Research Biology
Taking Research Notes Citing Sources/References
Use the following guidelines to help you in your literature search:
1. Sources must be from within the last 10 years.
2. Only one specialized encyclopedia can be used (paper or electronic).
3. Use the database information provided through Loudoun County Public Schools as a resource.
4. The librarians would LOVE to help you with this. Websites and passwords will be provided
separately.
Use only valid sources of information –
-The author’s name and date of publication must be readily apparent.
- Journal articles found in scientific magazines are good sources of information.
- If a website is not affiliated with a respectable organization (a university, association,
agency, etc) then it is probably not valid.
- Google, Askjeeves, and Wikipedia ARE NOT valid sources of information. You can use
them as search engines to lead you to valid sources but they should not be cited as a
primary source.
- Sources from .edu, .gov, .org are strongly encouraged.
All citations within the text and reference entries are to follow the APA format given in The
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association ( 6th Edition).
The following Internet sites will also be helpful:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citation.htm
http://www.crk.umn.edu/library/links/apa5th.htm
http://www.docstyles.com/apacrib.htm1.
A. Rules for Referencing Books:
1. last name first alphabetized by first letter
2. first initial followed by a period
3. double space, then date of publication in parentheses, then period and double space
4. complete title and subtitle (if there is one) italicized, with only the first letter of each part capitalized
5. title and subtitle separated by colon and one space
6. period and double space after title
7. place of publication, colon, one space, name of publisher, period
Examples of Referencing Books:
Book by One Author
Sheehy, G. (1988). Character: America’s search for leadership. New York: Morrow.
Book by two or More Authors
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
B. Rules for Referencing Journal Articles:
Note: Pay attention to the features of this basic reference to a journal:
1. last name and initial as for a book reference
2. year of publication
3. title of article in lowercase, except for first word; title not underlined or in quotes
4. title of journal in italics
5. volume number in italics, issue number (if there is one) in parentheses and italics, followed by comm6. page numbers,
followed by period.
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Examples of Referencing Journal Articles or Articles within Encyclopedias:
Journal Article, One Author
Sterk, H. (1985). The metamorphosis of Marilyn Monroe. The Central States Speech Journal, 36 (4),
294-304.
Journal Article, Two Authors
James, P., & Goldstraub, J. (1988). Terrorism and the breakdown of international order: The corporate
dimension. Conflict Quarterly, 8, 89-98.
Encyclopedia Article, Signed
Kaelunohonoke, J. (1971). Hula. Encyclopedia Americana, 45-46.
Encyclopedia Article, unsigned
Georgetown. (1974). Encyclopedia Britannica: Micropaedia, 123-125. 21
Rules for Referencing Internet and Electronic Sources:
Citing of Internet sources is not yet completely set forth. At the very least when you cite an online source you must
include the URL and entire address.
World Wide Web Rule:
Author. Title of item. [Online] Available http://address/filename, date of document or download.
Examples of Internet and Electronic References:
Document on a University Website:
Chou, L., McClintock, R., Moretti, F., & Nix, D.H. (1993). Technology and education: New wine in new bottles:
Choosing pasts and imagining educational futures. Retrieved August 24, 2000, from Columbia University,
Institute for Learning Technologies Web site: http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/publications/papers/
Newwine1.html
Electronic copy of a journal article (several authors) retrieved from a database:
Borman, W.C., Hanson, M.A., Oppler, S.H., Pulakos, E.D., & White, L.A. (1993). Role of early supervisory
Experience in supervisor performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 443-449. Retrieved October 23,
2000, from PsycARTICLES database.
Daily newspaper article, electronic version available by search:
Hilts, P.J. (1999, February 16). In forecasting their emotions, most people flunk out. New York Times. Retrieved
November 21, 2000, from http://www.nytimes.com
CD-ROM
Miller, M.E. (1993). The Interactive Tester (Version 4.0) [Computer software]. Westminster, CA: Psytek Services.
Rules for Parenthetical Citations :
Parenthetical citations occur within the text of the SRP Paper (mostly in the Literature Review section and some in the results
and conclusions sections). They are used to reference or “cite” information that is not common knowledge. The author’s last
name and date of the source complete the reference.
Examples of Citations used within the text:
The construction industry is dependent upon aluminum which is light but strong (Miller, 1993).
For Wilson and Wallace, “science is the only true art form” as it calls for unrestrained creativity (1992).
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