Table of Contents
What is Referencing?
Referencing in scientific publications (e.g., thesis, research paper, etc.) is the practice of citing sources that you have used in your research paper or article. This is done to give credit to the original authors of the work that you are using, and to help your readers locate the sources that you have cited.
In academic writing, it is important to accurately and properly cite your sources, as this helps to establish the credibility of your work and to show the reader that you have conducted a thorough review of the literature on your topic.
There are different citing sources that are used in scientific publications and the use of these sources depends on the specific topic and focus of the paper. However, some sources are commonly referenced in scientific literature, such as:
1. Journal articles: Many scientific papers cite research that has been published in peer-reviewed journals. These articles are typically considered to be the most reliable sources of information, as they have been subjected to a rigorous review process by other experts in the field.
2. Books: Scientific books, particularly those written by experts in a particular field, are also frequently cited in scientific papers. These sources can provide in-depth coverage of a topic and are often considered to be authoritative.
3. Conference proceedings: Papers presented at scientific conferences can also be a source of important information and are often cited in scientific papers.
4. Reports: They can also be used as a reference in scientific publications. Reports are a type of published document that can contain research, data, or other information on a particular topic. They can be produced by a variety of organizations, including government agencies, non-profits, and research institutes. It is important to note that reports are generally considered to be less reliable sources than peer-reviewed journal articles, as they have not undergone the same level of review. Therefore, as with any source, it is important to carefully evaluate the credibility of a report before using it in your research.
5. Websites: While websites are not typically considered to be as reliable as other sources, they can still be useful for finding background information or for accessing data or other resources that are not available elsewhere. Website should be official and reliable such as websites of governments and organizations.
Overall, the most important consideration regarding referencing in a scientific publication is to ensure that the sources are reliable and relevant to the topic being discussed.
Referencing vs. Citation
Citation and referencing are closely related concepts in scientific writing. Citation refers to the practice of providing information about a source within the text of your paper, usually in the form of a parenthetical citation.
Citation is the practice of providing information about a source within the text of your paper, usually in the form of a parenthetical citation. The purpose of a citation is to give credit to the original source of the information, ideas, or research that you are using in your paper, and to allow your readers to locate the full citation for the source in the reference list at the end of the paper.
Example: Using citation to support a claim
"According to a study conducted by Smith (2021), the majority of people prefer dogs to cats as pets." |
This in-text citation gives credit to the original source (in this case, a study by Smith) and allows the reader to locate the full citation for the source in the reference list at the end of the paper.
Referencing, on the other hand, refers to the practice of creating a list of the sources that you have cited in your paper, along with all of the relevant bibliographic information (such as the author, title, and date of publication). This reference list is usually located at the end of the paper and provides a complete record of all of cited sources that you have used in your research.
In the previous example, we used Smith (2020) as in-text citation, therefore we should referencing this source in the references list at the end of our publication as follows:
Smith, P. (2022). The Effect of Pets on Human Mental Health and Wellbeing. The Journal of Psychiatry, 150(5), 342-368. |
In short, citation is the practice of citing sources within the text of your paper, while referencing is the practice of creating a list of the sources that you have cited, along with all of the relevant bibliographic information. Both are important practices in scientific writing, as they allow you to give credit to the original authors of the work that you are using and to help your readers locate the sources that you have cited.
The Most common Referencing Styles
There are several different citation styles that are commonly used in scientific publications. Some of the most common styles include:
APA (American Psychological Association): APA style is widely used in the social sciences and is the official style of the American Psychological Association. It is characterized by in-text citations that include the author's last name and the year of publication, and a reference list that is organized alphabetically by author.
MLA (Modern Language Association): MLA style is commonly used in the humanities, particularly in literature and languages. It is characterized by in-text citations that include the author's last name and the page number, and a works cited list that is organized alphabetically by author.
Chicago: The Chicago Manual of Style is a comprehensive guide to style and formatting that is used in a wide range of fields, including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It has two different citation styles: the Author-Date system, which is similar to APA style, and the Notes and Bibliography system, which uses footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography.
Harvard: The Harvard citation style, also known as the Harvard Referencing System, is a widely used style that is similar to APA style. It is characterized by in-text citations that include the author's last name and the year of publication, and a reference list that is organized alphabetically by author.
Overall, the most important thing is to choose a citation style that is appropriate for your field and to be consistent in your use of the style throughout your paper.
References
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2015). Practical research: Planning and design. USA: Pearson Education.
Beins, B. C., & McCarthy, M. A. (2012). Research methods and statistics. USA: Pearson Education.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (7th ed.): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Singh, Y. K. (2006). Fundamental of research methodology and statistics. New Delhi, India: New Age International.
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