How To Cite Surveys In Mla

How to Cite Surveys in MLA: A Comprehensive Guide

Surveys, whether conducted independently or through established platforms, are valuable sources of primary data in academic research. Properly citing surveys in your MLA-formatted papers ensures academic honesty and allows readers to verify your findings. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough on how to cite various types of surveys in MLA, covering both in-text citations and the works cited page entries.

Understanding the Basics of MLA Citation

Before diving into specific survey citation formats, let's refresh the fundamental principles of MLA citation:

• In-text citations: Briefly mention the author's last name and the page number (if available) within the text, directing the reader to the full citation in your Works Cited page. For online sources without page numbers, use paragraph numbers (¶) or section headings if available. If no such identifiers exist, you'll need to cite the source by the author’s name alone.

• Works Cited page: This is a separate page at the end of your paper listing all sources cited, providing complete bibliographic information for each. Each entry follows a specific format depending on the source type.

• Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your paper and Works Cited page, adhering strictly to MLA guidelines.

Citing Different Types of Surveys in MLA

The citation style for surveys varies slightly depending on how the survey was accessed and its format. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Surveys Conducted by You or Your Research Group:

If you conducted the survey, the citation differs from citing a published survey. You don't cite a source in the traditional sense, but you must clearly describe your methodology in your paper.

In-text citation: No direct citation is needed, but you should mention the methodology clearly in the text. For instance: "The data presented in this section were obtained from a survey of 150 participants using a structured questionnaire administered online…"

Works Cited entry: You wouldn't typically include a "Works Cited" entry for your own survey. Instead, you would thoroughly describe your methodology in a dedicated section, possibly in an appendix. This section should include detailed information about:

• Participants: Describe the sample size, demographic characteristics, selection method, and any inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• Instrumentation: Detail the survey instrument, including questions (possibly in an appendix), and the type of questions used (e.g., Likert scale, multiple choice, open-ended).
• Procedure: Explain the data collection process (online, in-person, etc.), timeline, and any ethical considerations addressed.
• Data Analysis: Describe the methods used to analyze the collected data.

Example Methodology Description:

"The data presented here comes from an original survey of 200 college students (100 male, 100 female) randomly selected from introductory psychology courses at State University. Participants completed a 20-item Likert scale questionnaire assessing attitudes toward social media usage. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and t-tests to compare mean scores between male and female participants."

2. Surveys Published in Academic Journals or Books:

If the survey data is published as part of a larger academic work, cite the article or book as you would any other scholarly publication.

In-text citation: (Author's Last Name Page Number)

Works Cited entry:

• Journal Article:

Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Article Title." Journal Title, Volume Number, Issue Number (Year): Page Range. Database Name, DOI or URL.

• Book Chapter:

Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Chapter Title." Book Title, edited by Editor's Name(s), Publisher, Year, Page Range.

Example:

In-text: (Smith 125)

Works Cited:

Smith, John. "Social Media Use Among Young Adults: A National Survey." Journal of Communication Research, vol. 55, no. 2, 2020, pp. 115-135. JSTOR, doi:10.1177/0022242920904322

3. Surveys from Government or Institutional Websites:

Surveys published by government agencies or institutions require careful attention to the specific source details.

In-text citation: (Agency Name Year) or (Agency Name, Year) if you also mention the agency name in your sentence.

Works Cited entry:

Agency Name. Title of Survey or Report. Publishing Agency, Year. URL.

Example:

In-text: (U.S. Census Bureau 2022)

Works Cited:

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 2022. U.S. Department of Commerce, 2022. https://www.census.gov/acs/

4. Surveys from Online Survey Platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics):

If you accessed a survey through a platform, you should generally cite the survey itself if available rather than the platform. If the survey data is not publicly available, you might only be able to cite the organization or individual that conducted the survey, relying on your own data analysis. However, make sure you state that clearly.

In-text citation: The citation style would depend on whether the survey itself is cited or if you're mentioning the organization that conducted the survey.

Works Cited entry:

If you have direct access to the survey: The citation should follow the general pattern for website or other accessible online documents, citing the survey administrator or organization as the author if the actual survey doesn't clearly identify one.

If you do not have direct access: You would cite the organization or individual responsible for the survey results if they are available for referencing. Remember to clarify the methodology of how you accessed these results.

Example (Direct Access to Survey Results):

In-text: (Pew Research Center 2023)

Works Cited:

Pew Research Center. Public Opinion on Climate Change. Pew Research Center, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/climate/

Example (No direct access, only referencing results from an organization):

In-text: (ABC Company's Customer Satisfaction Survey, 2023, as reported in XYZ news article)

Works Cited: You would cite the news article or other source where you obtained the survey results.

5. Data from Online Databases (e.g., Gallup, Ipsos):

Many polling and research organizations make their data available through online databases. In this case, you should cite the specific dataset, if possible, and the organization that compiled it.

In-text citation: (Gallup 2023)

Works Cited entry:

Gallup. Title of Dataset. Gallup, Year. URL of the dataset or the database.

Example:

In-text: (Gallup 2023)

Works Cited:

Gallup. Gallup Poll Social Series. Gallup, 2023. https://news.gallup.com/ (replace with specific URL if available).

Handling Anonymous or Unattributed Surveys

If you encounter a survey without an author or clear source, you must clearly explain in your text where you found it and how it was used. The Works Cited entry would then likely take the form of a "web page" entry, identifying the organization or website hosting it if possible.

Important Considerations:

• Accuracy: Double-check all information to ensure accuracy. Incorrect citations can have serious consequences.
• Accessibility: If the survey is not publicly available, state this clearly in your text and justify your use of the data.
• Ethical Concerns: Always obtain permission if necessary before using survey data from privately held sources. Understand and adhere to copyright restrictions.
• Transparency: Be transparent about your data sources to maintain credibility.

By following these guidelines and paying close attention to the specifics of each survey, you can properly cite surveys in MLA, strengthening the credibility and integrity of your academic work. Remember, consistency and accuracy are paramount in maintaining a proper MLA style. Consult the most recent MLA Handbook for any updates to these guidelines.