct. It usually appears in the citation or at the end of the article. It should be formatted as a URL, starting with "https://doi.org/" followed by a unique string of numbers and letters.
   - Estimated Time: 2-3 minutes.
   - Tip: If the DOI is not available, check the journal's website or the article's database for this information.

8. Assemble the Citation
   - Action: Combine all the gathered information into the correct APA format.
   - Verification: Use the following template: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx.
   - Example: Doe, J., & Smith, J. (2022). Understanding social behavior. American Sociological Review, 85(4), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd.efgh.
   - Estimated Time: 2-3 minutes.
   - Tip: Review your citation

Real Examples from American Sociological Review

This section provides authentic citation examples from American Sociological Review using recent publications from 2023-2024.

As of my last update, I don't have direct access to external databases or the ability to provide real-time data from specific journal websites like the American Sociological Review. However, I can guide you on how to create APA 7th edition citations for journal articles and provide hypothetical examples based on typical scenarios you might encounter. For real articles, you would need to access the journal's website or a database that provides access to these articles. Here's how you would format citations for different scenarios:

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

Scenario Description

This example is a typical research article authored by a single sociologist, focusing on societal impacts of digital communication in 2023.

Complete Reference List Citation

Smith, J. A. (2023). The social consequences of digital communication: A sociological perspective. American Sociological Review, 88(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/XXXXXX

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(Smith, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative)

Smith (2023) examines the societal impacts of digital communication.

Notes

This example is noteworthy for its focus on a contemporary issue, reflected by a single author's comprehensive analysis, typical in sociological studies.

Example 2: Corporate Author

Scenario Description

This article is published by a corporate author, such as a sociological association or research institute, analyzing demographic trends.

Complete Reference List Citation

American Sociological Association. (2023). Demographic shifts and their implications for society. American Sociological Review, 88(3), 200-220. https://doi.org/10.1177/XXXXXX

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(American Sociological Association, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative)

The American Sociological Association (2023) discusses recent demographic shifts.

Notes

Corporate authorship is significant here, as it reflects the collective input and authority of a leading sociological organization, often providing broad insights based on large datasets.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

Scenario Description

This research article is a collaborative effort by multiple authors, exploring the effects of urbanization on community structures.

Complete Reference List Citation

Johnson, M. R., Lee, T. K., & Patel, S. (2023). Urbanization and community structures: New insights. American Sociological Review, 88(4), 250-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/XXXXXX

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(Johnson, Lee, & Patel, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative)

Johnson, Lee, and Patel (2023) provide new insights into urbanization and community structures.

Notes

Multiple authorship highlights interdisciplinary collaboration, offering diverse perspectives and comprehensive analysis, which is common in sociological research.

Example 4: Special Formatting Case

Scenario Description

This article involves a special case where an article's title includes a question mark, focusing on the role of technology in education.

Complete Reference List Citation

Davis, L. E. (2023). Can technology transform education? A sociological inquiry. American Sociological Review, 88(5), 300-320. https://doi.org/10.1177/XXXXXX

In-Text Citation (Parenthetical)

(Davis, 2023)

In-Text Citation (Narrative)

Davis (2023) investigates whether technology can transform education.

Notes

The inclusion of a question mark in the title is a noteworthy formatting case, illustrating the study's exploratory nature and alignment with sociological inquiry.

These examples illustrate how to format citations for various types of journal articles you might find in the American Sociological Review. For actual articles, you would need to reference the journal's website or a library database to obtain the specific details and DOI for each article.

Common Issues When Citing American Sociological Review

Problem 1: Identifying Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle with correctly identifying the authors of articles from the American Sociological Review (ASR). This can lead to improperly formatted citations or missing attributions.

Why It Happens:
The ASR is a peer-reviewed academic journal that often features articles with multiple authors, sometimes listed in a non-standard order. Additionally, when accessing articles through databases or library systems, author names can be displayed inconsistently, leading to confusion.

Solution:
1. Always access the article directly from the ASR website or a reliable academic database like JSTOR or ProQuest.
2. Locate the article's title page or the first page where the author names are prominently listed.
3. Carefully note the order of authors as they appear; this is the order they should be cited in your reference list.
4. If a database displays authors differently, refer back to the original ASR article for accuracy.

Example Before:
Doe, J., Smith, A., & Johnson, K.

Example After:
Smith, A., Johnson, K., & Doe, J.

Problem 2: Date Formats

Issue Description:
Students sometimes incorrectly format publication dates, including the year, month, and day, when citing articles from the ASR.

Why It Happens:
ASR typically publishes articles quarterly, and while the year is always required in an APA citation, the exact month or season is sometimes overlooked.

Solution:
1. Identify the volume and issue number of the article from the ASR.
2. Use the publication date as it appears in the journal, typically in the format of year only (e.g., 2023), since ASR articles are not usually tied to specific months or days.

Example Before:
American Sociological Review. (April 2023).

Example After:
American Sociological Review. (2023).

Problem 3: URL Handling

Issue Description:
Including URLs in citations can be problematic, especially when students use URLs that are specific to their institution’s library or databases.

Why It Happens:
Often, students copy URLs from their browser’s address bar, which may include session-specific or institution-specific tokens that are not accessible to others.

Solution:
1. Use the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) whenever possible, as it provides a stable, permanent link to the article.
2. If no DOI is available, use a direct URL from the publisher's site, not from a database URL.

Example Before:
Retrieved from https://universitylibrary.edu/session123/article456

Example After:
https://doi.org/10.1177/00031224231123456

Problem 4: Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Students might cite articles they accessed through subscription-based platforms without realizing that these articles are not freely accessible to all readers.

Why It Happens:
Articles from ASR are often accessed through university library subscriptions, leading to the mistaken belief that all readers can access them via the same links.

Solution:
1. Mention the access method if necessary, but prioritize using DOIs, which bypass access issues.
2. If a DOI is not available and a URL must be used, ensure it is a stable URL from the journal's website, and note that access may be required.

Example Before:
Available at American Sociological Review.

Example After:
Note: Access to this article may require a subscription or purchase.

By addressing these issues, students can improve the accuracy and accessibility of their citations when referencing articles from the American Sociological Review. Each step emphasizes careful verification and usage of appropriate citation resources, ensuring compliance with APA guidelines.

Note: For general Journal Article citation errors, see How to Cite Journal Article.

Frequently Asked Questions About American Sociological Review

Q: How can I find the necessary citation information for articles from the American Sociological Review on their website?

A: To locate citation information, navigate to the article's page on the American Sociological Review's website. Most articles have a "Cite" button or section that provides citation details like author names, publication date, and DOI, which are essential for crafting an APA citation.

Q: How should I format author names from the American Sociological Review when they include multiple contributors?

A: In an APA citation, list up to 20 authors by last name and initials. For articles from the American Sociological Review with more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis, and then the final author's name.

Q: How do I handle publication dates for the American Sociological Review when citing in APA format?

A: Use the year of publication when citing articles from the American Sociological Review. If available, include the month and day for online articles that provide more specific publication information, but this is typically not required.

Q: What are the requirements for including a URL or DOI when citing articles from the American Sociological Review?

A: Always include a DOI if available, as it provides a permanent link to the article. If a DOI is not available, use the URL of the article's page from the journal's website instead. In APA format, DOI should be presented as a URL starting with "https://doi.org/".

Q: How does citing articles from the American Sociological Review differ from citing other journal articles in APA format?

A: While the basic APA citation format for journal articles remains the same, the American Sociological Review may have specific practices regarding author listings or DOI presentations. Always check each article's page for unique citation details, such as supplementary materials or specific online publication dates.

Related Guides

Similar Source Types:

• Journal Article - Complete guide to citing journal article

Related Specific Sources:

• Similar Source - How to cite similar sources

Validation Guides:

• Check Capitalization
• Validate URL Format
• Check Author Formatting
• Validate DOI Format

Need More Help?

• Citation Checker Tool - Validate your American Sociological Review citations automatically
• Complete APA Guide - Comprehensive APA 7th edition reference

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