This document discusses referencing methods and approaches, including: - The importance of referencing sources so readers can follow up on sources easily. - Collecting references from the beginning and keeping full source details. - Choosing a referencing style like Harvard and sticking to it consistently. - Using reference management software like EndNote, RefWorks, Zotero to organize references and citations. - Compiling an accurate bibliography of only sources cited in the text.

1. Referencing methods and
approaches
Dr Karen McAulay

2. A groan or a sigh?

3. What do we mean by referencing?
• Footnotes
• Bibliography
• In The Dissertation
• … or in articles/books you might write now or
in the future …

4. Why?
• Why does it matter?
• So your examiners/readers can follow up your
sources … books, articles and websites …
• … with the minimum fuss!

5. Input / Output
• 2 distinct stages:-
• Collecting
• Codifying / Sharing

6. Input

7. In preparation
• Don’t start your bibliography when you start
writing your text – if you haven’t already
started, begin compiling your bibliography
now.
• Keep full details of anything you read –
especially dates and pages.
• Record place of publication and publishers’
names – you can decide later how much to
include depending on the system you choose.

8. Gathering it all in?

9. For your own benefit …
• If something you read strikes a particular
chord, keep a brief annotation with the
reference itself. This won’t go in the
bibliography, but might be useful in your
literature survey or a footnote.

10. Embarras de richesses?
French (literally, ‘an embarrassment of riches’).
More resources, pleasures, etc., than one knows what to do with.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1O33-embarrasderichesse.html

11. Embrace technology
• There are various kinds of software to help
you compile your bibliography.
• EndNote and RefWorks are commercially-
available software
• We don’t subscribe, but Endnote available
with educational discount as an individual, or
• Access Refworks through the University of St
Andrew’s.

12. RefWorks
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/resources/electronic/

13. Pros and Cons
• EndNote and RefWorks are powerful tools
• Synchronise with web-resources like COPAC
and even international library catalogues
• Synchronise with Word
• Choose citation style and the software does it
for you
• But quite complex and does need learning.

14. Free shareware
• Peggy uses Zotero (pronounced Zo-tair-oh) –
requires you to use Firefox not Internet
Explorer. Good for keeping citation details.
• For saving favourite websites online, many
people use Delicious – but Yahoo is apparently
dropping it, so future uncertain.
• Diigo is a new social bookmarking tool which
I’m experimenting with – looks quite
flexible, and portable.

15. Social bookmarking and more
• Zotero http://www.zotero.org/
• Delicious http://www.delicious.com/
• Diigo http://www.diigo.com/index

16. Growing Knowledge
• Take another look at the British Library Growing
Knowledge website –more ideas there?
• http://www.growingknowledge.bl.uk/Tools.aspx

17. Output

18. How?
• How?
• Different referencing systems, eg Harvard,
Chicago, MHRA Style Guide (Modern Humanities
Research Association)
• RSAMD prefers Harvard system, as recommended
in RSAMD “Writing Essays on Music” guidelines.
• Links on Moodle and via RSAMD library
catalogue; also in ‘how to write PhD’ books
• Bottom line – consistency

19. Rules are for fools?
(and the guidance of the wise)
• All citation systems: consistency & clarity
• Agree on a system: get rules & stick to them
• Basic questions: footnotes or endnotes?
• If endnotes, at end of chapter or dissertation?
• Different views on how much info to be given.

20. University of St Andrews
• Citing References – info on St Andrews Uni
Library website
• http://www.st-
andrews.ac.uk/library/information/furtherhelp
/citingreferences/

21. Harvard system @
Anglia Ruskin University

22. Anglia Ruskin University
• http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/
harvard.htm = good online guide to the
Harvard system.

23. Harvard system at Leeds Metropolitan

24. Leeds Metropolitan University
• http://skillsforlearning.leedsmet.ac.uk/Quote
_Unquote.pdf = Quote, Unquote: a guide to
Harvard referencing

25. Bibliography
• Again, decide on a system then stick to it.
• I was advised only to include items I’d referred
to in the text.
• Ask your supervisor if they require only cited
materials, or additional reading matter too.

26. Actually Compiling the dreaded
Bibliography
My own personal method –
1. Big Master Bibliography from Day One;
2. Started EndNote Bibliography when I began
writing up, to keep details of what I had actually
cited;
3. Used that as basis for the Bibliography that went
at the end of my dissertation. (But I didn’t use
EndNote formatting within Word)

27. Geekiness
• If you don’t have the page no. of a quotation,
GoogleBooks can be invaluable.
• … Search for the quotation and find which
page it was on, even if you can’t read the book
online. Quicker than going back to the library!
• For accuracy, proofread intensively.
• If there are mistakes you regularly make, use
Edit>Find in Word, to ensure you’ve caught
and corrected them all.

28. Practical help
• Look at other people’s dissertations – get an
idea of what passes muster, and what might
work for you. Talk to people who have ‘been
there, done that’.
• If you have any difficulty formatting the
dissertation, do speak to IT Trainer Julie
Halstead early enough to allow you time to
implement any changes/ improvements.

29. Always darkest before the dawn!

30. The End
• Thank you
Dr Karen McAulay
Music & Academic Services Librarian