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JAMA Referencing Style:  In-text citations

UON Library guide to JAMA Referencing Style for UON staff and students

General rules for in-text citations

 
Click the tabs above for information on citing quotations and secondary sources

 

General rules:

  • JAMA uses citation numbers within the text which refer to the corresponding numbered entries in the reference list at the end of the text.
  • A citation should be provided where information from another source is paraphrased, quoted, or referred to.
  • All citation numbers should be superscript Arabic numerals, for example, 2. 
  • A citation number is placed at the point within the sentence, outside of full-stops and commas, and inside of colons and semicolons, for example, 

As reported previously,1,3-​8,19
The derived data were as follows3,4:

  • A citation number can be placed next to the author surname as in a narrative citation, for example, Doe5 reported on the survey.
  • When using narrative citations where author names form part of the sentence, list both author surnames for a reference by two authors; use the first author’s surname followed by et al for references by three or more authors, e.g., Doe et al9 reported on the survey. Do not use the possessive form et al’s; rephrase the sentence.
  • Citations are numbered consecutively in the order in which they are cited in the text.
  • For repeated citations: re-use the original citation number if it is cited again later in the text.
  • If citing multiple references in one place:
    • consecutive citation numbers are entered as a range, separated by a hyphen, e.g., 5-7. 
    • non-consecutive citation numbers are each separated by a comma without space, e.g., 2,5,7
  • Page numbers are rarely included within citation numbers. However, if needed add the pages to the citation number, for example,
    There were ten cases 5(pp1,3),6  reported positive. 
  • As in tables, if a cell in the table involves citation of a reference number and a footnote symbol, give the reference number first, followed by a comma and the footnote symbol (e.g., Patient groups3,a).

Citing direct quotations

 

If you include a direct quote from a paginated source, the in-text citation should include the page numbers where the quotation appears. Direct quotations must be accurate and follow the wording, spelling, and punctuation of the original source.

See the general rules for in-text citations for more details.

 

  • For a short quotation, enclose it within quotation marks and incorporate it into the text, for example,

…there is overwhelming evidence “even when the possibility of bias is assessed, there is no guarantee that reviewers have assessed or interpreted it appropriately.”18(p335)

  • Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations if applicable.
  • Use ellipses to indicate an omission in quoted material.
  • Place closing quotation marks outside commas and full stops, inside colons and semicolons.

 

  • Long quotations may be indented in a separate block to the text. Quotation marks are not required, for example,

Over recent decades increasing emphasis has been placed on ensuring healthcare decisions are based on the best evidence:

Interest in the role of qualitative research in evidence-based health care is growing. However, the methods currently used to identify quantitative research do not translate easily to qualitative research. These difficulties relate to the descriptive nature of the titles used in some qualitative studies, the variable information provided in abstracts, and the differences in the indexing of these studies across databases.15(p290)

  • Block quotations are often preceded by a colon.
  • Use double quotation marks for quotations within a block quote if applicable.

Secondary (indirect) sources

 

Please note you should always use the original work wherever possible. Use the secondary sources only when it is impossible to obtain the original publication, for example, it may be published in another language or out of print. Never cite a reference that you yourself have not read. 

 

Sources cited within another source are known as 'secondary sources'. To cite a secondary source, name both the original and secondary sources in the text and provide a citation to the secondary source only in the reference list.

For example, Grieve and Gear’s work from 1966 is being quoted in Kirtley’s 2006 book on page 23. If you could not access the original Grieve and Gear’s work from 1966, you were permitted to reference it as a secondary source, for example, 

… Grieve and Gear's pattern as quoted in Kirtley28(p23)  has been used in this study.

In the reference list, include only the work you have actually consulted, i.e. Kirtley’s 2006 book, not Grieve and Gear’s work from 1966.

By following this pattern, you are crediting the original author while being able to reference the source you are actually using.

Example in-text citations and reference list

 

Acknowledgement 

The example in-text citations and reference list below are reproduced from the following journal article: 

Ophir Y, Rosenberg H, Tikochinski R, Dalyot S, Lipshits-Braziler Y. Screen time and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(12):e2346775. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46775
 

 

Example In-text Citations and Reference List in JAMA Style

Introduction

The ever-increasing rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD),1,2 a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in interpersonal interactions and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors, are a major concern in pediatrics. Several explanations have been proposed for this increased prevalence,3,4 including the global emergence of screen-based devices (eg, smartphones, tablets) and their ubiquitous use among young children, including infants.5 Corresponding to a longstanding concern in media psychology termed the displacement hypothesis,6  contemporary scholars warn that excessive screen use may come at the expense of positive and vital real-life experiences, such as interpersonal interactions, outdoor and sporting events, and educational activities.7,8  According to this hypothesis, screen use contributes to young children being less active, less verbal, and less social than children of previous generations, essentially increasing their risk of experiencing developmental delays, behavioral problems, and ASD symptoms.9-13 

 

References

1. Davidovitch M, Slobodin O, Weisskopf MG, Rotem RS. Age-specific time trends in incidence rates of autism spectrum disorder following adaptation of DSM-5 and other ASD-related regulatory changes in Israel. Autism Res. 2020;13(11):1893-1901. doi:10.1002/aur.2420

2. Matson JL, Kozlowski AM. The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2011;5(1):418-425. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.06.004

3. Modabbernia A, Velthorst E, Reichenberg A. Environmental risk factors for autism: an evidence-based review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Mol Autism. 2017;8(1):13. doi:10.1186/s13229-017-0121-4

4. Lam J, Sutton P, Kalkbrenner A, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple airborne pollutants and autism spectrum disorder. PLoS One. 2016;11(9):e0161851. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161851

5. Christakis DA. Early media exposure and autism spectrum disorder: heat and light. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(7): 640-641. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0659

6. Kraut R, Patterson M, Lundmark V, Kiesler S, Mukopadhyay T, Scherlis W. Internet paradox. A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? Am Psychol. 1998;53(9):1017-1031. doi:10.1037/ 0003-066X.53.9.1017

7. Madigan S, McArthur BA, Anhorn C, Eirich R, Christakis DA. Associations between screen use and child language skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(7):665-675. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics. 2020.0327

8. Browne D, Thompson DA, Madigan S. Digital media use in children: clinical vs scientific responsibilities. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(2):111-112. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.4559

9. Hill MM, Gangi D, Miller M, Rafi SM, Ozonoff S. Screen time in 36-month-olds at increased likelihood for ASD and ADHD. Infant Behav Dev. 2020;61:101484. doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2020.101484

10. Aishworiya R, Magiati I, Phua D, et al. Are there bidirectional influences between screen time exposure and social behavioral traits in young children? J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022;43(6):362-369. doi:10.1097/DBP. 0000000000001069

11. Kushima M, Kojima R, Shinohara R, et al; Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group. Association between screen time exposure in children at 1 year of age and autism spectrum disorder at 3 years of age: the Japan environment and children’s study. JAMA Pediatr. 2022;176(4):384-391. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5778

12. Heffler KF, Sienko DM, Subedi K, McCann KA, Bennett DS. Association of early-life social and digital media experiences with development of autism spectrum disorder–like symptoms. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(7): 690-696. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0230

13. Qu G, Hu W, Meng J, et al. Association between screen time and developmental and behavioral problems among children in the United States: evidence from 2018 to 2020 NSCH. J Psychiatr Res. 2023;161:140-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.014

 

Help and Information

Subjects: Referencing