Using YouTube videos for your APA research paper is a good way to add interesting visual content to your research. Although YouTube is the most popular video hosting service, there are others available. To format your citations for other video hosting sites, such as Vimeo, include the site where you found your video source.
APA Video Citation Format
Follow the basic APA citation format for audiovisuals, like YouTube videos, while creating your source citation.
Reference List Format
Author, A. A. [Screen name]. (year, month day). Title of video [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.websitename.com/full/url/
In-Text Citation Format
(author, year) or (screen name, year)
If no author or screen name is available, use the title.
YouTube Citation Examples
1. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Western Sydney University Library. (2016, February 24). Referencing online video in APA style (6th ed.). [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/I6oud9lEP3Q
(Western Sydney U. Lib., 2016)
2. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Associative Awareness Technique [AAT]. (2012, October 5). Understanding trauma: How stress and trauma cause chronic pain, anxiety, depression, & PTSD. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/byQBP7fq5vQ
(AAT, 2012)
YouTube Blog Post Citation
1. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Kwan, M. (2019, July 2). Slow down. [Video blog]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/TuhR6sZKeBw
(Kwan, 2019)
2. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Blackout Digital (2015, September 26). Lynette’s Albuquerque – NYC edition. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/1HG2FCpRuV0
(Blackout, 2015)
YouTube Informational Video Citation
1. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Steinmiller, S. (2017, August 21). EMDR therapy explained. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/dSqD3tX_Gr4
(Steinmiller, 2017)
2. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Study.com. (2013, December 31). What is psychology? [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/1Os1C000qxY
(Study, 2013)
YouTube Music Citation
1. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Wake Self ft. Ariano. (2014, Mary 28). So good. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/Rmu6-IEfM30
(Wake Self, 2014)
2. Reference List Format / In-Text Citation
Hurricane, A. & Morrie, T. (2013, December 4). La puerta negra: Al Hurricane tribute. [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/DyU5_mcLpv8
(Hurricane & Morrie, 2013)
- Use the Share button to find the URL of the video
- Author is person who uploaded the video
- Use the organization that published the video, if there is no author name
- Use the exact spelling of the screen name
- If the screen name is the same as the author, don’t include it
- If there is no author or screen name, use the title as first element