How to Cite and Reference Google Trends
Citing Google Trends is not as straightforward as most citations, as it's a dynamic data stream that is updated every minute. From MLA to APA and Harvard, citation formatting can be tricky. Below, we walk through everything you need to know about citing public Google Search data so that your work is always properly referenced.
How to cite Google Trends in the APA Format
The APA style of citation is one of the most commonly used styles for academic papers in the United States, and it's used in a variety of disciplines including the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and business.
Because Google Trends presents live, up-to-date data, the in-text citation should not include the date. Instead, "n.d.", the abbreviated form of “no date”, should be placed where the date normally goes in the citation.
In-text citation example (APA, Google Trends)
According to Google Trends (n.d.), search volume for Queen Elizabeth II peaked in the United States on September 8, 2022.
Reference page example (APA, Google Trends)
Google Trends (n.d.). "Queen Elizabeth II". Retrieved September 27, 2022, from www.trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=queen%20elizabeth
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How to cite Google Trends in the MLA Format
The MLA style of citation is most commonly used in papers written for humanities and liberal arts courses, and it's also used in business, education, and other disciplines.
The MLA-format closely resembles the APA-format. However, MLA puts less emphasis on the source material’s publication date so there are no parenthesis around the work’s publication year. Also note that MLA only requires that "www." before the url, not the full "https://"
Generally, MLA-style in-text citations require the page number to be written after the author. However, since Google Trends data are dynamic in nature, you can simply omit the number.
In-text citation example (MLA, Google Trends)
According to Google Trends (Google Trends), search volume for Queen Elizabeth II peaked in the United States on September 8, 2022.
Reference page example (MLA, Google Trends)
Google Trends. "Queen Elizabeth II." Accessed September 27, 2022. www.trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=queen%20elizabeth
How to cite Google Trends in the Harvard Format
The Harvard citation style is most commonly used in papers written for the natural sciences and medicine, but it's also used in other disciplines such as business and law.
Typical Harvard-style in-text citation guidelines require the author's name, year of publication, and relevant page numbers to be included in the in-text citation. However, since the latter two do not apply to Google Trends, they can be skipped.
In-text citation example (Harvard, Google Trends)
According to Google Trends, search volume for Queen Elizabeth II peaked in the United States on September 8, 2022 (Google Trends).
Reference page example (Harvard, Google Trends)
Google Trends (n.d.) Queen Elizabeth II. Available at: www.trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=queen%20elizabeth (Accessed: 27 September 2022).
