SOCIOLOGY RESEARCH GUIDE: Citing Articles

Zotero is a citation management tool that allows you to keep all of your citations in one place and cite them automatically in any style you prefer!

Getting Started:

USING ZOTERO

Step 1. Download Zotero & install the browser plug-in.

• Visit www.zotero.org and click on the DOWNLOAD NOW link.
  • Desktop/Laptop: Download free-standing software for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux. Once you have installed the software, also download a connector for your browser (Firefox, Chrome, or Safari).
  • Browser Plug-in: Zotero Plug-in's are called "Connectors" Zotero Connectors automatically sense content as you browse the web and allow you to save it to Zotero with a single click. You'll know you have successfully installed the Zotero connector/plug-in when you see Zotero icons appear in the top right-hand corner of the browser window. Remember that to use Zotero, you need to have the Zotero software up and running while you are searching in your browser.

​Step 2. Open up the Zotero software, and then switch to a web browser.

• While searching, if you wish to grab citation information for something on the screen, look for icons at the right end of the address bar. If Zotero recognizes a single citation it displays an article (piece of paper) or book icon; if Zotero sees a list of citations, you will see a folder icon.
• If you see one of these icons, click on it. If you click on a folder icon, you will have to select from a list. A message will briefly flash in the bottom right-hand corner telling you the citation was saved to Zotero.

For more information on how to create citations and bibliographies and how to add Zotero to Word or Google Docs. Please see the attached Quick Guide.

Zotero Quick Guide Link

For sociology projects and essays, you're typically expected to use one of two citation styles: ASA or APA.  

For sociology projects and essays, you're typically expected to use one of two citation styles: ASA or APA.  

Quick Hints for ASA 

Internal Citations

• If author’s name is in the text, follow it with the publication year in parentheses: 
  • When Lee (1984) studied... 
• If the author’s name is not in the text, enclose the last name and year in parentheses: When the study was completed... (Smith 2014). 
• Quotations in the text must begin and end with quotation marks.
  • “In the early 2000's data showed students used their smartphones more” (Jones 2017:51).

Reference List

1. Author’s last name, followed by a comma and the first name and middle initial ending with a period.
2. Year of publication followed by a period.
3. Title of article in “quotations,” ending with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
4. Title of journal in italics, no period following.
5. Volume number followed by issue number in parentheses, followed by a colon, page number(s) and period.
6. For articles found online, including from a commercial database:

Brunson, Rod K. and Jody Miller. 2006. “Gender, Race, and Urban Policing: The        Experience of African American Youths.” Gender & Society 20(4):531-552.      Retrieved October 26, 2010 (http://gas.sagepub.com).