Skip to Main Content
Go to the Langara College website. Opens in a new window
Go to the Langara Library website. Opens in a new window

APA Style 7th ed - Citation Guide for Nursing & Health Sciences

Notes on Secondary Sources

 
  • A secondary source is an indirect quote, i.e. a source quoted within another source. Cite a secondary source only when you have not actually examined or used the original source.
     
  • Only the secondary source is added to the References list. The original source is identified in-text with "as cited in" the secondary source.
     
  • If you have the date of the original source, include it in the in-text citation. If you do not know the date, omit it.
     
  • See the Publication Manual section 8.6 (p. 258 and p. 63) and examples below.

Book Example

If Smith is cited in a book by Blackwell and you did not read Smith's original work, list the Blackwell reference in the References list. Omit the date of  Smith's work if you do not know it. In text, use the following citation:

Smith's research (as cited in Blackwell, 2018) supports claims that sleep deprivation has an impact on cognitive performance.

Book Chapter Example

If Tarasuk's 2005 work is cited in a book chapter by McIntyre and Anderson published in 2016 and you did not read Tarasuk's original work, list the McIntyre and Anderson source in the References list.  In text, use the following citation:

Tarasuk (2005; as cited in McIntyre & Anderson, 2016) states... - narrative style
or
(Tarasuk, 2005, as cited in McIntyre & Anderson, 2016) - parenthetical style
 

Video Example

Jones is one of the speakers in a 44 minute documentary video written by Smith and directed by Ma. List the Smith and Ma reference in the References list. In text, use the following citation, including the start time of the quote in minutes and seconds:

Jones (as cited in Smith & Ma, 2016, 5:10) states that babies form memories early in life.