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References - Introduction.
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What is a reference?
In the course of your studies you will be expected to acknowledge books, journal articles, etc, used in preparation for assignments, projects, essays, and dissertations, by producing a list of references/bibliography with each one.
British Standards BS1629: 1976 and BS5605: 1990 define a bibliographical reference as:
" a set of data or elements describing a document, or part of a document, and sufficiently precise and detailed to enable a potential reader to identify and locate it".
CITING: acknowledging within your text the document from which you have obtained your information.
REFERENCE: the detailed description of the document from which you have obtained your information.
Why reference?
When writing reports or essays you are expected to read around your subject. Referencing is a way of demonstrating that you have done that reading. Each time you use someone elses ideas or words it is essential that you acknowledge this in your work. Not acknowledging other people's work is not only intellectually dishonest but also illegal. PLAGIARISM: is the act of presenting the ideas or discoveries of another as one's own.
You should provide references:
To acknowledge your sources.
To substantiate your arguments.
To avoid plagiarism, even when unintentional.
To enable your reader to follow up your source material.
When to reference?
Whenever you use any source of information for:
Your inspiration.
Particular facts, theories, findings or ideas in an author's work.
Specific data or statistics.
A direct quotation.
Paraphrasing an author's words.
Where and how to reference?
There are a variety of accepted conventions for citing bibliographic references. Several of these are set out in the British Standards BS 1629:1989 and BS5605:1990.
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Remember, whatever referencing method you use, references should be correct, complete and consistent, with the individual elements clearly differentiated.
To find details of each method, click on the following list.
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