How to Cite Surveys in a Research Paper

Surveys can be cited as a type of interview.

Neither the American Psychological Association style manual nor the Modern Language Association style manual offers specific instructions for citing a survey in a research paper. However, because a survey is a kind of interview, you can cite it as such in your List of Works Cited.

Things You'll Need

• Full name of person surveyed
• Full name of person who conducted survey
• Date of survey
• Name of survey
• Date on which survey was accessed online (if necessary)
• Website where survey is located (if necessary)

Instructions

Cite a survey using APA style

1. Cite an unpublished survey by using an in-text reference that includes the full name of the person who was surveyed and the date of the communication. For example: "At the conference, Margaret Cahill said (Margaret Cahill, survey, January 11, 2011) ..."

2. Cite a published survey by creating a standard APA interview citation and inserting information about the survey in brackets after the surveyor's information. For example: Cahill, Margaret. (2010, November 16). [Survey of Davidson Elementary School Fifth Grade Students]. Retrieved January 11, 2011, from the Davidson Elementary School website: <http://...>

3. Place the published survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.

Cite a survey using MLA style

1. Cite a printed survey using a standard MLA style interview citation. For example: Harris, Amy. "Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Survey. 11 January 2011.

2. Place the printed survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.

3. Cite a survey conducted online by creating a standard MLA interview citation and then adding information about the website. For example: Harris, Amy. "Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Survey. Name of website in italics. Publisher of website, 16 November 2010. Accessed online. 11 January 2011. <http://...>

4. Place the online survey citation in your List of Works Cited alphabetically, according to the last name of the surveyor.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the preferred citation style of your institution.

• If a website does not offer all of the required authorship and publishing information, simply provide as much information as you can.

References

• Noodletools: Knowledge Base, (MLA 7th ed.) How do I cite a survey I distributed?
• Noodletools: Knowledge Base, (APA) How do I cite an e-mail, interview, or survey I conducted?
• Griswold Public Schools: Questionnaire/Survey - MLA Citation Format