How do I cite a survey conducted by my own organization?

For internal surveys not publicly published, treat it as an unpublished manuscript or internal report. Use the format prescribed by your style guide, often including author, date, title, and a description of its availability (e.g., "Internal Report").

What if I only use one or two data points from a large survey?

You still need to cite the original survey report. When referencing specific data points, mention the source clearly in your text and use the appropriate in-text citation, often including a page number if the data is found on a specific page.

How do I cite a survey that was presented at a conference but not published?

If presented at a conference and published in proceedings, cite the proceedings. If it was presented but not published, treat it as a presentation or personal communication, including presenter, date, title, and venue if available, following your style guide.

Is it okay to cite a survey found on a blog post?

It's best practice to find the original source of the survey data. Citing a blog post that references a survey is a secondary citation and weakens your research. Always try to locate and cite the primary survey report or dataset.

Survey Citation Guide: Properly Reference Survey Data

Understanding the Importance of Survey Citations

When you incorporate data from surveys into your work, whether it's for an academic paper, a research report, or a business presentation, proper citation is paramount. Accurate referencing not only gives credit to the original researchers but also allows your audience to verify your information and delve deeper into the original study. Misattributing or failing to cite survey data can lead to accusations of plagiarism, undermining your credibility and the integrity of your work.

Why Cite Survey Data?

Academic Integrity: Upholds ethical standards in research.
Credibility: Demonstrates thoroughness and supports your claims with verifiable sources.
Reproducibility: Enables others to find and evaluate the original data.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Prevents unintentional or intentional theft of intellectual property.
Building on Existing Knowledge: Shows how your work relates to and expands upon previous research.

Key Elements of a Survey Citation

The specific format of a survey citation will vary depending on the citation style you are using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). However, most survey citations will include several core pieces of information.

Essential Information to Gather:

Author(s)/Organization: The individual(s) or entity that conducted the survey.
Year of Publication/Data Collection: When the survey was released or data was gathered.
Title of Survey/Report: The official name of the survey or the report detailing its findings.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization: The entity that published or sponsored the survey.
URL or DOI (if applicable): The web address or Digital Object Identifier if the survey is accessed online.
Specific Data Source (if applicable): If you're referencing a specific dataset or a particular part of a larger survey.

Common Citation Styles for Surveys

Let's explore how to cite surveys in some of the most widely used academic citation styles.

APA Style (7th Edition)

APA style is common in social sciences, psychology, and education.

Citing a Published Report of a Survey:

If the survey results are published in a report, treat it similarly to citing a book or a report.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of survey report. Publisher.

Example: Pew Research Center. (2023). American trends panel survey. Pew Research Center.

Citing a Survey from a Database or Website:

If you accessed the survey data online, include the URL.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of survey. Retrieved from [URL]

Example: Gallup. (2022). Gallup World Poll: U.S. data. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/poll/world-poll/us-data

Citing Raw Data (Less Common in General Writing):

If you are directly using raw data from a survey, the citation might be more complex and depend on how the data is accessed. Often, you'll cite the report that describes the data.

MLA Style (9th Edition)

MLA style is prevalent in humanities, literature, and languages.

Citing a Published Survey Report:

Format: Author Last Name, First Name, or Organization Name. Title of Survey Report. Publisher, Year.

Example: National Opinion Research Center. General Social Survey 2021 Report. NORC at the University of Chicago, 2022.

Citing a Survey Accessed Online:

Format: Author Last Name, First Name, or Organization Name. Title of Survey. Publisher, Year, URL.

Example: Ipsos. Global Advisor: Consumer Confidence Index. Ipsos, 2023, https://www.ipsos.com/en/consumer-confidence-index.

Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)

Chicago style offers two systems: Notes and Bibliography, and Author-Date. We'll cover the Notes and Bibliography system here, which is common in history and arts.

Citing a Published Survey Report (Bibliography Entry):

Format: Author Last Name, First Name, or Organization Name. Title of Survey Report. Publisher, Year.

Example: Kaiser Family Foundation. The Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023.

Citing a Survey Accessed Online (Bibliography Entry):

Format: Author Last Name, First Name, or Organization Name. Title of Survey. Publisher, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. [URL].

Example: Statista. World's Most Valuable Brands 2023. Statista, 2023. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.statista.com/page/brand-valuation.

Notes (Example):

First Name Last Name (or Organization Name), Title of Survey (Publisher, Year), [page number if applicable].
First Name Last Name (or Organization Name), Title of Survey, Publisher, Year, Accessed Month Day, Year, [URL].

Example Note:

Kaiser Family Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

Citing Specific Survey Questions or Data Points

Often, you won't be citing the entire survey, but rather a specific finding or a particular question asked. How you handle this depends on your citation style and the context.

Strategies for Specific Data:

Direct Quote: If you're quoting a specific question or a summarized finding, cite the page number or section where it appears in the report.

APA Example: (Pew Research Center, 2023, p. 15) MLA Example: (National Opinion Research Center 45) Chicago Example: Kaiser Family Foundation, The Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll*, 20.

Paraphrasing a Finding: When paraphrasing, you still need to cite the source.

APA Example: Pew Research Center (2023) found that the majority of respondents expressed concern about… MLA Example: The General Social Survey in 2021 indicated a shift in public opinion regarding… (National Opinion Research Center). * Chicago Example: A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation highlighted growing anxieties about healthcare costs (Kaiser Family Foundation 2023).

Referencing a Specific Dataset: If you are using raw data that has been made available, you might need to cite the data repository or the specific dataset file, following the guidelines of that repository. This is more common in quantitative research.

Challenges and Best Practices

Citing surveys can sometimes be tricky due to the nature of how survey data is collected, stored, and presented.

Common Pitfalls:

Unpublished Surveys: If a survey is conducted internally within an organization and not published, you might need to cite it as a personal communication or an internal report, depending on your style guide.
Survey Instruments: Citing the actual questionnaire itself is less common unless the questionnaire's design is the focus of your analysis.
Secondary Sources: Be cautious when citing survey data found in another author's work. Whenever possible, try to find and cite the original survey report.
Changes in Data Access: URLs can change, and datasets can be updated or removed. Always verify your links and information.

Best Practices:

Be Consistent: Adhere strictly to the chosen citation style throughout your work.
Consult Style Guides: Refer to the official manual for your required citation style for the most accurate guidance.
Use Citation Management Tools: Tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help organize your sources and generate citations.
Seek Professional Help: If you're struggling with complex citations or ensuring accuracy, consider leveraging services like EssayMatrix to refine your referencing.

By diligently following these guidelines, you can ensure your use of survey data is properly attributed, enhancing the credibility and academic rigor of your research.

Survey Citation Guide