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Learning Tools: Referencing

This Research Guide offers effective tools designed to develop your communication, social, self-management, research and thinking skills. Use these tools to plan your goals, map your journey and ultimately achieve success.

Academic Honesty

You must acknowledge all sources of information that you use.  Pretending that the ideas of others are your own is called plagiarism.  The purpose of your reference list is to acknowledge the source of information and to enable that source to be found again.

Students undertaking research are expected to list all sources of information in the following ways using APA 7th edition:

  • A reference/citation refers to a resource from which an idea or direct quotation has been taken. An 'in-text' reference, citing the author and date, is placed in the sentence or below a quotation inside curved brackets.
  • A references list is an alphabetical listing of all resources that have been referenced in the text of the report, essay or assignment.  It is placed at the end of the report, essay or assignment.

When do you have to Reference?

ALWAYS if you:

Quote - use someone else's exact words

Paraphrase 0 convert someone else's ideas to your own words

Summarise - create a brief account of someone else's ideas

Copy - statistics, figures, tables or images

When do you NOT need to reference?

When you are describing your own experiences or observations

When you are using general or common knowledge

What is Referencing?

Referencing is a method of acknowledging sources of information that you have used in your assignments. It is an important part of academic writing.

You must acknowledge any source you use both within the text of your assignment (also known as an in-text reference) and by listing it at the end of your assignment (also known as an end-text reference or reference list).

Features:

  • Your reference list needs to be placed at the end of your assessment.
  • Your references should be written on a new page with the word 'References' and centered at the top (do not bold, underline or use quotations for the title).
  • All text should be double-lined spaced.
  • Sources should be varied and appear reliable (i.e. primary sources, professional authors, news or feature articles, recent - depending on context).

Rules:

  • Sources should be titled using sentence case (only the first word, the word after a colon, and proper nouns are capitalised).
  • The reference list must be alphabeticalised by the author's surname.  If there isn't an author then it is ordered by the title of the item.
  • If your citation goes over a line, you must use a 0.5 cm hanging indent.
  • When using digital resources that are Wikis, a blog, or where the information is updated, you must state 'retrieved' and the date you did so, starting with the year, month then day.
  • If there is no publication date use 'n.d.' (no date) in it's place.

ChatGPT and other generative AI tools

NEW!!!  Referencing ChatGPT or other generative AI sources

When you use CHatGPT or other generative AI tools they must be referenced.  Not referencing means that you are not acknowledging sources used in your work and this would be an example of plagiarism. Your references should provide clear and accurate information for each source and should be identified where they are used in your work, including generative AI sources.

Citing generative AI sources

Reference List

Author of AI model used. (Year of AI model used). Name of AI model used (Version of AI model used) [Type or description of AI model used]. Web address of AI model used

Example:

OpenAI. (2022). ChatGPT (Dec 20 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/

In-text:

Author of generative AI model, Year of version used

Example:

(OpenAI, 2022) or OpenAI (2022)

The full transcript of a response can be included in an appendix or other supplementary materials.

What is Plagiarism and How to Avoid It

APA Referencing

Books:

One author/editor

Author's Surname, Initials. (Year published). Title of book. Publisher.

Example:

Smith, A. (2009). Rock and roll history. Scholastic.

In-text: (Smith, 2009)

Example: 

Hallinan, M.T. (Ed.). (2006). Handbook of the sociology of education. Springer.

In-text: (Hallinan, 2006)

 

Two authors

First Surname, Initials., & Second Surname, Initials. (Year published). Title of book. Publisher.

Example:

Bernstein, D. K., & Tiegerman, E. (1989). Language and communication disorders in children (2nd ed.). Merill.

In-text: (Bernstein & Tiegerman, 1989)

 

3-5 authors

First Surname, Initials., Second Surname, Initials., & Third Surname, Initals. (Year published). Title of book. Publisher.

Example:

Ranzijn, R., McConnochie, K., & Nolan, W. (2009) Psychology and indigenous Australians: Foundations of cultural competence. Palgrave MacMillan

First In-text: (Ranzijn, McConnochie, & Nolan, 2009)

Subsequent citations: (Ranzijin et al., 2009)

Website:

Author Surname, Initial. or Corporate Author. (Year). Title of page. http://xxxx

Example:

Diabetes WA. (2019). What's your risk? https://diabeteswa.com.au/whats-your-risk/ 

In-text

(Author surname or Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

(Diabetes WA, 2019)

Website (without an author):

Author Surname, Initial. or Corporate Author. (n.d.). Title of page. http://xxxx
Example:

The Kidney Foundation of Canada. (n.d.). Early detection and prevention. https://www.kidney.ca/page.aspx?pid=332

In-text

(Author Surname or Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

(The Kidney Foundation of Canada, n.d.)

PDF on Website:

Author Surname, Initial. or Corporate Author. (Year). Title of page. http://xxxx

Example:
Council of the Ageing. (2013). This is our space: Ageing with disability. 
     https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/04_2013/cota_handbook_-_changes_to_indesign_files_final_web.pdf

In-text

(Author Surname or Corporate Author, Year)
Example:

(Council of the Ageing, 2013)

Image from a website:

Author Surname, Initial. or Corporate author. (Year). Title of Image [Image]. http://xxxx

Example:
Mapswire. (2018). Physical Map of Australia [Image]. https://mapswire.com/australia/physical-maps/

In-text

(Author Surname or Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

Place near image (underneath if possible)

(Mapswire, 2018)

BLOG

Note: Aliases (screen names) may be used in place of the Author Surname

Blog Post

Author Surname, Initial. (Year, Month Day of post). Title of post. http://xxxx
Example:

This American Life. (2018, December 28). The room of requirement. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/664/the-room-of-requirement

In-text 

(Author Surname, Year)

Example:
(This American Life, 2018)

Blog Comment

Author Surname, Initial. (Year, Month Day of comment). Re: Original Blog Post. http://xxxx
 

Example:

Andrewp3. (2016, March 12). Re: A warming earth is making it harder to study Mars. 
     https://www.wired.com/2016/12/warming-earth-making-harder-study-mars/

In-text

(Author Surname,Year of Post, para. no.)

Example:
..."wish we knew whether or not Mars is lifeless...." (Andrewp3, 2016, para 7.).

Note: Title is not italicised

PODCAST

Author Surname, Initial. (Producer). (Year, Month Day). Title of podcast [Audio podcast]. http://xxxx
Example:

Rissian, L.C. (Producer). (2012, May 4). Twelve parsecs [Audio podcast]. http://itunes.apple.com

In-text

(Author Surname, Year)
Example:

(Rissian, 2012)

TWITTER

Author Surname, Initial [Author's screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of post [Tweet]. http://xxxx

Example:

Reuters Top News. (2016, November 1). Inside David Bowie's art collection [Tweet]. https://twitter.com/i/moments/79357609028915200

In-text 
(Author Surname, Year) OR Author Surname (Year)

Example:

(Reuters Top News, 2016) OR Reuters Top News (2016)...

Note: Title is not italicised

YOUTUBE

Note: Aliases (Screen names) may be used in place of the Author Surname

Author Surname, Initial. or Corporate Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of page [Video]. http://xxxx
Example:

Headspace Australia. (2018, October 1). Tips for good mental health [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7634-yFjurA

Intext

(Author Surname or Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

(Headspace Australia, 2018)

FACEBOOK

Note: Aliases (Screen names) may be used in place of the Author Surname

Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of comment or first 40 words of post [Facebook]. http://xxxx

Example:

Neil Gaiman. (2019, January 30). Stories are an essential part of who we are. They can tell us more about ourselves and our world that anything else can. In my masterclass, I’ll show you how the best fiction helps you find your own truth: how [Facebook status update]. https://www.facebook.com/neilgaiman/videos/210894339761745 

Note: Delete the rest of the web address after the number string.

Note: Titles are not italicised

In-text

(Author Name, Year)

Example:

(Neil Gaiman, 2019)

INSTAGRAM

Name [Instagram username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of post [Instagram]. http://xxxx

Example:

APA Style [@officialapastyle]. (2018, December 5). Welcome to the official Instagram for #APAStyle! We’re here to help you with your APA Style questions [Instagram]. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq-A-dvBLiH/

Note: Titles are not italicised

In-text 

(Name, Year of post) OR Name (Year of post)
Exampe:

(APA Style, 2018) OR APA Style (2018)...

APP

Creator. (Year). Title of software or Program (Version number) [Mobile application software]. http://xxxx
Example:

Skyscape. (2013). Skyscape medical resources (Version 1.17.42) [Mobile application software]. https://itunes.apple.com

In-text

(Creator, Year)
Example:

(Skyscape, 2013)

General Rules:

Any image referred to in your assignment requires a caption. If the image is not your own work, it also requires an in-text citation to the original source.

In your references list, if you got the image from:

• A Book, reference it as you would a quotation from a book.

• A Journal, reference as you would a quotation from a journal.

• A Web Page, reference it as you would a quotation from a web page.

Image from a Website

Figure 1. Liberation of Auschwitz

Note. From The Voices of Auschwitz by A.Faiola, R. Eglash & M. Boorstein, 2015. The Washington Post https://washingtonpost.com/sf/world/2015/01/20/fewer-voices-auschwitz-survivors-speak/

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of article. Journal Title, Volume(Issue), Page/s.
Example:

Watson, T. (2014). Customer service in libraries: Best practices. Australian Library Journal, 63(2), 170-171.

In-text

(Author Surname, Year) 
Example:

(Watson, 2014) 

Reference List
With a Producer  or Director

Author Surname, Initial. (Producer, Director, Writer etc.). (Year of broadcast). Title of show [Video]. http://xxxx

Example:

Medivision. (Producer). (2018). Nutrition in critical care patients [Video]. https://elogin02.dtwd.wa.gov.au/login?url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=274857&xtid=148961 

In-text

(Author Surname, Year)

Example:

(Medivision, 2018)

Reference List

With no Producer or Director

Title [Video file]. (Year of broadcast). http://xxxx

Example:

Coronavirus and COVID-19: Prevention and management [Video]. (2020). https://elogin02.dtwd.wa.gov.au/login?url=https://nmtafe.safetyhub.com/embeddirect/E91A67ED/2258647

In-text

(Title, Year)

Example:

(Coronavirus and COVID-19, 2020)

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. http://xxxx
Example:

Tait, J. (2013, November 24). Effective flipped learning note-taking [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawrEf6KjhU

Note: If the author's real name is not available, include only the screen name. 
 
In-Text
(Author Surname, Year)

Example:

(Tait, 2013)

Reference List 
Author Surname, Initial. (Producer, Director, Writer etc.). (Year). Title of video [Video]. http://xxxx

Example:

Angier, J. (Producer). (2011). Saving the ocean: Shark reef & the sacred island [Video]. http://www.netflix.com

​In-text
(Author Surname, Year)
Example:

(Angier, 2011)

Reference List
Author Surname, Initial.  (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. http://xxxx

Example:

Palmer, A. (2013, February). Amanda Palmer: The art of asking [Video]. https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking

​In-text
(Author Surname, Year)

Example:
(Palmer, 2013)

Reference List

Author Surname, Initial. (Producer, Director, Writer etc.). (Year of broadcast). Title of show [TV series episode]. Broadcasting Company.

Example:

Lewis, C. (Producer), & Apted, M. (Director). (2019). 63 up [TV series episode]. SBS TV.

In-text

(Author Surname, Year)

Example:
(Lewis & Apted, 2019)

Reference List
Author Surname, Initial. (Producer, Director, Writer etc.). (Year, Month, Day). Title of broadcast [Radio broadcast]. Broadcast channel.
Example:

Hall, A. (Producer). (2014, May 1). Sane in insane places [Radio broadcast]. BBC Radio 4.

​In-text
(Author Surname, Year)
Example:

(Hall, 2014)

Reference List

Composer Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of song [Recorded by Initial. Artist surname or Group if different from Composer]. On Title of album [Format]. Record label. 

Example:
Lennon, J., & McCartney, P. (2000). I want to hold your hand [Recorded by The Beatles]. On The Beatles 1 [CD]. Apple Records. 

In-text
(Composer Surname, Year, track number)
Example:
(Lennon & McCartney, 2000, track 4)

Note: With song titles and album titles, only the first letter of the initial word and proper nouns should be capitalised.

Reference List:

Department/Agency/Author. (Year). Title of publication. http://xxxx

Example:

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (2019). Closing the Gap: Prime Minister's Report 2019. https://www.pmc.gov.au/news-centre/indigenous-affairs/closing-gap-2019-report

In-text

(Department/Agency/Author, Year)

Example:

(Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2019)  

Note: Use the government department responsible for the report as the author.