why is software program italicized in the text citation?

panosh

page 210 of the APA manual indicates a reference entry is not necessary for standard software and programming languages, including SPSS. However, I did make an entry and it shows italicized for any in text citations. Here are the fields:

Item Type -> Computer Program
Title -> IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows
Version -> 24.0
Date -> 2016
Place -> Armonk, NY
Company -> IBM Corp.

Any idea why the entry shows up italicized?

([italicized from here: IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, to here], 2016).

Thank you.

LiborA

It is a technical limitation of Zotero and CSL. CSL language does not have variable "Computer Program" and Zotero variable "Computer Program" is mapped to the CSL variable "Book".

bwiernik

If you add a version number, Zotero will recognize this as a computer program and format it correctly.

LiborA

Small correction: If you add a version number, APA style template will recognize this as a computer program and format it correctly. See macro Title, for example on https://www.zotero.org/styles/apa-no-ampersand?source=1

panosh

I do have the version number, 24.0, included. See original post.

bwiernik

Oh, I see the issue. You don't have an author, and the APA .csl style doesn't currently accommodate this really unusual corner case of a computer program cited without an author.

You should add "IBM" as the author for the item:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21476197

But also not that you generally don't need to include citations to common software like SPSS in APA--you can't just mention that you used SPSS and give the version in text:
http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/01/how-to-cite-software-in-apa-style.html

panosh

Moved IBM from the title into the Publisher field. It stopped italicizing it. Thank you.

bwiernik

I would recommend keeping IBM in both places. That’s more widely done in APA.

panosh

OK. Will add IBM to the title. Thx.