Citing a Published Dissertation
When you are referencing a dissertation that has already been published, you need to include specific information such as the author's name, the title of the dissertation, the university, and the year of publication.
Published dissertations are generally available in databases like ProQuest, so this is important when you are accessing and citing them.
Citing a Dissertation in APA 7th Edition
APA style (7th Edition) is one of the most widely used citation styles, especially in social sciences. When citing a published dissertation in APA, here's the format you'll follow:
APA format | Author's Last Name, Initials. (Year). Title of dissertation (Publication No. [if available]) [Doctoral dissertation, Name of University]. Database Name. |
APA reference entry | Johnson, M. L. (2020). Exploring the role of mindfulness in reducing stress among college students (Publication No. 2345678) [Doctoral dissertation, University of California]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. |
APA in-text citation | (Johnson, 2020) |
Different Sources
- ProQuest: If the dissertation is from ProQuest, the database name will be included.
- Dissertation published online: If available online, provide the URL or the DOI at the end of the citation.
Citing a Dissertation in MLA 9th Edition
MLA (9th Edition) is commonly used in humanities fields like literature and arts. When citing a dissertation, the format is slightly different from APA.
Here's how you should format a published dissertation:
MLA format | Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation. Year, University, Database Name. |
MLA reference entry | Smith, K. L. The effects of environmental factors on urban wildlife. 2019, University of Chicago, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. |
MLA in-text citation | (Smith) |
Different Sources
- Online Dissertations: For dissertations available online, include the URL where the dissertation is hosted.
- Print Dissertations: If you accessed a print version, skip the database and URL part.
Citing a Dissertation in Harvard Style
Harvard referencing is commonly used in the UK and other parts of the world. Here's the citation format for a published dissertation in Harvard style:
Harvard format | Author Last Name, Initial(s). Year. Title of Dissertation. Ph.D. thesis, University Name. Available at: Database Name. |
Harvard reference entry | Baker, J. M. 2021. Investigating the psychological effects of color on consumer behavior. Ph.D. thesis, University of London. Available at: ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. |
Harvard in-text citation | (Baker, 2021) |
Different Sources
- Database: Mention the database or platform (e.g., ProQuest) if the dissertation was retrieved from there.
- Online Access: For dissertations available online, include the URL at the end.
Citing a Dissertation in MHRA
The MHRA (Modern Humanities Research Association) style is often used in the humanities, particularly in subjects like literature, history, philosophy, and the arts.
The style emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and consistency. It is widely recognized in academic publications and is the preferred citation format for dissertations, theses, and scholarly work in many institutions in the UK.
MHRA format | Author's First Name Last Name, 'Title of Dissertation' (Year), PhD thesis, University Name. |
MHRA reference entry | Turner, S. A., 'The Role of Metaphor in Modern Literature' (2017), PhD thesis, University of Oxford. |
MHRA in-text citation | (Turner, 2017) |
Citing a Dissertation in AMA Style
AMA (American Medical Association) style is often used in medical and health-related fields. Here's the citation format for citing a dissertation in AMA:
AMA format | Author Last Name First Initial. Title of Dissertation. [Type of dissertation]. University Name; Year. |
AMA reference entry | Clark R. The effects of genetic predisposition on cardiovascular disease. [Doctoral dissertation]. Harvard University; 2020. |
AMA in-text citation | (Clark, 2020) |
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation
An unpublished dissertation is one that hasn’t been formally published, which means it may not be readily accessible in databases or online.
These dissertations are typically only available through the university or institution where they were submitted. Because of this, citing an unpublished dissertation requires special attention to the details.
You may need to provide more specific information, such as
- The university name
- The year it was completed
- Details about how you accessed the dissertation
Since unpublished dissertations are not part of public databases, it’s important to ensure that your citation provides enough context for others to locate the source, if possible.
Let’s look at how to cite an unpublished dissertation in various citation styles.
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in APA 7th Edition
For an unpublished dissertation in APA style, the format is slightly different. Here are some key points to remember:
- Unlike published dissertations, you won't include a database or publication number in the citation.
- No italics for the title of the dissertation (APA doesn’t italicize titles of unpublished works).
- Mention that the dissertation is unpublished and specify the university name.
Here's how you should cite it:
APA format | Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University Name] |
APA reference entry | Patel, R. K. (2021). Exploring the impact of bilingualism on cognitive development (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Miami. |
APA in-text citation | (Patel, 2021) |
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in MLA 9th Edition
In MLA 9th Edition, citing an unpublished dissertation follows a similar structure. Keep in view the following points when citing unpublished dissertations in MLA:
- In MLA, titles of dissertations are italicized.
- If the dissertation is available online (even unpublished), include the database or URL.
- Focus on the status of the dissertation being unpublished.
Here’s how you cite it:
MLA format | Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation. Year, University, Unpublished Dissertation. |
MLA reference entry | Williams, T. G. The effects of early childhood education on social behavior. 2022, University of New York, Unpublished Dissertation. |
MLA in-text citation | (Williams) |
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in Harvard
In Harvard referencing, an unpublished dissertation is cited as follows:
- Like APA, there’s no need to italicize the title of the dissertation.
- Ensure you state that it is unpublished.
- Include the full university name.
Harvard format | Author Last Name, Initial(s). Year. Title of Dissertation. Unpublished PhD thesis, University Name. |
Harvard reference entry | Brown, A. J. 2023. A study of climate change perceptions in rural communities. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Cambridge. |
Harvard in-text citation | (Brown, 2023) |
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in MHRA
The MHRA style for an unpublished dissertation looks like this:
- The title of the dissertation is italicized.
- Unlike the other styles, MHRA places the "unpublished PhD thesis" designation after the title.
- MHRA uses full first names and last names in the citation.
MHRA format | Author's First Name Last Name, 'Title of Dissertation' (Year), Unpublished PhD thesis, University Name. |
MHRA reference entry | Johnson, Robert L., 'The Influence of Digital Media on Adolescent Behavior' (2022), unpublished PhD thesis, University of Leeds. |
MHRA in-text citation | (Johnson, 2022) |
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in AMA
For AMA referencing, an unpublished dissertation is cited as follows:
- AMA typically focuses on the city and state where the university is located.
- The title of the dissertation is not italicized.
- The "unpublished doctoral dissertation" is mentioned explicitly.
AMA format | Author's Last Name First Initial. Title of Dissertation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. City, State: University Name; Year. |
AMA reference entry | Davis K. Understanding urbanization and its effects on local ecosystems. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stanford, CA: Stanford University; 2021. |
AMA in-text citation | (Davis, 2021) |
In conclusion,
Citing a dissertation might seem a bit complicated at first, but once you understand the specifics of each citation style, it becomes much easier. Whether you're referencing a published or unpublished dissertation, following the correct format is critical.
This guide has covered everything you need to know to properly cite dissertations in APA, MLA, Harvard, MHRA, and AMA styles. Remember to always check the guidelines specific to your institution or publication for any additional formatting rules.
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