How to cite Qualtrics in APA: For students & researchers

So, you've used Qualtrics for your academic research project — that's great! It's a powerful tool for creating surveys and collecting data. Now comes the part that many find tricky: citing your sources, including the software and platforms you've used. Getting citations right is crucial for academic integrity, giving credit where it's due, and ensuring transparency in your research, especially when preparing manuscripts for journals or other academic publications.

This guide will walk you through the correct ways to acknowledge your use of Qualtrics in APA format (7th Edition). We'll cover the most common scenarios you're likely to encounter as a student or researcher.

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Scenario 1: You used Qualtrics to create and/or administer your survey (most common)

This is the most frequent situation. You used Qualtrics as a tool to build your questionnaire, send it out to participants, and collect responses.

The good news:

In most cases, for commonly used software or platforms like Qualtrics, APA style does not require a formal entry in your reference list just for mentioning its use as a tool.

What to do:

You should simply mention Qualtrics in the method section of your paper when you describe how your survey was developed and/or distributed.

In-text mention (preferred): When describing your methodology, you can state: "Data were collected using an online survey created and administered via Qualtrics (Provo, UT)."

Or, more simply, and often preferred by APA for well-known software: "The survey was developed and distributed using Qualtrics survey software (Qualtrics, Provo, UT)."

You can also include the URL if you feel it's helpful for the reader, though it's not strictly required by APA for just mentioning the tool: "Participants completed an online survey developed in Qualtrics (https://www.qualtrics.com)."

Key point:

The goal here is transparency in your research methods. You're letting your reader know what tool you used. No separate reference list entry is typically needed for this use case in standard student papers or many research articles.

Scenario 2: You're citing specific information from the Qualtrics website

Sometimes, you might need to cite a specific piece of content from the Qualtrics website itself — for example, a blog post, a support article, a white paper, or specific data they've published. In this case, you are citing the webpage as your source, not just the software.

What to do:

You'll need a full reference list entry for the specific webpage and a corresponding in-text citation.

Reference list format (webpage on a website): Smith, R. (Year, Month Day). Title of page or article. Site Name. URL

If the author is an organization (like Qualtrics itself) and the site name is the same, you omit the site name from the source element to avoid repetition.

Reference list example (blog post by Qualtrics): Qualtrics. (2023, October 15). Best practices for survey question wording. https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/best-practices-survey-question-wording/

(Note: Replace the date and title with the actual details of the page you are citing. If no individual author is listed, use the organization as the author.)

In-text citation examples: According to Qualtrics (2023), clear question wording is essential for valid survey data.

Scenario 3: Your research is about the Qualtrics software itself

This scenario is less common for typical student projects but might arise in more specialized research. If your research specifically analyzes, reviews, or focuses on the Qualtrics software platform itself (e.g., a comparative study of survey software, a methodological paper discussing features), then you would cite the software.

What to do:

Provide a reference list entry for the software and a corresponding in-text citation.

Reference list format (software): Smith, R. (Year). Title of program (Version number if available) [Computer software]. Publisher (if different from author). URL

For cloud-based software like Qualtrics that is continuously updated and may not have discrete, user-facing version numbers that correspond to your period of use, citing can be nuanced. If a specific version used during your research period is identifiable (e.g., noted in documentation for a specific feature set you analyzed), include it. If not, and a formal software citation is absolutely necessary, you would cite the software generally using the year of access or the most relevant year.

Reference list example (general software citation): Qualtrics. (2024). Qualtrics XM Platform [Computer software]. Qualtrics. https://www.qualtrics.com

(Note: The year could be the year you are conducting your analysis if no specific version year is applicable or identifiable. "Qualtrics XM Platform" is a general name; use the most specific official name if available for your context.)

In-text citation examples: (Qualtrics, 2024) The user interface of the Qualtrics XM Platform (Qualtrics, 2024) offers a range of question types.

Scenario 4: Acknowledging Qualtrics in formal academic publications

When preparing a manuscript for a science journal, research journal, or other formal academic publication, transparency about the tools used is paramount. While Scenario 1 (mentioning in the method section) often covers this, some journals or researchers prefer a more explicit statement, particularly if the software played a significant role in data generation or analysis.

The following example is a descriptive statement that might be included in the methods section, acknowledgments, or as a footnote in such publications. It is important to note that this is not an APA-style reference list entry but rather a textual acknowledgment.

Example descriptive statement for a paper: The [output, data analysis, code, survey data, experimental stimuli, etc.] for this paper was generated using Qualtrics software, Version [insert specific version used if known and relevant, otherwise state "current version during the period of data collection, e.g., 2023-2024"] of Qualtrics. Copyright © [insert current year or year of use] Qualtrics. Qualtrics and all other Qualtrics product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of Qualtrics, Provo, UT, USA. The software is available at https://www.qualtrics.com.

Context and usage:

• Placement: This type of statement is typically found in the body of the paper (e.g., methodology or an appendix on tools) rather than in the APA reference list. A quick Google search — “this paper was generated using Qualtrics software” including quotes — will show you how others have cited Qualtrics in their research.
• Version: For cloud-based software like Qualtrics, specific version numbers can be tricky. If a particular version or feature set crucial to your study was used and is identifiable, mention it. Otherwise, stating the period of use (e.g., "version accessed between May 2023 and August 2023") or simply "current version" is common. The generic "[insert version]" should be adapted accordingly.
• Copyright/trademark: Including copyright and trademark information as in the example is often a practice suggested by software companies themselves but is not a standard APA requirement for citation. It's more of a full, formal acknowledgment of the software product.
• Journal guidelines: Always check the specific author guidelines of the journal or publication you are submitting to, as they may have their own preferences for how software and tools should be acknowledged.

This approach provides a comprehensive acknowledgment of the software used, which can be particularly important in fields where methodological rigor and reproducibility are heavily emphasized. It complements, but does not replace, APA citations for specific webpages or if the software itself is the subject of study (Scenarios 2 and 3).

Key takeaways for students & researchers

• Using Qualtrics as a tool for data collection? Mention it in your method section (Scenario 1). This is often sufficient.
• Citing a Qualtrics webpage (e.g., a blog or support article)? Use the standard APA webpage citation format (Scenario 2).
• Researching the Qualtrics software itself? Use the APA software citation format (Scenario 3).
• Need a more formal textual acknowledgment in a publication? Consider a descriptive statement in your methods or acknowledgments, like in Scenario 4, but remember this isn't a replacement for an APA reference if one is due under Scenarios 2 or 3.

Always double-check!

To correctly acknowledge Qualtrics, remember to mention its use as a tool in your method section, cite specific Qualtrics webpages using standard APA format, or use APA software citation format if your research focuses on the platform itself.

For formal publications, a descriptive statement might be appropriate. Always consult the latest APA Publication Manual, your instructor, or journal guidelines to ensure accuracy.

By following these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly acknowledge your use of Qualtrics in your academic work, ensuring clarity and proper attribution.

Good luck with your research!