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I need to reference something in APA 6: Confidential document

I need to reference something in APA 6: Check which referencing style you should use before following advice on this page.

Confidential document

Confidential documents

Ethical considerations

You should always ask for permission when using confidential information.  When asking for permission you should make clear how you will use information and how you will protect the confidentiality of individuals and institutions.  

You may need to treat publicly available documents as confidential if they could identify individuals or institutions that you discuss in your writing. For example a policy document or guidance produced by a school, hospital or other workplace. 

Confidential document citation

Citation

Confidential documents and information should be treated as personal communications.   You should give enough information in the body of your work to show what kind of document you have used.  Even if the document is publicly available you may need to treat it as a confidential personal communication so as not to identify details of individuals, or of a work placement.

  • Give enough information so your reader can see what kind of resource you have accessed.
  • For a personal communication the date is when you accessed the resource. 

Example: 

The schools policy for inclusion, established in 2015, states that "... "  (Personal communication, 2016).

Confidential document reference

Reference list

Personal communications and confidential documents are not available to your reader so there is no need to include them in your reference list.

See also