Inline Citations and Source
References:
Crafting an Efficacious Set of Citations
with Necessary Rigor and Sufficient
Relevance
Wayne Smith, Ph.D.
Department of Management
CSU Northridge
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Alternatives to Scientific Research
Dimension
More Rigorous Less Rigorous
Authority
Law
“Halo Effect”
Tradition
Norms
“Just Because”
Common Sense True
Understanding
Media Myths
Accurate
Summary
Personal
Experience
Repeated
Observations
“Logical Fallacies”
“Convenient
Sample”
“Anecdotal
Finding”
2
Differences between Theory & Ideology
Theory
Conditional, negotiated
understanding
Ideology
Offers absolute certainty
Incomplete; recognizes uncertainty Has “all the answers”
Growing, open, unfolding,
expanding
Fixed, closed, finished
Welcomes tests, positive and
negative evidence
Avoids tests and findings
Changes based on evidence
Blind to opposing evidence
Detached, disconnected, moral
stand
Locked into specific moral beliefs
Neutral; considers all sides
Highly partial
Strongly seeks logical consistency,
congruity
Has contradictions and
inconsistencies
Transcends/crosses social
positions
Rooted in specific position
3
The Relative Need for an Inline Citation
(Systematic Empowerment)
more
persuasive
Theory, Law, Equation, or
Professional Standard
(rationally objective)
Argument, Statement,
or Finding
(cogent or valid)
Value
less
persuasive
Personal Experience,
Opinion,
or Speculation
(reasonably subjective)
with author
Material Fact, Credible
Experience, or Term
Definition
(genuine)
Origin
elsewhere
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The Relative Strength of a Source
Reference (Authoritative Accountability)
more
accuracy
Case-specific
effect
(narrow impact)
Theory
(science-based)
Validity
less
accuracy
Ideology
(faith-based)
low
consistency
Preliminary scientific
finding
(broad impact)
Reliability
high
consistency
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Evaluating Sources
(adapted from Turnitin’s SEER rubric)
Dimension
More Credible
Credible
Less Credible
Authority
Written by
authors with
expertise in area
Reputable
information
References not
researched
Educational
Value
Exceeds instructional goals
Meets instructional goals
Content is
inappropriate
Intent
Highly-respected
to inform users
Provides content
to inform users
Actively sells
content
Originality
Primary source of Combines origicontent and
nal content with
viewpoints
new content
Aggregates or repurposes content
Quality
Content is
researched and
vetted
Content is
questionable;
can’t discern
Broad content
coverage
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Final Checklist for Case Deliverable
• Citations
– Have I cited the source of the facts, applicable theories
and laws, statistical equations, and professional
standards?
– Have I cited any secondary sources to support my
arguments?
• References (“Works Cited”)
– Is this reference the strongest reference I can use?
– Can a reader locate the reference?
• On-line references
– Double-check credibility of on-line sources
• Is this reference relatively bias-free?
– Double-check precise web URL
• Is this reference persistent and accessible?
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Which parts of Case Analysis require at least
one citation?
• Cover Page, Cover Letter, Table of Contents
– No. It’s the team’s original work. It may even be a team’s brand.
• Executive Summary
– No. It’s the team’s original work. It summarizes key analyses.
• Material Facts
– Yes. The source material for the facts did not originate with the team.
• Open Issues/Questions
– No. It’s the team’s original work.
• Accounting, Economics, Law, Statistics Sections
– Yes. The team’s analyses is based on theories, models, and frameworks.
• Ethical Considerations Section
– Yes. Ethics is grounded in theories, models, and frameworks too.
• Strategic Considerations Section
– Yes. Strategy is grounded in theories, models, and frameworks too.
• Recommendations
– No. It’s the team’s original work. It extends a team’s prior analyses.
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Formatting and Style Guides
• Format/Style Guide
– ENGL 205 (probably MLA)
– BUS 302 (I prefer APA)
–
–
–
–
–
MGT/MKT (generally requires APA)
BLAW (will require Bluebook)
IS/SOM (generally requires IEEE)
FIN (likely follows ECON--APA? or MMA?)
ACCT (I’m not sure—AICPA?)
• If it’s not clear from syllabus, etc., just ask.
– You may need to do this at a firm also (this is called a “house
style” in the publishing trade)
• Eric Garcia (CSUN Library) has posted APA and MLA manuals
– http://library.csun.edu/egarcia
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Actively Avoiding Plagiarism
• Quotation
– (“copying”)
– You need to know and reference the correct citation
• Paraphrase
– (“comprehension in the small”)
– You need to know multiple—possibly nearly all—sentences
in one or two paragraphs
• Summary
– (“comprehension in the large”)
– You need to know multiple—possibly nearly all—
paragraphs
• “Patchwriting”
– (somewhere between “quotation” and “paraphrase”)
– You need to know the original material well enough to
overlay your own thinking on top (without plagiarizing)
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Sources
• CSUN Library
– http://library.csun.edu/Guides/ResearchStrategies/CitationS
tyleGuides
• Neuman, W. Lawrence (2003), Social
Research Methods 5th ed., Allyn and Bacon
• Source Educational Evaluation Rubric (SEER)
–
pages.turnitin.com/rs/iparadigms/images/Turnitin_SEER_Rubric.pdf
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