How to Cite Clinical Psychological Science in APA Format

Complete guide to citing Clinical Psychological Science in APA 7th edition with examples, unique formatting requirements, and common issues specific to this source.

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

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Quick Reference: Clinical Psychological Science Citations

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

Clinical Psychological Science-Specific Notes:
Citing articles from "Clinical Psychological Science" (CPS) involves some nuances that differ from general APA 7th edition guidelines, notably in the context of author listings and journal-specific preferences. While APA allows the listing of up to 20 authors before using an ellipsis, CPS typically adheres to the same rule, ensuring that all authors up to 20 are fully credited. However, it's essential to always check the journal’s specific author guidelines, as there might be subtle preferences or updates that override standard practices. For instance, while APA generally requires the use of a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available, CPS may place particular emphasis on other digital identifiers or publication details, depending on their current citation preferences.

A common point of confusion for students is the presentation of author names and initials, especially when translating these into a reference list. In CPS, ensure that you maintain the order of authors as they appear in the publication, using initials correctly and consistently. Additionally, when citing CPS, students should pay attention to the journal’s format for article titles and volume issues, which might have specific stylistic requirements that differ from APA 7th edition, such as capitalization or punctuation nuances.

To avoid common pitfalls, students should always consult the latest CPS author guidelines and cross-reference with APA standards. Keeping a checklist of the essential elements—such as author order, accurate DOI inclusion, and consistent application of italics for journal titles—can be beneficial. Regularly reviewing sample citations from recent issues of CPS can also provide insights into the expected format and help students internalize the specific style conventions used by the journal.

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

Key Points:
- Use Journal Article format with Clinical Psychological Science specifics
- Locate citation info on Clinical Psychological Science's website
- Handle Clinical Psychological Science's unique formatting requirements

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

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Where to Find Citation Information on Clinical Psychological Science

When navigating the Clinical Psychological Science journal on the SAGE Publications website to locate citation information, it's crucial to understand the website's layout and how to efficiently extract the necessary details for your citation. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

Finding the Author

  1. Access the Article: Begin by navigating to the Clinical Psychological Science homepage at https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cpx. Use the search bar or browse through the volumes and issues to find the specific article you need.

  2. Author Byline: Once you've opened an article, look for the author(s) listed right below the article title. The authors' names are prominently displayed and typically hyperlinked to their respective profiles or other works.

Locating the Publication Date

  1. Publication Date: The publication date is typically located directly beneath the author byline. It may appear as a complete date (day, month, year) or simply the month and year of publication, depending on the article's status (e.g., online first or finalized issue).

Identifying the Article Title

  1. Title: The article title is prominently displayed at the top of the page, often in a larger or bold font. Ensure you use the exact title as it appears, paying attention to capitalization and punctuation for accurate citation.

Access Information and URL

  1. URL: The URL of the article is found in your web browser's address bar. It is vital to copy the complete URL starting with "https://", as this provides direct access to the article for future reference and citation.

  2. DOI (Digital Object Identifier): In addition to the URL, many academic journals, including Clinical Psychological Science, provide a DOI for each article. This is a stable, unique identifier and can often be found in the article’s abstract section or near the publication date. The DOI is preferable for citations as it ensures a permanent link to the article.

Additional Tips

By following these steps, you can efficiently gather and cite the necessary information from Clinical Psychological Science, ensuring your academic work remains accurate and credible.


Step-by-Step: Creating Your Clinical Psychological Science Citation

What You Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating a Clinical Psychological Science Citation

1. Identify the Article Information

Action: Gather all necessary information about the article you want to cite. This includes the authors, publication year, article title, journal name, volume number, issue number, page range, and DOI.

Verification: Check the article directly from the journal's website at https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cpx.

Time Estimate: 10-15 minutes to locate and verify all article details.

Tip for Efficiency: Use the journal's search feature to quickly find the article by title or author.

2. Format the Authors' Names

Action: Write the authors' names in the following format: Last name, First initial. Middle initial (if applicable). If there are multiple authors, separate their names with commas and use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name.

Example: For authors John Smith and Jane Doe, write it as Smith, J., & Doe, J.

Verification: Ensure that you have the correct spelling of each author's name, as this is crucial in academic writing.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Always double-check the order of authors as it typically matters in academic citations.

3. Include the Publication Year

Action: After the authors, include the year of publication in parentheses.

Example: (2023).

Verification: Cross-check this information with the article to ensure it is accurate.

Time Estimate: 2 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Look for the publication date usually found near the article title or in the citation information on the journal's webpage.

4. Write the Article Title

Action: Enter the title of the article in sentence case. This means only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon (if any), and proper nouns are capitalized.

Example: "Understanding the impact of therapy on mental health."

Verification: Confirm that the title matches exactly as it appears in the article.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: If you have copied the title from the article, ensure you have the correct punctuation and capitalization.

5. Add the Journal Title, Volume, and Issue

Action: Write the journal title in italics, followed by a comma. Next, include the volume number in italics and the issue number in parentheses (not italicized), followed by a comma. Finally, add the page range, also followed by a period.

Example: Clinical Psychological Science, 10(2), 123-145.

Verification: Double-check the formatting and details to ensure accuracy.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Use the article’s citation feature if available, as it will often provide this information in the correct format.

6. Add the DOI

Action: End your citation with "https://doi.org/" followed by the unique DOI number for the article.

Example: https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211012345.

Verification: Make sure the DOI is correct and leads to the article when entered into a web browser.

Time Estimate: 3 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Copy the DOI directly from the journal’s webpage to avoid errors.

7. Assemble the Citation

Action: Combine all the elements together in the correct order according to the APA format.

Example: Smith, J., & Doe, J. (2023). Understanding the impact of therapy on mental health. Clinical Psychological Science, 10(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211012345.

Verification: Review the entire citation to ensure all elements are correctly formatted and placed.

Time Estimate: 5 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Use a citation management tool or software (like Zotero or EndNote) to help automate the formatting process.

8. Proofread Your Citation

Action: Carefully proofread your citation for any typos, formatting errors, or missing information.

Verification: Compare your citation against the original article and APA guidelines.

Time Estimate: 5-10 minutes.

Tip for Efficiency: Read your citation aloud to catch any mistakes that you might overlook while reading silently.

By following these steps, you will be able to create a proper citation for articles published in Clinical Psychological Science using APA style, ensuring your


Real Examples from Clinical Psychological Science

This section provides authentic citation examples from Clinical Psychological Science using recent publications from 2023-2024.

To fulfill your request, I'll provide hypothetical examples based on the information typical for articles published in Clinical Psychological Science. As I don't have access to the specific content on the SAGE Publishing website, these examples are fictional and designed to illustrate how to format citations according to APA 7th edition guidelines.

Example 1: Standard Individual Author

  1. Scenario Description: This is a research article authored by a single psychologist examining the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on anxiety disorders.

  2. Complete Reference List Citation:
    - Smith, J. L. (2023). The impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy on reducing anxiety symptoms. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(2), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702623111234

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Smith, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Smith (2023) discusses the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing anxiety.

  5. Notes: This example is noteworthy for its focus on a single-author study, which allows for a clear perspective on the research topic.

Example 2: Corporate Author

  1. Scenario Description: This is a report published by the American Psychological Association on mental health trends in adolescents.

  2. Complete Reference List Citation:
    - American Psychological Association. (2023). Mental health trends in adolescents: A comprehensive report. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(4), 456-470. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702623114567

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (American Psychological Association, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - According to the American Psychological Association (2023), recent trends indicate a rise in adolescent mental health issues.

  5. Notes: This example is unique because it uses a corporate author, which is common when organizations publish comprehensive reports.

Example 3: Multiple Authors

  1. Scenario Description: A collaborative study by three researchers on the role of social media in adolescent self-esteem.

  2. Complete Reference List Citation:
    - Johnson, M. T., Lee, R. S., & Kim, H. J. (2023). Social media usage and its impact on adolescent self-esteem. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(3), 250-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702623112345

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Johnson, Lee, & Kim, 2023)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Johnson, Lee, and Kim (2023) explore how social media affects adolescent self-esteem.

  5. Notes: This citation is notable for having multiple authors, which requires listing all authors for the first citation in the text.

Example 4: Special Formatting Case

  1. Scenario Description: An article with a particularly long title that addresses the intersection of neuropsychology and psychotherapy.

  2. Complete Reference List Citation:
    - Thompson, L. P., & Green, A. N. (2024). Exploring the nuanced relationship between neuropsychological assessments and psychotherapeutic outcomes: A comprehensive review. Clinical Psychological Science, 12(1), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702624123456

  3. In-text Citation (Parenthetical Format):
    - (Thompson & Green, 2024)

  4. In-text Citation (Narrative Format):
    - Thompson and Green (2024) provide a comprehensive review of neuropsychology and psychotherapy.

  5. Notes: This example highlights how to handle a long article title, emphasizing clarity and completeness in the citation.

These examples illustrate how to format different types of articles from Clinical Psychological Science using APA 7th edition guidelines, ensuring proper citation for various types of authorship and publication formats.


Common Issues When Citing Clinical Psychological Science

Finding Authors

Issue Description:
Students often struggle to correctly identify and attribute the authors of articles from Clinical Psychological Science. This problem can arise due to multiple contributing authors, the presence of editorial notes, or supplementary material authors.

Why It Happens:
Clinical Psychological Science, like many scholarly journals, features articles with numerous authors. Often, these authors are listed in a sequence that can be confusing, especially when editorial notes or supplementary content authors are mixed with the main article authors.

Solution:
1. Locate the Authors: Begin by accessing the article directly from the Clinical Psychological Science journal website or through a library database.
2. Identify Primary Authors: Look for the names listed directly under the article title. These are typically the primary authors. Ignore any additional notes or supplementary content authors unless you are specifically citing that content.
3. Use APA Guidelines: When citing, list the authors in the order they appear. For more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, insert an ellipsis, and then add the last author's name.

Example:
- Before: Confusion over which names to include led to missing authors in citations.
- After: "Smith, J., Brown, A., & Johnson, R. (2023). Title of the article. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(2), 123-134."

Date Formats

Issue Description:
Students may incorrectly format publication dates, particularly when articles are available online before being assigned to a specific journal issue.

Why It Happens:
Clinical Psychological Science often publishes articles online ahead of print, with two different dates: the online publication date and the official issue publication date. This dual dating can confuse students about which date to use.

Solution:
1. Identify the Correct Date: Use the year of the online publication as the year in your citation if the article has not yet appeared in a specific issue.
2. Update as Needed: If the article is later assigned to an issue, update your citation to reflect the year of the issue's publication.

Example:
- Before: Using the incorrect year led to inaccurate citations.
- After: "Smith, J. (2023). Title of the article. Clinical Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy"

URL Handling

Issue Description:
Incorrect handling of URLs in citations, particularly when articles are accessed through databases or institutional subscriptions.

Why It Happens:
Clinical Psychological Science articles often have DOI links, but students might resort to copying URLs from browsers, which may include session-specific information or proxy links.

Solution:
1. Use DOIs: Always use the DOI provided by Clinical Psychological Science instead of a URL. This ensures a stable, permanent link.
2. Locate the DOI: Find the DOI on the first page of the article or in the citation information section.

Example:
- Before: Using a temporary URL: "https://proxy.university.edu/sessions/12345/article"
- After: "https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy"

Access Requirements

Issue Description:
Students sometimes cite articles without realizing they have limited access, leading to issues when others attempt to retrieve the source.

Why It Happens:
Clinical Psychological Science is often accessed through institutional subscriptions, which can lead to confusion about open access versus restricted content.

Solution:
1. Verify Access: Check the access level before citing. If the article is behind a paywall, ensure you're noting it appropriately if providing instructions for access.
2. Institutional Resources: Use library resources to verify the access status of the article.

Example:
- Before: Assuming open access when it's restricted.
- After: "Smith, J. (2023). Title of the article. Clinical Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/yyyy (Accessed via university library subscription)"

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


Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Psychological Science

Q: How can I find the necessary citation information when navigating the Clinical Psychological Science website?

A: To locate citation details on the Clinical Psychological Science website, visit the article's webpage and look for sections titled "Article Information" or "Cite this article." These sections typically include the authors, publication date, volume, issue number, and DOI, which are essential for APA citations.

Q: How should I handle author names in citations when Clinical Psychological Science lists contributors with unique formats?

A: If Clinical Psychological Science lists contributors with non-standard names, follow APA guidelines by listing the surname followed by the initials for each author. If a contributor is listed as an organization or group, use the full name as it appears on the site without altering it.

Q: How do I correctly format publication dates for articles from Clinical Psychological Science?

A: Clinical Psychological Science typically provides a year of publication. If the article includes a month or season, incorporate it in the citation as follows: (Year, Month). If only the year is available, use just the year in your citation.

Q: What are the URL and access requirements for citing Clinical Psychological Science articles?

A: When citing articles from Clinical Psychological Science, include the DOI if available, formatted as a URL (e.g., https://doi.org/xxxx). If no DOI is provided, use the article's direct URL from the journal's website. Ensure that the link is complete and accessible.

Q: How does citing Clinical Psychological Science differ from other journal article sources in APA?

A: The primary differences when citing Clinical Psychological Science involve ensuring the correct use of DOI and URLs, given its digital focus. APA format remains consistent across journals, but Clinical Psychological Science may require careful attention to DOI inclusion, which is a key distinguishing factor.


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