Skip to Main Content

Finding Images for Research

Finding images for your research can be tricky. This guide has links to resources that will help you navigate sites that have images you can use.

APA In-Text Citations and Reference List

Within APA the following items are all considered figures:

  • images
  • diagrams
  • artistic work
  • charts
  • graphs
  • photographs
  • drawings
  • any other illustrations or nontextual depictions

Figures are cited with a reference list and an in-text citation (using either author-date or narrative citation systems) and, in addition, also have specific rules for how they are formatted and referred to within a paper. You can find these requirements on the APAStyle website or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Chapter 7 Tables and Figures.

Note:

  • If you reprint or adapt a figure from another source in your paper (e.g. an image from the internet) you must include a copyright attribution in the figure note indicating the origin of the reprinted or adapted material in addition to a reference list entry for the work.  
  • You may also need to obtain permission from the copyright holder to reprint or adapt a figure.

Helpful Links:

Common APA Image Examples

Reference List Example

Sandberg, B. (1954). Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers, posed and ready to swing [Photograph]. Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/97518921/

In-Text Citation Examples

Parenthetical Citation: (Sandberg, 1954)

Narrative Citation: Sandberg (1954)

Notes

  • If art is untitled, include a description in square brackets in place of a title.

 

*Credit to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Page 347, 10.14 Visual Works, 101 Photograph.

Reference List Example

Moran, T. (1909). Below the towers of Tower Falls, Yellowstone Park [Painting]. The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA, United States. https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/2287

In-Text Citation Examples

Parenthetical Citation: (Moran, 1909)

Narrative Citation: Moran (1909)

Notes

  • Use this format for citing all types of museum artwork, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, drawings, and installation.
  • Always include a description of the medium or format in square brackets after the title.
  • If art is untitled, include a description in square brackets in place of a title.

 

*Credit to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Page 346, 10.14 Visual Works, 97 Artwork in a museum or on a museum website.

Reference List Example

Graphiqua. (2023). Happy dog [Clip art]. Reshot. https://www.reshot.com/free-vector-illustrations/item/happy-dog-7YBL2D83CA/

In-Text Citation Examples

Parenthetical Citation: (Graphiqua, 2023)

Narrative Citation: Graphiqua (2023)

 

*Credit to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Page 346, 10.14 Visual Works, 98 Clip art or stock image.

Reference List Example

Titus, A.B. (1920). Map of San Diego's oil field [Map]. Map & Atlas Museum of La Jolla. https://www.lajollamapmuseum.org/maps/oil-fields-la-jolla-map-san-diegos-oil-field

In-Text Citation Examples

Parenthetical Citation: (Titus, 1920)

Narrative Citation: Titus (1920)

Notes

  • Dynamically created maps (ie Google Maps) do not have a title so describe the map in square brackets and include a retrieval date.

 

*Credit to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Page 347, 10.14 Visual Works, 100 Map