Guide to the fields in APA Database records
APA Databases records are divided into fields, which makes searching the databases easier. What goes into each field varies depending on the type of literature we're documenting.
This guide lists all the fields, plus an explanation of what each field does.
For more information on the fields, including hints and historical notes, take a look at our Record Structures:
- Record Structure for APA PsycInfo®, APA PsycArticles®, and APA PsycBooks® (PDF, 879KB)opens in new window
- Record Structure for APA PsycExtra® (PDF, 386KB)opens in new window
We have also developed a specialized guide to the fields in APA PsycTests®.
The * indicates a field that is display only (not searchable) in the APA PsycNet® vendor system.
Check the online help for your search system or the search guide in our Search Help and Training Center to find out how to use these fields and their values when searching the database.
We also have a printer-friendly version of this field guide in PDF format (75KB)opens in new window, which requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't already have a copy of the Reader, you can download it for free from Adobe's web siteopens in new window.
Updated June 2025
Field guide
| FIELD NAME | CONTENT OF FIELD or POSSIBLE VALUES |
|---|---|
| Unique Identifier | APA PsycInfo unique record identifier |
| Author | Name of Author(s) |
| Author ID | A unique code that identifies academic authors, such as ORCID |
| Author E-mail | Author's e-mail address |
| Author Correspondence Address | Address for corresponding author |
| Affiliation | Institutional affiliation of authors |
| Title | Title of material, including translated titles for non-English language material |
| Special Section Title | A publisher's label for articles that make up a special section of a journal issue |
| Source | Full citation for journals, book chapters, dissertations, and electronic collections. Publisher, year, and pagination only for books. Contains the sub-field, ARTICLE ID*, uniquely identifies an article-by-article published record. |
| Source Title Translation | Gives the English translation of a non-English journal title |
| NLM Serial Title Abbreviation | Gives the PubMed abbreviation for a journal title |
| Page Count* | Total number of pages for a journal article. Generally used when pagination is not available. |
| Publication Status* | This field is intended to capture the publication status of an article in journals. Currently, the value First Posting is being used. |
| Publication Date | Document's date of publication. Includes year of publication and may include day, month, or season. |
| Publication History* | Appears only in journal records and may show the dates of First Posting, Accepted Date, Revised Date, and First Submitted date for an article. |
| Publisher | Publisher of the source material |
| Other Publishers | Notes variations of the publisher name. It may occur in any publication type, but is most common in journal records. |
| Dissertation | Describes the publication information of a dissertation, including Degree, Degree Date, Degree Granting Institution, and Advisor |
| Other Serial Titles | Notes variations of serial title name. It may appear in records where the Publication Type is Journal, Dissertation Abstract, or Electronic Collection. |
| Country of Publication* | Publisher's location |
| ISSN / ISBN |
ISSN (journals) or ISBN (books)
|
| Language | Document language |
| Reviewed Item
(Journal and Electronic Collection records only) |
For book, software, etc. reviews, the full citation of the material being reviewed |
| DOI
(Digital Object Identifier) |
Publisher-supplied DOI for linking to full-text |
| Open Access | Indicates a database record has been designated open access |
| Abstract | Summary of document's content |
| PMID | PubMed unique identifier |
| Keywords | Key concepts and / or brief phrases describing document's content |
| Index Terms
(sometimes called Descriptors, Thesaurus Terms) |
Controlled vocabulary from Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms |
| Classification Code | Broad content classification (view codes) |
| MeSH | Provides the Medical Subject Headings as assigned by PubMed |
| Publication Type |
Book Authored Book Edited Book Journal Peer-Reviewed Journal Non-Peer-Reviewed Journal* Peer-Reviewed Status-Unknown* Electronic Collection Encyclopedia |
| Book Type |
Classic Book Conference Proceedings Handbook / Manual Reference Book Textbook / Study Guide |
| Document Type |
Abstract Collection Bibliography Chapter Clarification Column / Opinion Comment / Reply Dissertation Editorial Encyclopedia Entry Erratum / Correction Expression of Concern Interview Journal Article Letter Notice of Retraction Obituary Poetry Publication Information Reprint Review-Book Review-Media Review-Software and Other Retracted Article |
| Population |
Human Animal Male Female Nonbinary Transgender Inpatient Outpatient |
| Age Group |
Childhood (birth-12 years) Neonatal (birth-1 month) Infancy (2-23 months) Preschool Age (2-5 years) School Age (6-12 years) Adolescence (13-17 years) Adulthood (18 years & older) Young Adulthood (18-29 years) Thirties (30-39 years) Middle Age (40-64 years) Aged (65 years & older) Very Old (85 years & older) |
| Location | Country where study was done |
| Methodology
(view definitions of values) |
Brain Imaging Clinical Case Study Clinical Trial Empirical Study Experimental Replication Follow-up Study Longitudinal Study Prospective Study Retrospective Study Field Study Interview Focus Group Literature Review Systematic Review Mathematical Model Mega Analysis Meta Analysis Metasynthesis Nonclinical Case Study Non-Empirical (Discussion) Qualitative Study Quantitative Study Scientific Simulation Treatment Outcome Twin Study |
| Supplemental Material |
3-D modeling images Appendixes Audio Computer Software Data Sets DVD / CD Experimental Materials Tables and Figures Tests-Internet Text Video Web sites Workbook / Study Guide Other |
| Tests & Measures | Names of tests and measurements used in the study |
| Test Digital Object Identifier | DOI deposited by APA for linking to test overview records in the APA PsycTests database |
| Data Set | Includes description and access points for a data set |
| Audience Type
(book and chapter records only) |
Written for the General Public
Juvenile Written for Professionals (Psychology: Professional & Research) |
| Grant / Sponsorship | Identifies the source(s) of grants, sponsorship, and funding for the research or study. Subfields include Sponsor Organization, Grant/Contract/Award Number, Funding Amount, Country of Sponsor Organization, Funding Dates, Other Details, and Recipients. |
| Clinical Trial Number | Identifies a research study sponsored by an institute or agency registered with the World Health Organization |
| Copyright Data | Displays copyright information when an article or chapter record is first published. It may contain copyright statement, copyright holder, and year. |
| Table of Contents*
(book records only) |
Book table of contents |
| Cited References | Reference list published with article, book, chapter, or electronic collection (Searchable via APA PsycNet Cited References search screen) |
| Release Date
(sometimes called update code) |
The date a record was released into a database and the product name to which it was released. The format is YYYYMMDD followed by the product name, e.g., 20090511 (APA PsycInfo). Note: If the record was released into another database, e.g., APA PsycArticles, this record will contain two release dates: 20120305 (APA PsycArticles); 20120305 (APA PsycInfo). |
| Correction Update Record* |
The date a record was corrected if a record is corrected. If corrected, record will always have at least one correction date for APA PsycInfo. The format is YYYYMMDD and the name of the product in which it was corrected, e.g., 20090701 (APA PsycInfo). Note: If the record was corrected in additional products, e.g., APA PsycCritiques®, this record will contain two corrections dates: 20120102 (APA PsycCritiques); 20120102 (APA PsycInfo). |
