Introduction

The following work has been prepared based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 4rd edition in spanish (7ª edition in english).

A reference must contain the name of the author, the date of publication, the title of the source and the publication data.

The objective of the list of references is to identify and locate each source cited in the text. It must not be a bibliography.

The list of references cites texts that lend greater credibility to the ideas, assertions and concepts presented in a paper. The bibliography, on the other side, cites texts that provide background information, suggest further Reading and/or offer descriptive notes.

Be particularly careful to write proper nouns and foreign-language words correctly, including accents and other special characters, and ensure that titles, year, volume, issue, and page numbers are included in full for periodicals.

Only Arabic numerals must be used to indicate the volume or issue of a publication; this does not apply if the non-Arabic numeral is part of the title.

The names of corporations, associations, governmental institutions and study groups must be placed completely in the list of references and can be abbreviated in their citation within the text. In the Editorial Office of Tecnología y ciencias del agua, we accept that the abbreviated name is put first in the list of references and then, separated by a comma, the full name.

For alphabetical purposes, prepositional phrases are omitted. For example: "de la Garza” would be ordered as "Garza de la” listed by the letter G, but its original surname remains.

In case the same author or authors have more than one text in the list of references, they will proceed to sort by the year of publication starting with the oldest.

In case the same author or authors have more than one text in the list of references with the same year of publication, they will proceed to sort by the title of the text. The letters a, b, c,  will be used after the year within the parentheses, for their differentiation (2010a, 2010b, etc.).

If a publication or reference text does not have an author, the title must be placed in the author's position before the date.

If the publication does not contain a date, it must be placed (n.d).

The title of the publication, be it a magazine, journal, bulletin, newspaper, books, etc., should not be abbreviated.

The URLs and DOIs listed in the references must be accessible and link to the cited resource. URLs or DOIs must be provided for all available resources. If a resource is no longer available, it should be replaced with another source, if possible, or removed entirely.

When you must place the place of edition, or simply the place, you must take the country where the text originates.

1. Regular publications

These are all publications that are issued on a regular schedule, including scientific journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and even blogs and other online platforms that publish articles.

Reference template

Author. (year). Title of the text. Title of publication, volume(issue), pp-pp.

Example

Domínguez, R., Carrizosa, E., Fuentes, G. E., Arganis, M. L., Osnaya, J., & Galván-Torres, A. E. (2018). Análisis regional para estimar precipitaciones de diseño en la república mexicana. Tecnología y ciencias del agua, 9(1), 5-29.

1.1. Scientific journal article with a DOI

Author. (year). Title of the text. Title of publication, volume(issue), pp-pp. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx

Example

Domínguez, R., Carrizosa, E., Fuentes, G. E., Arganis, M. L., Osnaya, J., & Galván-Torres, A. E. (2018). Análisis regional para estimar precipitaciones de diseño en la república mexicana. Tecnología y ciencias del agua, 9(1), 5-29. https://doi.org/10.24850/j-tyca-2018-01-01

1.2. Scientific journal article without a DOI, with a URL

Author. (year). Title of the text. Title of publication, volume(issue), pp-pp. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

Domínguez, R., Carrizosa, E., Fuentes, G. E., Arganis, M. L., Osnaya, J., & Galván-Torres, A. E. (2018). Análisis regional para estimar precipitaciones de diseño en la república mexicana. Tecnología y ciencias del agua, 9(1), 5-29. http://www.revistatyca.org.mx/ojs/index.php/tyca/articleCms/view/1515/1322

1.3. Special issue or edition of a periodic publication

Author. (year). Title of the text [special edition]. Title of publication, volume(issue), pp-pp. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

Orozco-Corral, A. L., Valverde-Flores, M. I. (2012). Impacto ambiental del manejo del agua de riego con sondas de capacitancia sobre la contaminación de acuíferos por nitratos [edición especial]. Tecnología y ciencias del agua, 3(febrero-marzo), 23-35.

1.4. Scientific journal article, advance online publication

Author. (year). Title of the text. Title of publication. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

1.5. Journal article, in press

Author. (in press). Title of the text. Title of publication.

1.6. Newspaper article (not to be confused with an online news website)

Author. (year, day and month). Title of the text. Newspaper name. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

1.7. Blog post

Author. (year, day and month). Title of the text. Blog name. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

1.8. Informally published work, from a preprint archive or an institutional repository

Author. (year). Title of the text. Website name. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

2. Books and Reference Works

The books category includes authored books, edited books, anthologies, religious works, and classical works. The reference works category includes dictionaries, encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), and diagnostic manuals.

2.1. Authored book

The following templates can be used:

Author. (year). Title of the text (edition). Editorial. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Author. (year). Title of the text. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Editor, A. A. (ed). (year). Title of the text. Editorial. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Note: Information regarding editions, volume numbers, and page numbers (such as the volume number or page range for the chapter) must be included in parentheses immediately after the title, with a period following the parentheses (vol. xx, pp. xxx-xxx).

Example

Wetzel, R. G. (2001). Limnology: Lake and river ecosystems (3^rd ed.). Academic Press.

Conagua, Comisión Nacional del Agua. (2017). Red de estaciones climatológicas. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional.

2.2. Edited Book Chapters

Author. (year). Chapter title or entry title. In: Author & Author (eds.). Book Title (pp. xxx-xxx). Editorial.

Author. (year). Chapter title or entry title. In: Author & Author (eds.). Book Title (pp. xxx-xxx). https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

De Anda, J., & Shear, H. (2001). Nutrients and eutrophication in Lake Chapala. En: Hansen, A. M., & Van Afferden, M. (eds.). The Lerma-Chapala watershed, evaluation and management (pp. 183-198). Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

When the author is also the editor, use the word “Author” instead of the editors' names.

The page number only needs to be included if it is a chapter or section of a book. If the chapter or section does not have page numbers, simply include its title.

Example

De Anda, J., & Shear, H. (2001). Nutrients and eutrophication in Lake Chapala. En: Author (eds.). The Lerma-Chapala watershed, evaluation and management. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

2.3. Wikipedia entry

Entry title. (year, day and month). In Wikipedia. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

3. Reports and Gray Literature

Including government reports, technical reports, and research reports. The category of gray literature includes press releases, codes of ethics, grants, policy briefs, issue briefs, and so forth.

3.1. Report by a government agency or other organization

Author. (year). Title of the text. http://www.xxxxxxx

Author. (year). Title of the text (ID). http://www.xxxxxxx

When an ID number is assigned to the report, it must be placed in parentheses; you must specify which of the two types it corresponds to and its ID number.

Example

IMTA, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua. (2018). Calidad del agua en un canal de riego en Tlaltizapán (MOR-253-01). Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua.

3.2. Report by individual authors at a government agency or other organization

Author. (year). Title of the text. Agency or Editorial. http://www.xxxxxxx

4. Conference Sessions and Presentations

Thw Conference sessions and presentations include paper presentations, poster sessions, keynote addresses, and symposium contributions. Conference proceedings published in a journal or book follow the same format as for a journal article, edited book  or edited book chapter.

4.1. Conference session

Author. (year, conference period). Title of contribution [Conference session]. Conference name, city, state, country. http://www.xxxxxxx

4.2. Paper presentation

Author. (year, conference period). Title of contribution [Paper presentation]. Conference name, city, state, country. http://www.xxxxxxx

4.3. Poster presentation

Author. (year, conference period). Title of contribution [Poster presentation]. Conference name, city, state, country. http://www.xxxxxxx

4.4. Symposium contribution

Author. (year, conference period). Title of contribution. In Author (Chairs), Title of Symposium [Symposium]. Conference name, city, state, country. http://www.xxxxxxx

5. Dissertations and Theses

References for doctoral dissertations and master’s and undergraduate theses are divided by whether they are unpublished or published; unpublished works generally must be retrieved directly from the college or university in print form, whereas published works are available from a database.

5.1. Unpublished dissertation or thesis

Author. (year). Thesis Title [Unpublished doctoral dissertations or thesis]. Name of the institution.

5.2. Dissertation or thesis from a database

Author. (year). Thesis Title (Database ID) [doctoral dissertations or thesis, Name of the institution]. Database name. http://www.xxxxxxx

5.3. Dissertation or thesis published online (not in a database)

Author. (year). Thesis Title [doctoral dissertations or thesis, Name of the institution]. Name of the website where the resource is located. http://www.xxxxxxx

6. Data Sets, Software, and Tests

6.1. Data Sets

Author. (year). Title (ID; version) [Data set]. Editorial or publisher's website. https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxx/xxxxxxxx o http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

6.2. Unpublished raw data

Author. (year). [Unpublished raw data on “add data titles”]. Editorial or publisher's website.

6.3. Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, and Equipment

Common software and mobile apps mentioned in text, but not paraphrased or quoted, do not need citations, nor do programming languages. “Common” is relative to your field and audience—examples of software or apps that do not require citations include Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), social media apps (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), survey software (e.g., Qualtrics, Survey Monkey), Adobe products (e.g., Adobe Reader, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat), Java, and statistical programs (e.g., R, SPSS, SAS). If you used common software or mobile apps during your research, simply give the proper name of the software or app along the with version number in the text.

Example

Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 25).

Clients had installed the Facebook app on their mobile devices.

 

Include reference list entries and in-text citations if you have paraphrased or quoted from any software or app. Also provide reference list entries and in-text citations when mentioning software, apps, and apparatuses or equipment of limited distribution, meaning your audience is unlikely to be familiar with them.

6.3.1. Software

Copyright owner. (year of the version used). Software Title (software version) [Software]. Producer's name. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

6.3.2. Apparatus or equipment

Copyright owner. (year). Name of the apparatus or equipment [apparatus and software, You must specify whether both items were used or just the apparatus]. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

HidraSoftware. (2018). DrenUrba. Software para el Cálculo y Diseño de Sistemas de Captación y Conducción de Aguas Pluviales (v2.0) [Software]. http://www.hidrasoftware.com/software-para-el-diseno-de-la-captacion-de-agua-pluvial-y-diseno-de-redes-de-alcantarillado/

6.3.3. Mobile app

Copyright owner. (year). App Title (software version) [Mobile app]. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

7. Audiovisual Media

7.1. YouTube video or other streaming video

Author. (year, day and month). Video title [Video]. Website name. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

7.2. Maps

Author. (year). Map Title [Map]. Name of the publisher or creating institution. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

7.3. PowerPoint slides or lecture notes

Author. (year, day and month). [Lecture notes on “add title”]. Publisher or institution. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Author. (year). Title of the PowerPoint presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Publisher, institution, and/or website. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

8. Webpages and Websites

8.1. Webpage on a news website

Author (date). Title webpage. Editorial. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

8.2. Webpage on a website

Author (date). Title webpage. Editorial, if not a corporate author. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

9. Legal references

9.1. Statutes (Laws and Acts)

A statute is a law or act passed by a legislative body.

Unless you are using the quote for historical context, you must include the most recent year of modification.

This may vary by country, as each country handles the registration and enforcement of its laws differently. In some cases, laws are identified by a number; if so, that number will be added before the name, followed by a comma.

Reference template

Name of the law or decree, volume, Source § xxx (year). http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

The symbol §, According to the Dictionary of the Spanish Language published by the Royal Spanish Academy, it is an “auxiliary orthographic sign (§)used to identify each of the paragraphs, and is currently used to refer to these units by placing it before their identifier; e.g., §45ª”.

Example

Ley de Aguas Nacionales de 1992, Diario Oficial de la Federación § 1-3-40-a (2016). http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/16_240316.pdf

Explanation: This law is not contained in a specific volume and therefore is not listed. The law is found in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, specifically in Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 40, subsection a. The date must correspond to the exact date on which the law was amended.

9.2. Constitutions

To cite a whole federal or state constitution, a citation is not necessary. Simply refer to the constitution in text.

9.2.1. Article of the Constitution

Name of the Constitution. art. article number, § sections, subsections, and/or clauses. http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. art. 2, § A-IV. https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/CPEUM.pdf

9.3. ISO and national standards

Agency or institution responsible for the standard. (year). Name of the standard (ID). http://xxxx://xxxxxxxxxx

Example

Salud, Secretaría de Salud. (1995). Bienes y servicios. Método de prueba para la determinación de cadmio, arsénico, plomo, estaño, cobre, fierro, zinc y mercurio en alimentos, agua potable y agua purificada por espectrometría de absorción atómica (NOM-117-SSA1-1994). https://platiica.economia.gob.mx/normalizacion/nom-117-ssa1-1994/

10. Citing authors in the body of the text

Citations of authors within the body of the article must be handled as follows:

One author:

Narrative example: Last name (year)

Example in parentheses: (Last name, year)

Two author:

Narrative example: Last name 1 and Last name 2 (year)

Example in parentheses: (Last name 1 & Last name 2, year)

Three or more authors:

Narrative example: They are abbreviated from the first citation by using the first author followed by “et al.”.

Last name1 et al. (year)

Example in parentheses: (Last name 1 et al., year)

Author corporate/institutional: Write the full name the first time, and you can use an abbreviation afterward:

First mention in the text: Comisión Nacional del Agua [Conagua] (2025);

Later in the text: Conagua (2025)

First mention in parentheses: (Comisión Nacional del Agua [Conagua], 2025)

Subsequent ones in parentheses: (Conagua, 2025).

Multiple works in a single citation: are listed in alphabetical order and separated by semicolons: (Le Coz et al., 2016; Ramadan et al., 2019; Wang & Hu, 2025; Ríos, 2025).

If there are multiple authors with the same year, are distinguished by a, b, c, and so on, in the year: (Le Coz et al., 2016a; Le Coz et al., 2016b; Le Coz et al., 2016c); Le Coz et al. (2016b)

11. Personal communications

Personal communications (phone calls, emails, interviews) are not included in the reference list because readers cannot access them. Within the text, include the initials and last name of the person you communicated with, the phrase “personal communication” and the exact date in parentheses.

Example

1. L. Huerta, personal communication (2025, 26 de octubre)