APA referencing the basics (2021)

1. Referencing: The Basics
Library https://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/study/library

2. Learn:
• Why you need to use references in your academic work
• What are references and citations
• The differences between quoting and paraphrasing
• How to create references on Library Search
• How to check that your references are correct
• Creating references using the APA style.

3. Why reference?
• Highlight and back-up relevant points and facts
• Demonstrate that you have read widely
• Give credit to the author/creator
• Achieve a better mark or grade
• Reader can locate original source used
• Avoid plagiarism.
Adapted from: https://www.citethemrightonline.com/Basics/what-is-referencing

4. How do I know which referencing style to use?
• Most students at Middlesex University are expected to use the Harvard
referencing style
• However some programmes such as engineering, psychology and law
use different styles
• Your module or programme handbook will tell you which style to use
• If you are not sure, ask you Module Leader or Student Learning
Assistant
• This guide covers APA.

5. What are citations and references?
Citations are used in the text of your essay and show the reader where you
have got your information or facts from i.e. from a book, journal article or
web page. They should be used whenever you quote or paraphrase
information in your work. There are two main ways of using citations in your
work.
References are located at the end of your essay (i.e. the reference list) and
will be an alphabetical list (by author) of all the items you have cited.
You can see examples of APA citations and reference lists on the following
slides.

6. Using citations and references (APA)
Citations:
According to Chapman & Dixon (2009) recent development in multimedia technology
have led to a ten-fold increase in the ownership of……….
Ownership of hand-held digital devices has increased ten-fold due to recent
developments in multimedia technology (Chapman & Dixon, 2009).
Reference list:
Arundal, T. (2016, July 7). Ignore new technology at your peril. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2016/jul/07/ignore-new-technology-at-
your-peril
Chapman, N., & Dixon, J. (2009). Digital multimedia (3rd ed.). John Wiley.
Foster, B. (2017). Developments in multimedia. Addison-Wesley.
Wright, P. (2005). Rapid prototyping in consumer product design. Communications of
the ACM, 48(6), 36-41.

7. Quoting and Paraphrasing (APA)
Original text as found in a book:
The massive collection of data by the AML technologies that populate the
intelligent environment enables extensive profiling, which in turn is necessary to
deliver the benefits delivered by AML.
Quoted in your essay:
According to Hart, Smith & Wilson “the massive collection of data by the AML
technologies that populate the intelligent environment enables extensive
profiling, which in turn is necessary to deliver the benefits delivered by AML”
(2008).
Paraphrased in your essay:
In order for AML technologies to perform correctly they must collect profiles. As
a result, it is necessary for them to collect a large amount of data (Hart, Smith &
Wilson, 2008).
Reference:
Hart, N., Smith, G., & Wilson, J. (2008) Technologies for fraud detection and
prevention (3rd ed.). John Wiley.

8. Click on ‘Sign-in’,
choose ‘Middlesex
University’ and use
your University
email address and
IT password.
Create references with Library Search
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Library Search
Search for information on Library Search.
Once you have a list of useful items you can
start to create references which you can use
in your academic work.

9. To create a reference…
…click on the quotation
mark (“” ) and select the
referencing style that you
require i.e. APA.
You MUST use Cite Them Right Online, to check that the reference created is correct. You
will probably need to make a few small changes. Access: myUniHub > MyStudy > MyLibrary
> Databases > C > Cite Them Right Online. See example on next slide.
A reference is
created. ‘Copy’ the
reference into the
reference list in
your essay or
email it to yourself.

10. Ashby, M., & Johnson, K. (2010). Materials and design the art and science of material
selection in product design (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Book reference created by Library Search (APA)
Book reference corrected using Cite Then Right (APA)
Ashby, M., & Johnson, K. (2010). Materials and design the art and science of material
selection in product design (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.
References created on Library Search sometimes need
a few changes to make them perfect.
Journal article reference created by Library Search (APA)
Myers, D. (2012). Presenting the whole world of psychology to students worldwide:
Challenges and promises. International Journal Of Psychology, 47, 752–752.
Journal article reference corrected using Cite Then Right (APA)
Myers, D. (2012). Presenting the whole world of psychology to students
worldwide: Challenges and promises. International Journal of
Psychology, 47, 752–752.

11. Other ways to create references
It is often possible to create
references on other resources such
as Google Scholar and journal
databases. Always check that your
references are correct using Cite
Them Right Online (next slide).

12. Cite Them Right Online
myUniHub > My Study > My Library > Databases > C
Choose the type of information that
you need to reference and then
select the reference style e.g. APA.
Use Cite Them
Right to ensure
your references are
correct.

13. Cottrell, S. (2019). The study skills
handbook (5th ed.). Red Globe Press.
Title
Author Date
Edition
Publisher
This is how to reference a book (APA)

14. Frosch, A. (2012). Transference: Psychic reality and material
reality. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 19(4), 797-813.
Volume/ issue
number
Author Title of article
Date
Pages
This is how to reference a journal article (APA)
Title of journal

15. Web page with organisation as author
British Psychological Association. (2012). How to become a
psychologist. bps.org.uk. http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-
training/how-become-psychologist/how-become-psychologist
Title of web page
Author Date
URL
This is how to reference web pages (APA)
Web page with individual author(s)
Kompany, J.B. (2012, January 19). Learn to code. Medium.
https://medium.com/lifeofcode/learn-to-code-53cd2864
Author Date web page last
updated
Title of web page
URL
Website name
Website name

16. Referencing top tips
• Create references using Library Search
• Use Cite Them Right Online to
Check your references
• Be consistent

17. Need further help?
Your Librarian is:
Susannah Parry: s.parry@mdx.ac.uk
https://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/Susannah_Parry
June 2020
Referencing http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/plagiarismreferencing