How to Cite a Personal Interview in Text in APA Format

The APA considers interviews a non-print source.

Citing books and journal articles in a paper using APA format becomes easy and routine with practice. There is more to research, however, than just those two types of sources. Conducting an interview gives the writer access to someone's experience and expertise.The key, like any other primary or secondary source, is to document the interview properly within the paper, as well as in the paper's bibliography.

Things You'll Need

• Interview notes
• APA guidelines

Instructions

1. Conduct your interview and take notes.

2. Contextualize the interview in your paper. If you embed a signal phrase using the interviewee's name, the citation will require less information. After the quote, put the words "personal communication" in parentheses, followed by the exact date of the interview. Here is a fictionalized example: When interviewed, H. Thomas Expert said, "This is a quote" (personal communication, August 30, 2010).

3. Add the interview subject's name to the parenthetical citation, if a signal phrase is not employed. Abbreviate the first name, and use the last name. For example: This is a sentence using interview material (R. Last Name, personal communication, August 30, 2010).

4. Do not include the interview in the reference list at the end of the paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult the most up-to-date version of the APA stylebook.

• Never use outdated APA rules when writing a paper.

References

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab: In-Text Citations: The Basics
• The Purdue Online Writing Lab: Reference List: Other Non-Print Sources

Resources

• American Psychological Association: APA Style