Journal Citations—Clearing Up Some Confusion

Question
When I use Chamberlain’s virtual library to research topics, most of the articles are obtained through use of the EBSCOhost database. In the virtual library, when I ask for the APA citation for the reference, the information always includes “Retrieved from EBSCOhost” as the proper format. My instructor insists that I cannot use “Retrieved from EBSCOhost” or other databases in my reference lists. My instructor tells me I have to use a DOI number or the URL of the journal’s home page. Most of the articles I find don’t have DOI numbers. I have to go looking for journal home pages and URLs, but some are difficult to find and sometimes I am not certain a journal has a home site. What am I supposed to do—especially when it really was retrieved from EBSCOhost and I have no idea where (the source from which) the library obtained these articles?

Answer
The Chamberlain library does not obtain the articles; the library purchases access to various bibliographic databases such as EBSCOhost and CINAHL. These databases supply the search engines and the full-text journals. The software that shows different citation formats comes from the database service (e.g., EBSCO) and has not been updated to reflect the sixth edition. It is, at present, providing incorrect information. Refer to the APA manual for the correct format. APA advises that if you don’t find a DOI number, you need to go out to the Internet and search for the journal. (Use the full name of the journal in your search.) When you find the home page (sometimes this is the publisher’s home page, and sometimes you go straight to the journal), copy the URL and use this in your reference in accordance with APA format rules. Apparently, it does not matter to APA what result one gets. It is the journal home page, no matter how the publisher has established that. The DOI