how to do a reference in research

• Privacy Policy

Home » References in Research – Types, Examples and Writing Guide

References in Research – Types, Examples and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

References play a crucial role in academic and scientific research, providing credibility to the work by acknowledging the sources of information, theories, or data used. Proper referencing helps readers locate the original sources, demonstrates the depth of research conducted, and avoids plagiarism. This article explores the types of references, practical examples, and a detailed guide on writing references effectively.

References in Research

In research, references are a list of sources that the author has cited or consulted during the preparation of a study, paper, or thesis. These sources can include books, journal articles, websites, conference papers, and more. References ensure transparency and enable others to verify or explore the cited material further.

For example, a research paper on climate change may reference peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and datasets that provide evidence for its claims.

Types of References

References in research can be categorized based on the type of source cited. Understanding these types ensures proper citation and formatting.

Books are often cited for foundational theories, historical context, or comprehensive treatments of a subject.

• Example : Smith, J. (2018). Introduction to Environmental Science . Oxford University Press.

2. Journal Articles

Journal articles provide peer-reviewed research, which is considered reliable and authoritative.

• Example : Brown, P., & Taylor, K. (2020). “Impact of Urbanization on Biodiversity.” Ecological Studies , 34(3), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolstud.2020.03.001

3. Conference Papers

Conference papers are presented at academic conferences and often include the latest research findings.

• Example : Johnson, R. (2021). “Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence , 45–50.

4. Websites and Online Sources

Websites are commonly used for up-to-date information, official data, and reports.

• Example : World Health Organization. (2023). “COVID-19 Vaccination Statistics.” Retrieved from https://www.who.int/covid19/vaccines

5. Theses and Dissertations

Citations of theses or dissertations acknowledge in-depth research on specific topics.

• Example : Patel, A. (2019). The Effects of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health (Master’s thesis). University of California, Berkeley.

Reports are often published by governments, NGOs, or international organizations.

• Example : United Nations. (2022). Global Water Crisis Report . United Nations Publications.

7. Datasets

Datasets are cited when using numerical or raw data for analysis.

• Example : National Bureau of Economic Research. (2021). US GDP Growth Data, 1990–2020 [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.nber.org

8. Multimedia Sources

Multimedia sources, such as videos, podcasts, and images, are cited in research when relevant.

• Example : Khan, A. (Director). (2021). The Rise of Renewable Energy [Film]. EcoVision Productions.

9. Software and Tools

Software or computational tools used in research are cited to acknowledge their role.

• Example : R Core Team. (2022). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing [Computer software]. Retrieved from https://www.r-project.org

Examples of References in Popular Citation Styles

Different academic fields use specific citation styles, each with its unique format for referencing sources. Below are examples in three common styles:

1. APA (7th Edition)

• Book : Johnson, L. (2020). Digital Transformation in Business . Springer.
• Journal Article : Lee, M., & Carter, J. (2021). “Big Data Analytics in Retail.” Journal of Business Research , 128, 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.015

2. MLA (9th Edition)

• Book : Johnson, Laura. Digital Transformation in Business . Springer, 2020.
• Journal Article : Lee, Michael, and Jennifer Carter. “Big Data Analytics in Retail.” Journal of Business Research , vol. 128, 2021, pp. 25–35, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.015.

3. Chicago (Author-Date)

• Book : Johnson, Laura. 2020. Digital Transformation in Business . Berlin: Springer.
• Journal Article : Lee, Michael, and Jennifer Carter. 2021. “Big Data Analytics in Retail.” Journal of Business Research 128: 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.015.

Writing Guide for References

Follow these steps to create accurate and comprehensive references for your research paper:

Step 1: Collect Source Information

Keep track of the sources you consult during research. Include details such as:

• Title of the work
• Year of publication
• Publisher or journal name
• Volume and issue (for articles)
• DOI, URL, or other access information

Step 2: Choose the Appropriate Citation Style

Select a citation style based on the requirements of your field or journal. Common styles include:

• APA : Common in psychology, education, and social sciences.
• MLA : Preferred in humanities.
• Chicago : Used in history, arts, and some social sciences.
• IEEE : Popular in engineering and technical fields.

Step 3: Follow Formatting Rules

Adhere to the specific formatting guidelines for your chosen citation style. Pay attention to:

• Order of elements (e.g., author name, title, publication year).
• Punctuation and capitalization rules.
• Use of italics or quotation marks for titles.

Step 4: Use Citation Management Tools

Leverage tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to organize references and generate citations automatically.

Step 5: Review and Cross-Check

Double-check all references for accuracy. Ensure every in-text citation matches a corresponding entry in the reference list.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Referencing

• Missing Sources : Ensure that every in-text citation appears in the reference list and vice versa.
• Incorrect Format : Failing to follow the style guide can lead to errors and confusion.
• Outdated Sources : Use recent and credible sources, especially in fast-evolving fields.
• Overuse of Secondary Sources : Always cite original sources whenever possible.
• Inconsistent Style : Maintain consistency in formatting throughout the reference list.

Benefits of Proper Referencing

• Credibility : Demonstrates thorough research and reliance on credible sources.
• Ethical Integrity : Prevents plagiarism by giving credit to original authors.
• Transparency : Allows readers to verify and explore the cited material.
• Improved Readability : Organizes supporting evidence systematically for better comprehension.

References are an essential component of research papers, ensuring academic integrity and enabling readers to trace the origins of information. By understanding the types of references, following proper formatting guidelines, and using citation tools, researchers can create accurate and reliable reference lists. Whether using APA, MLA, or Chicago style, meticulous referencing enhances the quality and credibility of scholarly work.

• American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). APA.
• Modern Language Association. (2021). MLA Handbook (9th ed.). MLA.
• University of Chicago Press. (2017). The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Cite Them Right. (2022). The Essential Referencing Guide . Macmillan Education.
• Perrin, R. (2020). Pocket Guide to APA Style (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

You may also like

Research Process – Steps, Examples and Tips

Conceptual Framework – Types, Methodology and...

Future Research – Thesis Guide

Implications in Research – Types, Examples and...

Data Interpretation – Process, Methods and...

Research Approach – Types Methods and Examples

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

In-Text Citations: The Basics

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Reference citations in text are covered on pages 261-268 of the Publication Manual. What follows are some general guidelines for referring to the works of others in your essay.

Note:  On pages 117-118, the Publication Manual suggests that authors of research papers should use the past tense or present perfect tense for signal phrases that occur in the literature review and procedure descriptions (for example, Jones (1998)  found  or Jones (1998)  has found ...). Contexts other than traditionally-structured research writing may permit the simple present tense (for example, Jones (1998)  finds ).

APA Citation Basics

When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

If you are referring to an idea from another work but  NOT  directly quoting the material, or making reference to an entire book, article or other work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication and not the page number in your in-text reference.

On the other hand, if you are directly quoting or borrowing from another work, you should include the page number at the end of the parenthetical citation. Use the abbreviation “p.” (for one page) or “pp.” (for multiple pages) before listing the page number(s). Use an en dash for page ranges. For example, you might write (Jones, 1998, p. 199) or (Jones, 1998, pp. 199–201). This information is reiterated below.

Regardless of how they are referenced, all sources that are cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

In-text citation capitalization, quotes, and italics/underlining

• Always capitalize proper nouns, including author names and initials: D. Jones.
• If you refer to the title of a source within your paper, capitalize all words that are four letters long or greater within the title of a source:  Permanence and Change . Exceptions apply to short words that are verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs:  Writing New Media ,  There Is Nothing Left to Lose .

( Note:  in your References list, only the first word of a title will be capitalized:  Writing new media .)

• When capitalizing titles, capitalize both words in a hyphenated compound word:  Natural-Born Cyborgs .
• Capitalize the first word after a dash or colon: "Defining Film Rhetoric: The Case of Hitchcock's  Vertigo ."
• If the title of the work is italicized in your reference list, italicize it and use title case capitalization in the text:  The Closing of the American Mind ;  The Wizard of Oz ;  Friends .
• If the title of the work is not italicized in your reference list, use double quotation marks and title case capitalization (even though the reference list uses sentence case): "Multimedia Narration: Constructing Possible Worlds;" "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry."

Short quotations

If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and page number for the reference (preceded by "p." for a single page and “pp.” for a span of multiple pages, with the page numbers separated by an en dash).

You can introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author's last name followed by the date of publication in parentheses.

If you do not include the author’s name in the text of the sentence, place the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parentheses after the quotation.

Long quotations

Place direct quotations that are 40 words or longer in a free-standing block of typewritten lines and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin. Maintain double-spacing throughout, but do not add an extra blank line before or after it. The parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Because block quotation formatting is difficult for us to replicate in the OWL's content management system, we have simply provided a screenshot of a generic example below.

Formatting example for block quotations in APA 7 style.

Quotations from sources without pages

Direct quotations from sources that do not contain pages should not reference a page number. Instead, you may reference another logical identifying element: a paragraph, a chapter number, a section number, a table number, or something else. Older works (like religious texts) can also incorporate special location identifiers like verse numbers. In short: pick a substitute for page numbers that makes sense for your source.

Summary or paraphrase

If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference and may omit the page numbers. APA guidelines, however, do encourage including a page range for a summary or paraphrase when it will help the reader find the information in a longer work. 

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, automatically generate references for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Referencing

A Quick Guide to Referencing | Cite Your Sources Correctly

Referencing means acknowledging the sources you have used in your writing. Including references helps you support your claims and ensures that you avoid plagiarism .

There are many referencing styles, but they usually consist of two things:

• A citation wherever you refer to a source in your text.
• A reference list or bibliography at the end listing full details of all your sources.

The most common method of referencing in UK universities is Harvard style , which uses author-date citations in the text. Our free Harvard Reference Generator automatically creates accurate references in this style.

Make your writing flawless in 1 upload

Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes.

Table of contents

Referencing styles, citing your sources with in-text citations, creating your reference list or bibliography, harvard referencing examples, frequently asked questions about referencing.

Each referencing style has different rules for presenting source information. For in-text citations, some use footnotes or endnotes , while others include the author’s surname and date of publication in brackets in the text.

The reference list or bibliography is presented differently in each style, with different rules for things like capitalisation, italics, and quotation marks in references.

Your university will usually tell you which referencing style to use; they may even have their own unique style. Always follow your university’s guidelines, and ask your tutor if you are unsure. The most common styles are summarised below.

Harvard referencing, the most commonly used style at UK universities, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical bibliography or reference list at the end.

Harvard Referencing Guide

Vancouver referencing, used in biomedicine and other sciences, uses reference numbers in the text corresponding to a numbered reference list at the end.

Vancouver Referencing Guide

APA referencing, used in the social and behavioural sciences, uses author–date in-text citations corresponding to an alphabetical reference list at the end.

APA Referencing Guide APA Reference Generator

MHRA referencing, used in the humanities, uses footnotes in the text with source information, in addition to an alphabetised bibliography at the end.

MHRA Referencing Guide

OSCOLA referencing, used in law, uses footnotes in the text with source information, and an alphabetical bibliography at the end in longer texts.

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

In-text citations should be used whenever you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source (e.g. a book, article, image, website, or video).

Quoting and paraphrasing

Quoting is when you directly copy some text from a source and enclose it in quotation marks to indicate that it is not your own writing.

Paraphrasing is when you rephrase the original source into your own words. In this case, you don’t use quotation marks, but you still need to include a citation.

In most referencing styles, page numbers are included when you’re quoting or paraphrasing a particular passage. If you are referring to the text as a whole, no page number is needed.

In-text citations

In-text citations are quick references to your sources. In Harvard referencing, you use the author’s surname and the date of publication in brackets.

Up to three authors are included in a Harvard in-text citation. If the source has more than three authors, include the first author followed by ‘ et al. ‘

The point of these citations is to direct your reader to the alphabetised reference list, where you give full information about each source. For example, to find the source cited above, the reader would look under ‘J’ in your reference list to find the title and publication details of the source.

Placement of in-text citations

In-text citations should be placed directly after the quotation or information they refer to, usually before a comma or full stop. If a sentence is supported by multiple sources, you can combine them in one set of brackets, separated by a semicolon.

If you mention the author’s name in the text already, you don’t include it in the citation, and you can place the citation immediately after the name.

• Another researcher warns that the results of this method are ‘inconsistent’ (Singh, 2018, p. 13) .
• Previous research has frequently illustrated the pitfalls of this method (Singh, 2018; Jones, 2016) .
• Singh (2018, p. 13) warns that the results of this method are ‘inconsistent’.

The terms ‘bibliography’ and ‘reference list’ are sometimes used interchangeably. Both refer to a list that contains full information on all the sources cited in your text. Sometimes ‘bibliography’ is used to mean a more extensive list, also containing sources that you consulted but did not cite in the text.

A reference list or bibliography is usually mandatory, since in-text citations typically don’t provide full source information. For styles that already include full source information in footnotes (e.g. OSCOLA and Chicago Style ), the bibliography is optional, although your university may still require you to include one.

Format of the reference list

Reference lists are usually alphabetised by authors’ last names. Each entry in the list appears on a new line, and a hanging indent is applied if an entry extends onto multiple lines.

Different source information is included for different source types. Each style provides detailed guidelines for exactly what information should be included and how it should be presented.

Below are some examples of reference list entries for common source types in Harvard style.

• Chapter of a book
• Journal article

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

Upload my document

Your university should tell you which referencing style to follow. If you’re unsure, check with a supervisor. Commonly used styles include:

• Harvard referencing , the most commonly used style in UK universities.
• MHRA , used in humanities subjects.
• APA , used in the social sciences.
• Vancouver , used in biomedicine.
• OSCOLA , used in law.

Your university may have its own referencing style guide.

If you are allowed to choose which style to follow, we recommend Harvard referencing, as it is a straightforward and widely used style.

References should be included in your text whenever you use words, ideas, or information from a source. A source can be anything from a book or journal article to a website or YouTube video.

If you don’t acknowledge your sources, you can get in trouble for plagiarism .

To avoid plagiarism , always include a reference when you use words, ideas or information from a source. This shows that you are not trying to pass the work of others off as your own.

You must also properly quote or paraphrase the source. If you’re not sure whether you’ve done this correctly, you can use the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker to find and correct any mistakes.

Harvard referencing uses an author–date system. Sources are cited by the author’s last name and the publication year in brackets. Each Harvard in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end of the paper.

Vancouver referencing uses a numerical system. Sources are cited by a number in parentheses or superscript. Each number corresponds to a full reference at the end of the paper.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing | Citation Examples
• APA Referencing (7th Ed.) Quick Guide | In-text Citations & References

How to Avoid Plagiarism | Tips on Citing Sources

More interesting articles.

• A Quick Guide to OSCOLA Referencing | Rules & Examples
• Harvard In-Text Citation | A Complete Guide & Examples
• Harvard Referencing for Journal Articles | Templates & Examples
• Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples
• MHRA Referencing | A Quick Guide & Citation Examples
• Reference a Website in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples
• Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples
• Vancouver Referencing | A Quick Guide & Reference Examples

Scribbr APA Citation Checker

An innovative new tool that checks your APA citations with AI software. Say goodbye to inaccurate citations!