Q. How should I reference conference materials in APA Style?

APA 6th Edition (Scroll down for APA 7th Edition)

If the paper, poster, or conference proceedings have been formally published, use the formatting for the resource type (e.g., a chapter in a book or periodical article) to reference the resource. For example, the following paper was published as a chapter in the proceedings book:

van Oostveen, R., DiGiuseppe, M., Barber, W., Blayone, T., & Childs, E. (2016). New conceptions for digital technology sandboxes: Developing a fully online learning communities (FOLC) model. In G. Veletsianos (Ed.), EdMedia 2016: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology (pp. 665-673). Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

Conference paper abstract

Author, A. (Year, Month). Title of conference paper. Paper presented at the meeting of Organization Name, Location. Abstract retrieved from URL.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Paper

If you retrieved a conference paper online (versus an abstract, as shown above), and the paper wasn't published as part of a larger conference proceedings document (such as in a periodical or a book), you can use the same formatting, but replace "Abstract" with "Paper":

Lastname, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of paper. Paper presented at Conference Name, Location. Paper retrieved from URL

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, p. X)

Poster

Lastname, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of poster. Poster session presented at the meeting of Organization Name, Location. Poster retrieved from URL

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Symposium

Contributor, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of contribution. In E.E. Chairperson (Chair), Title of symposium. Symposium conducted at the meeting of Organization Name, Location.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Date in reference

Regarding the date of publication, "for symposium contributions and paper or poster presentations that have not been formally published, give the month and year of the symposium or meeting in the reference" (American Psychological Association, 2010, p. 206).

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. 

APA 7th Edition

If the paper, poster, or conference proceedings have been formally published, use the formatting for the resource type (e.g., a chapter in a book or periodical article) to reference the resource. For example, the following paper was published as a chapter in the proceedings book:

van Oostveen, R., DiGiuseppe, M., Barber, W., Blayone, T., & Childs, E. (2016). New conceptions for digital technology sandboxes: Developing a fully online learning communities (FOLC) model. In G. Veletsianos (Ed.), EdMedia 2016: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology (pp. 665-673). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

Conference session

Author, A. (Year, Month Day(s) of conference). Title of conference session [Conference session]. Conference Name, City, Abbreviation of province, state, or territory (if applicable), Country. URL.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Paper

Lastname, A. A. (Year, Month Day(s) of conference). Title of conference paper [Paper presentation]. Conference Name, City, Abbreviation of province, state, or territory (if applicable), Country.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, p. X)

Poster

Lastname, A. A. (Year, Month Day(s) of conference). Title of poster [Poster presentation]. Conference Name, City, Abbreviation of province, state, or territory (if applicable), Country. URL.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Symposium

Contributor, A. A. (Year, Month Day(s) of conference). Title of contribution. In E.E. Chairperson (Chair), Title of symposium [Symposium]. Conference Name, City, Abbreviation of province, state, or territory (if applicable), Country. URL.

In-text citation: (Lastname, year, para. X)

Date in reference

Regarding the date of publication, "The date should match the date(s) of the full conference to help readers find the source, even though a session or presentation likely occurred on only one day" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 332).

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000