Guide: Dissertation referencing

Proper referencing is a crucial aspect of writing a dissertation. It not only gives credit to the original authors whose work has informed your research but also helps you avoid the serious academic offense of plagiarism. In this guide, we will explore the importance of referencing, the different types of plagiarism, how to avoid it, and provide tips on how to effectively reference your sources.

Understanding Plagiarism

Before we delve into referencing, it is essential to understand what constitutes plagiarism. According to the dictionary, to “plagiarize” means:

1. To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own.
2. To use (another’s production) without crediting the source.
3. To commit literary theft.
4. To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else’s work and lying about it afterward. But can words and ideas really be stolen? According to the law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).

Types of Plagiarism

All of the following are considered plagiarism:

• Turning in someone else’s work as your own.
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit.
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks.
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation.
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit.
• Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.

The latter point is a real source of confusion. Many students think it’s okay to use material provided that they have cited it. But imagine you wrote a book which actually consisted of 50% of one existing book’s content and 50% of another existing book’s content. Do you think the authors would be happy that you’d cited their work?

Fair Use Guidelines

Here’s a fair use guide, published by the US government, which helps determine what you can do without asking the author’s consent. These are called “fair use” laws because they try to establish whether certain uses of original material are reasonable. The laws themselves are vague and complicated, but here are some rubrics you can apply to help determine the fairness of any given usage:

The Nature of Your Use

If you have merely copied something, it is unlikely to be considered fair use. But if the material has been transformed in an original way through interpretation, analysis, etc., it is more likely to be considered “fair use.”

The Amount You’ve Used

The more you’ve “borrowed,” the less likely it is to be considered fair use. What percentage of your work is “borrowed” material? What percentage of the original did you use? The lower the better.

The Effect of Your Use on the Original

If you are creating a work that competes with the original in its own market and may do the original author economic harm, any substantial borrowing is unlikely to be considered fair use. The more the content of your work or its target audience differs from that of the original, the better.

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism—provided that your work does not unacceptably rely on other people’s words. Remember, it is you that is writing the dissertation—copying other people’s work, whether or not you cite it, demonstrates nothing to your tutor or lecturer.

“An incinerator is a writer’s best friend.” (Thornton Wilder)

Referencing

Referencing is the method of acknowledging the sources that you have used in writing your dissertation. Proper referencing shows that you have conducted thorough research and provides a way for others to verify the information you have presented. It also allows you to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.

Choosing a Referencing Style

Make sure you check the requirements of your university before you start. There are many different referencing styles, and it would be pointless for us to repeat them all here. Instead, we recommend referring to comprehensive guides like “How to Write an Essay,” which includes examples of various referencing styles. Some of the most commonly used referencing styles in academic writing are:

• APA (American Psychological Association) Style: Commonly used in the social sciences, APA style emphasizes the author-date format for in-text citations and includes a detailed reference list at the end of the document.
• MLA (Modern Language Association) Style: Often used in the humanities, MLA style uses parenthetical in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page.
• Chicago/Turabian Style: This style is widely used in history and some other disciplines. It offers two systems: the notes and bibliography system and the author-date system.
• Harvard Style: Similar to APA, Harvard referencing uses the author-date format for in-text citations and includes a reference list.

How to Reference

In-Text Citations

In-text citations are brief references within your text that direct the reader to the full citation in your bibliography or reference list. The format of in-text citations varies depending on the referencing style you are using.

• APA Style: (Author, Year, Page Number) Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 123)
• MLA Style: (Author Page Number) Example: (Smith 123)
• Chicago Style: Superscript number directing to a footnote or endnote Example: ^1 or (Author, Year)

Reference List/Bibliography

The reference list or bibliography is a complete list of all the sources you have cited in your dissertation. Each entry should provide enough information for the reader to locate the original source.

• APA Style: Author(s). (Year). Title of the work. Publisher. Example: Smith, J. (2020). Research Methods. Academic Press.
• MLA Style: Author(s). Title of the Work. Publisher, Year. Example: Smith, John. Research Methods. Academic Press, 2020.
• Chicago Style: Author(s). Title of the Work. Publisher, Year. Example: Smith, John. Research Methods. Academic Press, 2020.

Tips for Effective Referencing

1. Keep Track of Your Sources: As you conduct your research, keep detailed notes of all the sources you consult. This will make it easier to create your reference list later.
2. Use Reference Management Software: Tools like EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley can help you organize your sources and automatically generate citations and bibliographies in various styles.
3. Be Consistent: Ensure that you use the same referencing style throughout your dissertation. Inconsistent referencing can confuse readers and reduce the credibility of your work.
4. Check for Accuracy: Double-check your citations for accuracy. Ensure that all the information is correct and that each citation is properly formatted.
5. Consult Style Guides: Refer to official style guides for detailed instructions on how to format your citations and references. These guides often include examples for various types of sources.

Conclusion

Proper referencing is an essential part of writing a dissertation. It not only gives credit to the original authors but also helps you avoid plagiarism and strengthens the credibility of your work. By understanding what constitutes plagiarism and following fair use guidelines, you can ensure that your dissertation maintains academic integrity. Choose the appropriate referencing style for your discipline, keep track of your sources, use reference management tools, and be consistent and accurate in your citations. With these practices, you can produce a well-referenced dissertation that showcases your research and writing skills.