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Guide to Referencing |
Introduction
This guide gives information on how to cite references, referencing styles (Vancouver and Harvard), and where to get information on authorship guidelines [one of such useful sources is the marketing plan writing service, which will help you both to choose the context and to prepare your work correctly]. The main purpose is to point your readers to the sources of evidence you have used to draw your conclusions. For this reason, references need to be accurate and full so that they can locate the original sources and draw their own conclusions. Another important reason is to avoid criticisms of plagiarism, or of using another authors' work without giving them due credit. The examples given are a guide to what is generally acceptable. If writing for a specific journal, always check whether the journal publishes 'Guidelines for Authors'. Similarly, if writing academic assignments, check whether your place of study has guidelines on referencing. Whichever style of references you choose, it is important to be consistent. Useful Suggestions & Reminders
Reference Styles The citation in the text gives a number. The reference list is then presented in numerical order. This is the system preferred by the 'Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Medical Journals' (1). Examples of citations in the text: 'Heart disease was shown to be a big killer (1,2). In another book, Cook (3) also shows that…'. The numbers can also be put in superscript form, e.g. 'Heart disease was shown to be a big killer1, 2', but it is advisable to check whether this is allowed by the journal / institution. Examples of layout of references: These examples are taken from the 'Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals'(1), which contains further examples (e.g. conference proceedings, journal supplements etc.). Authors / Editors If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by 'et al'. If the item is edited, use the term 'editor' (or 'editors') after the last editor, e.g. 'Smith JM, Jones G. editors'. Journal Article
It is acceptable to omit the month and issue number if the journal uses continuous pagination throughout the volume. Book
Book Chapter
Harvard (Author / Date System) The citation in the body of the text gives the author's surname(s) and the date of publication in brackets. This is the method preferred by many academic institutions. Please check with the relevant institution for exact requirements. Examples of citations in the text: 'Heart disease was shown to be a big killer (Smith, 1996). In another book, Cook (1991) also shows that…' If two papers are cited from the same author in the same year, use letters after the date, e.g. 'Jones (1991a and 1991b) also shows us that…' Examples of layout of references: The list of references at the end of the article should then be in alphabetical order by first author's surname, with the date in brackets immediately afterwards, then the rest of the bibliographical details. These examples are taken from the 'Harvard referencing guide' produced by the University of Sheffield Library (2). Further examples (e.g. conference proceedings, journal supplements etc.) can be found on their website, or from the sources listed at the end of this guide. Authors / Editors Two authors: Smith, H.G. and King, S. If there are more than two authors: List the first two authors, followed by et al. e.g Richards, G., Thompson, M. et al. For edited works, put (ed) in brackets for a single editor and (eds) for multiple editors after the last editor. e.g. Thompson, F. and Gross, M. (eds) Journal Article
Note that the journal title should be italicised or underlined. Book
Note that the book title should be italicised or underlined. Book Chapter
Note that the book title should be italicised or underlined. As with anything you refer to in your work, electronic sources should also be referenced properly to enable people to view the original documents. Some general guidelines based on the University of Sheffield guidelines(3), using the Harvard referencing system are given below. Web Page
Full-Text Journal Article from Medline
Electronic Book on CD-ROM
For other electronic sources, such as mailbase lists or personal e-mails, please refer to the sources listed at the end, or see the section on electronic sources in the 'Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Medical Journals' (1). Before citing electronic sources, check to see whether the journals 'Instructions to Authors' provides any guidance on requirements. The Medical College of Ohio maintains a list of links to websites that provide instructions to authors for health science journals(4). In addition, instructions to authors for 40 of the most popular nursing and midwifery journals can be found in the book by Breed, 'A publication guide to 40 health care journals' which is shelved at WZ 345 (5). You should also refer to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Medical Journals(1), which is available on the Internet and is also available at the Enquiry Desk. Standard Abbreviations of Journal Titles Abbreviations for journals indexed in Medline can be found in the 'List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus' (6), which is available on the Internet and is also held at the Enquiry Desk. (1) International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals [online]. ICMJE: 1999. Available from: www.icmje.org [Accessed 15th July 2011]. (3) University of Sheffield. Library. Guide to citing electronic sources of Information (HSL-DVC2) [online]. University of Sheffield, 2000. Available from www.shef.ac.uk/library/libdocs [Accessed 15th July 2011]. (4) Medical College of Ohio. Instructions to authors in the health sciences [online]. Medical College of Ohio, 2000. Available from: mulford.meduohio.edu/instr [Accessed 15th July 2011] (5) Breed, S. A publication guide to 40 health care journals.Writing Workshops: 1999. A copy of this is held at the Enquiry Desk Bournemouth University. Library. Harvard system [online]. Bournemouth University (nd). Available from: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/library [accessed 15th July 2011]. Bournemouth University. Library. Guide to citing Internet sources [online]. Bournemouth University, nd. Available from: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/library [accessed 15th July 2011]. British Standards Institution. Recommendations for citing and referencing published material (BS 5605: 1990.). BSI, 1990. Cormack, D.F.S. Writing for health care professions. Blackwell Scientific: 1994. Dwyer, M. A guide to the Harvard referencing system. British Journal of Nursing 1995 4(10) p. 599-602. Goodman, N.W.; Edwards, M.B. Medical writing: a prescription for clarity. A self-help guide to clearer medical English. 2nd ed.Cambridge University Press: 1997. Murrell, C.; Huang, C.; Ellis, H. Research in medicine: planning a project - writing a thesis. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press: 1999. Neville, C. The complete guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism. Open University Press: 2007. |
Page Index
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