Referencing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website in the American Psychological Association (APA) style requires adherence to specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. By following these guidelines, researchers can effectively cite information obtained from the CDC website while maintaining the credibility of their work. This comprehensive guide will provide a detailed overview of the APA referencing style for CDC website citations, covering various types of content commonly found on the website, such as web pages, fact sheets, and scientific reports.
To begin an APA reference for a CDC webpage, start with the title of the webpage in italics. Next, include the publication date in parentheses. If the publication date is not available, use the abbreviation “n.d.” (no date) in parentheses. After the publication date, provide the web address of the webpage. For example:
* *COVID-19 Guidance for Healthcare Professionals* (2023, January 27). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html.
When citing a CDC fact sheet, include the title of the fact sheet in quotation marks, followed by the publication date in parentheses. If the publication date is not available, use “n.d.” in parentheses. Next, provide the web address of the fact sheet. For example: *”What You Need to Know about COVID-19 and Your Health”* (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-to-know.html.
Citing the CDC Website in APA Style
Citing the CDC Website in APA Style
When citing the CDC website in APA style, follow these guidelines:
**Author:** The author of the website is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
**Title:** The title of the website is typically the name of the specific page or section being cited.
**Date:** The date of the website is the date the page was last updated, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
**URL:** The URL of the website is the full web address of the page being cited.
Example:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 24). COVID-19: Cases and deaths by state or territory. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html
Formatting the Citation
The basic format for citing the CDC website in APA style is as follows:
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Author | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
| Title | Name of the specific page or section being cited |
| Date | Date the page was last updated (YYYY, Month Day) |
| URL | Full web address of the page being cited |
Example:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 24). COVID-19: Cases and deaths by state or territory. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html
Formatting In-Text Citations for the CDC Website
When citing the CDC website according to APA style, there are specific guidelines to follow.
First, include the year of publication in parentheses. If the page does not have a publication date, use “n.d.” (no date).
Next, include the title of the page. If the page has a numbered heading, use that as the title. If there is no numbered heading, use the first few words of the page title in italics.
Finally, include the URL of the page. If the URL is long, you can shorten it using a URL shortener such as bit.ly.
Example
In-text citation:
(CDC, 2023)
Reference list entry:
CDC. (2023). COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html
Formatting Table
The following table provides a summary of the formatting guidelines for in-text citations for the CDC website:
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | (Year) |
| Title of page | Title of page |
| URL | URL |
| Element | Formatting |
|---|---|
| Author | If available, list the author’s name in last name, first name format. |
| Publication date | If available, include the publication date in the format: year, month, day. |
| Title of the webpage | Italicize the title of the webpage. |
| URL of the webpage | Include the full URL of the webpage. |
Referencing CDC Reports and Publications
Citing CDC Reports and Publications
When citing CDC reports and publications in APA style, follow these guidelines:
- Author: For reports without an individual author, list the agency as the author e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Year: Use the year of publication or the latest update date.
- Title: Include the full title of the report or publication.
- Publisher: For CDC publications, use “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” as the publisher.
- Location: Include the city where the publication was published.
Example Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.
In-Text Citation:
(CDC, 2023)
Using the CDC’s Recommended Citation Format
To cite the CDC website in APA style, follow the CDC’s recommended format provided below:
For a CDC webpage:
| Element | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Date | Year of publication or last update |
| Title | Page title |
| URL | Full web address |
Example:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). COVID-19: What You Need to Know. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Additional Notes:
- If the author is not provided, use "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" as the author.
- If the date is not provided, use "n.d." (no date).
- Include the full URL, including "https://".
- Use italics for the page title.
Citing CDC Web Pages
To cite a CDC web page in APA style, follow these steps:
1. Find the Author
The author of a CDC web page is typically the CDC itself. If there is no individual author listed, use “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” as the author.
2. Find the Title
The title of a CDC web page is typically the title of the page as it appears in the browser’s address bar.
3. Find the Publication Date
The publication date of a CDC web page is typically the date the page was last updated. This date is usually found at the bottom of the page.
4. Find the URL
The URL of a CDC web page is the address of the page on the internet. This address is typically found in the browser’s address bar.
5. Put It All Together
Once you have all of the necessary information, you can put it together in the following format:
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Author | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Title | COVID-19 |
| Publication Date | August 11, 2022 |
| URL | https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html |
6. In-Text Citation
When citing a CDC web page in-text, use the following format:
(CDC, 2022) or (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
If you are citing a specific section of the web page, include the section title in the citation:
(CDC, 2022, “Symptoms”)
Citing CDC Data and Statistics
When citing data or statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), follow these guidelines:
- Author: CDC
- Title: Name of the specific publication or report from which you are citing
- Date of Publication: Year of publication (or last update, if available)
- URL: Web address of the specific page or document you are citing
Example:
[CDC. Health Data Interactive: Leading Causes of Death. 2022. https://healthdata.gov/leading-causes-of-death]
Citing CDC Webpages
When citing a general CDC webpage, follow these guidelines:
- Author: CDC
- Title: Name of the webpage (usually found in the page title)
- Date of Publication: If available, include the date the page was created or last updated
- URL: Web address of the specific page you are citing
Example:
[CDC. COVID-19 Symptoms. [no date]. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html]
Citing CDC Social Media Posts
When citing a CDC social media post, follow these guidelines:
- Author: CDC
- Title: Title or description of the post (if applicable)
- Date of Publication: Date the post was made
- Social Media Platform: Name of the social media platform
- URL: Web address of the specific post
Example:
[CDC. [Tweet]. 2023, February 14. Twitter. https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1625823268352149506]
Citing CDC PDFs
When citing a CDC PDF document, follow these guidelines:
- Author: CDC
- Title: Name of the PDF document
- Date of Publication: Year of publication (or last update, if available)
- URL: Web address of the specific PDF document
Example:
[CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Preliminary Estimates of 2022 Mortality in the United States. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7204a1.htm]
Citing CDC Data Tables
When citing a CDC data table, follow these guidelines:
- Author: CDC
- Title: Name of the data table (usually found in the table title)
- Date of Publication: Year of publication (or last update, if available)
- URL: Web address of the specific data table
Example:
[CDC. Health Data Interactive: Prevalence and Trends in Diabetes. 2023. https://healthdata.gov/Health/Prevalence-Trends-in-Diabetes/wdg7-289z]
Acknowledging the CDC as a Source
When referencing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website in APA style, it is crucial to properly acknowledge the CDC as the source of the information.
8. Paraphrasing or Summarizing CDC Information
If you use information from the CDC website but paraphrase or summarize it in your own words, you must still cite the CDC as the source. Follow these guidelines:
• In-text citation: (CDC, year)
• Reference list entry:
| Type of CDC Document | Reference List Entry |
|---|---|
| Webpage | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (year). Title of webpage. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/url/of/page |
| Report or Publication | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (year). Title of report or publication. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/url/of/document |
Avoiding Plagiarism When Referencing the CDC
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that can have severe consequences. When referencing the CDC, it is important to avoid plagiarism by following the proper citation guidelines. Here are some tips to help you avoid plagiarism:
- Always cite your sources. Whenever you use information from the CDC, be sure to cite the source properly. This includes giving credit to the author, the title of the work, and the date of publication.
- Use quotation marks when quoting directly from the CDC. If you are quoting directly from the CDC, be sure to use quotation marks to indicate that the words are not your own.
- Paraphrase the CDC’s information when possible. Paraphrasing is a great way to avoid plagiarism. When you paraphrase, you are putting the CDC’s information into your own words.
- Use a plagiarism checker. There are a number of plagiarism checkers available online. These checkers can help you to identify potential instances of plagiarism in your work.
Give Credit to the CDC
When referencing the CDC, it is important to give credit to the organization. This can be done by including the CDC’s name in the citation. For example, you could write:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week.
Cite the Author
If you are referencing a specific author from the CDC, be sure to include the author’s name in the citation. For example, you could write:
According to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease.”
Cite the Title
If you are referencing a specific publication from the CDC, be sure to include the title of the publication in the citation. For example, you could write:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Healthy People 2020” report sets national health goals for the year 2020.
Cite the Date
If you are referencing a specific date from the CDC, be sure to include the date in the citation. For example, you could write:
On May 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for social distancing.
Table of Examples
The following table provides some examples of how to cite the CDC in your work:
| Example | Type of Citation |
|---|---|
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. | Author and Date |
| According to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease.” | Author and Title |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Healthy People 2020” report sets national health goals for the year 2020. | Title and Date |
| On May 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for social distancing. | Date and Title |
Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability of CDC Citations
When citing information from the CDC website in APA style, it is crucial to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your sources. Here are some tips to help you do this.
1. Check the Date of the Source
The CDC website is constantly updated with new information. Therefore, it is essential to check the date of the source you are using to ensure you are referring to the most current information. You can find the date of publication or last update at the top or bottom of the webpage.
2. Verify the Author’s Credentials
Look for information about the author(s) of the CDC publication. Make sure they are credible experts in the field of public health or medicine. Look for: 1) affiliation with reputable institutions, 2) evidence of relevant experience or qualifications, 3) a lack of conflicts of interest.
3. Check for Editorial Review
Look for evidence that the CDC publication has undergone editorial review. This means that it has been reviewed by other experts in the field for accuracy, credibility, and bias.
4. Consider the Purpose and Audience of the Publication
The purpose and audience of the CDC publication can provide context that can help you determine its reliability. For example, a publication intended for the general public may be less detailed and reliable than one intended for healthcare professionals.
5. Be Wary of Biased Language
Be aware of potential bias in the language used in the CDC publication. Look for words or phrases that indicate an emotional or subjective viewpoint.
6. Use Caution with Unsourced Claims
If the CDC publication makes claims without providing sources or references, be cautious about citing them.
7. Consult Reputable Databases
If you are unsure about the reliability of a CDC publication, consult reputable databases such as PubMed or Google Scholar. These databases can provide additional information and help you assess the credibility of the source.
8. Cite the Source Correctly
When citing a CDC source in APA style, be sure to follow the correct citation format. This includes providing the author, date, title, and URL of the source.
9. Proofread Your Citations
Mistakes in citations can affect the credibility of your work. Proofread your references and citations carefully before submitting your paper.
10. Use a Citation Management Tool
Citation management tools can help you organize and create citations in the correct format. This can save you time and reduce the risk of errors. Some popular citation management tools include Zotero, Mendeley, and RefWorks.
| Tool | Features |
|---|---|
| Zotero | Open-source, free, cross-platform, easy-to-use interface |
| Mendeley | Cloud-based, integrates with Word, PDF annotation |
| RefWorks | Web-based, paid subscription, advanced features |
How to Reference CDC Website in APA
To cite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website in APA style, follow these steps:
- Identify the specific page or document you are referencing on the CDC website.
- Find the “Cite This Page” link at the bottom of the page.
- Select the “APA” option.
- Copy the citation that is generated.
Example citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 13). COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
People Also Ask
Can I use the CDC website as a source in my research paper?
Yes, the CDC website is a credible source of information and can be used in research papers. However, it is important to be selective and only use information from reputable sources on the website.
How do I find the publication date of a CDC website page?
The publication date of a CDC website page can usually be found at the top or bottom of the page. If you cannot find the publication date, you can contact the CDC for assistance.
