Trends in Editor Questions Blog:

Trends in Editor Questions Blog

August 2019

Question 1

Student Question: I am referencing the report from Pew Research center, 2012 and my chair has a question about how best to reference.  When I ran it thrrough reciteworks.org that software suggested that I use the intext citation unknown, 2012 with the reference of:

Unknown (2012). Pew Social & Demographic Trends. Choice Reviews Online, 50(04), 50-1846-50-1846. doi:10.5860/choice.50-1846

Editor Response: I have never seen an APA reference using “Unknown” as the author. Here’s how I would cite it:

(Pew Research Center, 2012)

Pew Research Center. (2012). Pew social & demographic trends. Choice Reviews Online, 50(4), 50–1846. doi:10.5860/choice.50-1846

One caveat: It appears on Crossref.org with a page number range of 50–1846. That seems unlikely to me (much too large a range), but I am unable to confirm or disconfirm it.

Question 2

Student Question: I have a quick question.  If a scholar has one table in their Proposal or Final Study, should they list the table as Table or Table 1?

Editor Response: Per APA, tables and figures should be numbered. So, you should use Table 1, even if there is only one table or figure.

Question 3

Student Question: What is a p value? What is the difference between crude odd ratio and adjusted odd ratio?

Editor Response: The editors answer questions related to APA and writing only. For help with statistics and analyzing your data set, please contact your chair or the Academic Skills Center.

Question 4

Student Question:We have much debate on this topic. What is the appropriate form for referring to the 21st century?

Here is an example of the use of the term:

Leaders continue to apply LMX and SET tenets in the twenty-first^-century workplace, even though they may be unaware of their approach Is this the preferred form for Walden?

Here is another example using a different form that aligns with APA p 112 431.c:

Given the constancy of change in 21st^-century businesses and economies, effective change ....

I appreciate your guidance!

Editor Response: Use 21st century (the “st” should not be superscript) unless the term begins a sentence. In that case, use Twenty-first century (the “T” capitalized only because it is the beginning of a sentence).

Question 5

Student Question: Should I include my appendices in my final, full dissertation?

In my proposal, I had previously included the eligibility questionnaire sheet, each of my surveys, the permissions from the developers to use the surveys, the letter of cooperation from the community partner site, recruitment flyer, and the NIH certificate.

I removed the cover letter and the consent form.

Any information on the appropriate information to include and what should not be included in my appendices will be greatly appreciated.

Editor Response: Do not include the recruitment flyer, recruitment letter, or any consent form. You may include the other features as you wish, but only the permissions to use the surveys is required.

One important point about including the surveys: Permission to use the surveys does not automatically convey permission to reprint he surveys in your paper. According to the APA Publication Manual, formal written permission is required to reprint adapted data displays and some questionnaires, intelligence tests, and projective measures. See APA §5.06, p. 128  and §6.10, p. 173. From the ProQuest web page, Submitting Your Dissertation or Thesis to ProQuest: "Republishing someone else's work, even in abbreviated form, requires permission from the author or copyright owner. You must receive permission from the author(s) and include it with your submission before we can publish it in your dissertation or thesis.”

In other words, reprinting the surveys requires an additional written permission. If that was not explicitly conveyed in the permission for use, then you must obtain additional permissions or not include the surveys. The permissions to republish should also be included in the appendices.