Using the literature

When proposing or writing up research, you must:

• draw upon the words and work of others. In fact, the most common way to show that your work or research problem is original is to review the work of others in your field and to indicate how your research will differ from theirs – from the previous research.
• identify the source of the previous research or information you take from others’ reports.
• indicate the source of ideas that you summarize or paraphrase from articles and books you have read as you write your proposal or report.
• indicate the sources of words that you quote precisely or verbatim.

Failing to give proper credit to the sources for words, ideas, findings or information is know as plagiarism. Plagiarism is a crime!

Start documenting your sources as you read.

Click here (pdf. file) to see what an entry for a journal article should look like in the list of references.

You have just seen how to document a journal article using the APA (American Psychological Association) referencing system. Now it is time for you to try this task.

Before you continue, consider this question.

Now click here to find out about referencing systems.