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APA reference for a dataset or report

An APA reference for a dataset: publisher, (year), then the title with a [Data set] label, then the URL. For census data the publisher is the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 61, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 56, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 111

Understanding APA reference for a dataset or report in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: The ABS collects and publishes the census, so it is the group named first in the reference, followed by a full stop. APA uses the description [Data set] in square brackets straight after the title. The order is publisher, (year), title with [Data set], then the URL. The URL goes at the end so readers can locate the data. It does not show who owns the copyright. The label comes after the title and before the full stop and URL. The publisher is there, but the year in round brackets, such as (2022), is missing after it.

Common mistakes: The title is missing the [Data set] label. A dataset reference needs the label in square brackets straight after the title: Census DataPacks [Data set]. The year must go in round brackets, not square brackets. Square brackets are only used for the [Data set] label. It should be (2021).

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 56–67) and word search (Modules 56–80).

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Learning
Duo
Which label goes after the title in an APA reference for a dataset?
[Data set][Data file]
Matches
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census QuickStats. https://www.abs.gov.au
↓
The [Data set] label is missing after the title. It should read 2021 Census QuickStats [Data set].
Applying
Meanings
Term
Publisher. (Year). Title [Data set]. URL
Meaning
An APA reference for a dataset: publisher, (year), then the title with a [Data set] label, then the URL. For census data the publisher is the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Practice
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). Census of Population and Housing: General Community Profile [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Testing
Gaps
2021 Census DataPacks [].
Check Answer
Spots
2Statistics. (2021).
3Census DataPacks.

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Quick Questions

1. Which label goes after the title in an APA reference for a dataset?
A. [Data set] ✓
B. [Data file]
APA uses the description [Data set] in square brackets straight after the title.
2. Which is the correct order for an APA dataset reference?
A. Publisher. (Year). Title [Data set]. URL ✓
B. Title. (Publisher). Year [Data set]. URL
The order is publisher, (year), title with [Data set], then the URL.
3. Who is the publisher in a reference for 2021 Census data?
A. Australian Bureau of Statistics ✓
B. The student who downloaded it
The organisation that publishes the data is named as the author/publisher. For census data this is the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
4. Which reference for census data is formatted correctly?
A. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). Census of Population and Housing. https://www.abs.gov.au
B. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). Census of Population and Housing [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au ✓
The second option is missing the [Data set] label after the title.
5. Where does the year go in an APA dataset reference?
A. In square brackets after the title: [2022]
B. In round brackets after the publisher: (2022). ✓
The year goes in round brackets straight after the publisher. Square brackets are only used for the [Data set] description.

Match the Pairs

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census QuickStats [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au → A complete APA reference for ABS census data: publisher, (year), title with [Data set], then the URL
[Data set] → A label placed in square brackets straight after the title to show the source is a dataset
For census data, the publisher at the start of the reference is the Australian Bureau of Statistics → Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census data [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au
The year goes in round brackets after the publisher, followed by a full stop → Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census QuickStats. https://www.abs.gov.au → The [Data set] label is missing after the title. It should read 2021 Census QuickStats [Data set].
2021 Census QuickStats [Data set]. (2022). Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au → The order is wrong. The publisher and year must come first, then the title with [Data set], then the URL.

Key Term

Publisher. (Year). Title [Data set]. URL
An APA reference for a dataset: publisher, (year), then the title with a [Data set] label, then the URL. For census data the publisher is the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census DataPacks [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Hint: Type the label inside the square brackets that tells the reader the source is a dataset.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census DataPacks [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Hint: Type the organisation that publishes Australian census data, which goes first as the publisher.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census DataPacks [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Hint: Type the year of publication that sits inside the round brackets after the publisher.
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2022). 2021 Census DataPacks [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Hint: Type the protocol prefix that starts the web address on the last line of the reference.
5. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Estimated Resident Population [Data set]. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics
Hint: Type the description label that goes inside the square brackets after the title.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Australian Bureau of
B Statistics. (2021).
C Census DataPacks.
D https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Line C — The title is missing the [Data set] label. A dataset reference needs the label in square brackets straight after the title: Census DataPacks [Data set].
Question 2
A Australian Bureau of
B Statistics.
C [2021].
D Census DataPacks [Data set].
E https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Line C — The year must go in round brackets, not square brackets. Square brackets are only used for the [Data set] label. It should be (2021).
Question 3
A (2023). Bureau of Meteorology.
B Climate data [Data set].
C https://www.bom.gov.au/climate
Line A — The order is wrong. The publisher comes first and the year in brackets comes after it: Bureau of Meteorology. (2023).
Question 4
A Australian Bureau of
B Statistics. (2016).
C QuickStats [Data set].
D Available on the ABS website.
Line D — A dataset reference must end with the actual URL so the reader can find the data. A vague description is not enough. It should be https://www.abs.gov.au/census.
Question 5
A Australian Bureau of
B Statistics. (2022).
C [Data set] Education and Work.
D https://www.abs.gov.au/census
Line C — The [Data set] label goes after the title, not before it. It should be Education and Work [Data set].

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