How to Cite Observations, Interviews, & Surveys in MLA Works Cited

How to Cite Observations, Interviews, & Surveys in MLA

Works Cited

MLA uses the same basic template for ALL sources, regardless of what kind of source it

is. When you leave out everything that isn’t going to be applicable to primary research,

all you’re left with is:

Author/creator. Title or description. Location, Date.

Examples:

Observations:

Nephew, Alissa. Observation of customer behaviors. Target, Rockwell Plaza Shopping

Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 1 May 2019.

Survey:

Nephew, Alissa. Survey of student perceptions of group contributions. 9 Apr. 2018.

Interview:

Smith, Linda. Personal interview. 19 Oct. 2018.

In-Text

In the text of the essay, follow the same guidelines as for any other source. (Use the first

element in the Works Cited entry in either an attributive tag or parenthetical, and

include any additional information as required if you have multiple sources with the

same first element.)

Commented [NA1]: This should be whoever is the most

relevant to your uses of the source. If you interview

someone, that person is the most important, so that’s who

you cite.

You are the “author” of observations and surveys, so yes,

you may end up citing yourself!

Commented [NA2]: Your primary research won’t have

titles, so just describe it.

Commented [NA3]: Location is only relevant for

observations, and is not required for surveys or interviews.

However, you may include it if you think the location might

be useful for your readers to know.

Commented [NA4]: Remember to put dates in

international format for MLA (Day Month Year).

If your primary research took place over a span of dates,

just include month & year.