To cite a research paper, you need two things: an in-text citation that points to the source at the exact spot you use it, and a full reference list entry with the author, title, publication, and date. The format changes depending on whether you write in APA, MLA, or Chicago style, but every research paper citation captures the same core details: who wrote it, what it is called, where it was published, and when.
This walkthrough, part of essayreply’s citation guide series, covers how to cite a research paper in the three citation styles most college courses require, how to handle a paper found through a database like JSTOR or PubMed, and how to use a DOI so your reference stays accurate even if the article moves online.
What Counts as a Research Paper for Citation Purposes?
A research paper, in citation terms, usually means a peer-reviewed journal article. It could also mean a conference paper, a working paper from a research institution, or a preprint posted before formal peer review. The citation style you use treats these sources similarly, but the details you record differ. A journal article needs the journal name, volume, and issue number. A conference paper needs the name and date of the conference. A preprint needs the repository name, such as arXiv or SSRN, in place of a journal. Citing a research paper also differs from citing a website, since a journal article carries fixed bibliographic details a general web page usually lacks.
Before you start citing, confirm which type of research paper you have. Check the first page or the database record for a journal name, a conference title, or a repository name, since these sources hold the core details you need for an accurate citation. That single detail determines which reference template you follow below.
- The full name(s) of every author, or the responsible organization if no individual author is listed
- The exact title of the article, matched to the version you actually read
- The journal, conference, or repository name, plus the volume and issue number when it applies
- The publication year
- A DOI, or if none exists, the direct and stable URL to the article
How to Cite a Research Paper in APA (7th Edition)
APA, the American Psychological Association style, is the standard for psychology, education, and most social sciences. A research paper reference in APA lists the author’s last name and initials, the publication year in parentheses, the article title in sentence case, the journal name in italics, the volume and issue, the page range, and a DOI or URL when one is available.
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Reference list entry | Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxx |
| In-text citation | (Author, Year) or (Author, Year, p. #) for a direct quote |
Example reference: Gonzalez, M. R. (2023). Sleep quality and academic performance in undergraduates. Journal of Educational Psychology, 45(2), 112 to 128. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000123
In-text example: sleep quality has a measurable effect on GPA (Gonzalez, 2023). When you quote the paper directly, add the page number: (Gonzalez, 2023, p. 118).
For a paper with two authors, join both names with an ampersand in the in-text citation: (Smith & Lee, 2022). For three or more authors, use the first author’s name followed by “et al.” in every citation, including the first one. Full formatting rules and more examples are available from the Purdue OWL APA style guide. You can also build the reference automatically with an APA citation generator.
How to Cite a Research Paper in MLA (9th Edition)
MLA, the Modern Language Association style, is common in literature, language, and humanities courses. It uses a container system rather than the author-date format APA uses. A journal article sits inside the “container” of the journal itself, so the citation lists the article title in quotation marks, the journal title in italics, and the publication details in a fixed order.
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Works Cited entry | Author Last name, First name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. #-#. Database or DOI. |
| In-text citation | (Author Last name Page number) |
Example Works Cited entry: Gonzalez, Maria R. “Sleep Quality and Academic Performance in Undergraduates.” Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 45, no. 2, 2023, pp. 112-128. JSTOR, doi.org/10.1037/edu0000123.
In-text example: sleep quality has a measurable effect on GPA (Gonzalez 118).
MLA in-text citations do not use a comma between the author’s name and the page number, which is one of the most common mistakes when a student switches between styles mid-paper. Full formatting rules live at the University of Nevada Reno MLA citation guide, and you can generate the entry with an MLA citation generator.
How to Cite a Research Paper in Chicago Style
Chicago style offers two systems, and the one you use depends on your field. Notes-bibliography is standard in history and some humanities disciplines. Author-date is closer to APA and is common in the sciences and social sciences. Check your assignment instructions or ask your instructor which system applies before you start citing.
| System | Format |
|---|---|
| Notes-bibliography | Author First name Last name, “Title of Article,” Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): page range. |
| Author-date reference list | Author Last name, First name. Year. “Title of Article.” Journal Name Volume (Issue): page range. |
Example note: Maria R. Gonzalez, “Sleep Quality and Academic Performance in Undergraduates,” Journal of Educational Psychology 45, no. 2 (2023): 112-128.
Example author-date in-text citation: (Gonzalez 2023, 118). Both Chicago systems are documented in full at the Purdue OWL Chicago Manual of Style guide.
Citing a Research Paper Found in a Database
Most students find research papers through a library database such as JSTOR, PubMed, or Google Scholar rather than directly on a publisher’s website. The citation format barely changes. What changes is which identifier you record. If the paper has a DOI, always use the DOI link instead of the database link, because a DOI stays stable even if the paper is removed from that particular database. If no DOI exists, use the direct, stable web address the database provides, not the search results page you started from.
Some instructors also ask for the database name itself (JSTOR, ProQuest, EBSCOhost), which MLA treats as an optional container element after the publication details. Check your assignment sheet or your style guide’s current edition. For general reference work, see the citation hub’s overview of how to cite an article in an essay, or browse the full book and chapter citation guides for other source types.
Citing a Research Paper With No Listed Author
Some research papers, especially reports from research institutes, government agencies, or working groups, list an organization instead of a named person. Treat the organization as the author in every style. In APA and Chicago author-date, alphabetize by the organization’s full name in the reference list and use it in place of a surname for the in-text citation, for example (World Health Organization, 2023). In MLA, list the organization’s name first in the Works Cited entry, exactly as it appears on the source. Avoid using “Anonymous” unless the source truly lists no author or organization at all.
Using DOIs When You Cite a Research Paper
A DOI, or digital object identifier, is a permanent link assigned to a published research paper, keeping the identifying information stable across repeated research citations. Always format it as a full URL, https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx, rather than just the raw number string.
Current APA, MLA, and Chicago guidance all recommend the DOI over a database or search link whenever one is available, because the DOI will not break even if the journal changes its website or the paper moves to a new host. If a paper has no DOI, use the direct web address of the article on the journal’s own site. Avoid citing a Google Scholar search results link, since that link is not stable and will not lead a reader back to the same paper later. More detail on when and how to use a DOI is available from the University of Illinois Chicago library’s DOI guide.
Common Research Paper Citation Mistakes
Correct (APA): Gonzalez, M. R. (2023). Sleep quality and academic performance in undergraduates. Journal of Educational Psychology, 45(2), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000123
Incorrect: Gonzalez, Maria. Sleep Quality and Academic Performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2023. Retrieved from Google.
The incorrect version mixes MLA-style name order into an APA entry, drops the italics and volume and issue numbers, and cites a search engine instead of a stable source or DOI, all common mistakes when citing from memory instead of checking the style manual. Always copy the volume, issue, and page range directly from the article’s first page or the database record rather than reconstructing them from search results or unreliable secondary sources. When you quote or paraphrase a specific passage, add the page number to your in-text citation so a reader can find the exact line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I cite a research paper differently than a regular article?
Not structurally. A research paper follows the same journal-article template in APA, MLA, and Chicago. The main difference is which fields you can find, since peer-reviewed papers reliably include a volume, issue, and DOI that a general web article often lacks.
What if the research paper has no page numbers?
Many online-first papers use an article number or eLocator instead of a page range. Use that identifier in place of the page numbers, and cite it the same way when quoting a passage.
How many authors can I list before using “et al.”?
In APA, list up to 20 authors in the reference list, but switch to the first author’s name plus “et al.” for every in-text citation once a paper has three or more authors. In MLA, use the first author’s name plus “et al.” in both the reference entry and when citing in text once a paper has three or more authors.
Should I cite the database name or the journal name?
Cite the journal name as the primary source. The database, such as JSTOR or PubMed, is only listed as an optional container in some MLA citations, and it is not required in APA or Chicago style at all.
Can I use a preprint instead of the published version?
Yes, but cite the preprint repository, such as arXiv or SSRN, in place of the journal, and note the preprint status if your style manual requires it. If the paper is since formally published, cite that peer-reviewed version instead when you can access it. Either way, keep your citations consistent across the paper so every source stays traceable to a real research record.
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Terry is a Chicago-based writer and editor who creates practical, student-friendly guides on essay writing, research, and citation styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago). He’s spent 15+ years editing educational content and building clear examples that help readers apply rules without guessing. When he’s not revising drafts, he’s usually turning messy notes into clean outlines and hunting down the one detail everyone skips.