A researcher must study external resources to understand various aspects of the research area and to prepare research reports, papers, and publications. For instance, the researcher may include definitions of terminologies and explanations provided by other scholars. Likewise, the researcher uses the facts and findings of other studies to create a background for analyzing the variables and findings of his own study.

Proper citation of each external source (e.g., a book, report, paper, magazine, etc.) used in preparing a research thesis, paper, or publication is essential. Citation of external sources is necessary for the following reasons:

1. To prove the authenticity of facts and figures
2. To make the information more reliable
3. To give credit to the original author
4. To avoid plagiarism, as it is the work of others and credit should be given to the original author. Properly cited information does not count in plagiarism.

   CITING THE EXTERNAL SOURCES

An external source is cited within the content where a part of the source is presented, as well as in the list of references at the end of the research thesis, report, or paper. For correct citation, references for each source should be provided in both places: within the content and in the list of references at the end of the document, as follows:

1. In-text Citation provides immediate attribution for statements, facts, or ideas
2. Bibliography/Reference List provide complete source details so readers can locate and verify the original material.

There are three widely accepted styles of writing references - 1. APA Style, 2. MLA Style, and 3. Chicago Style - which have different formats for citing a source within the content (in-text citation) as well as in the References List. Before discussing these styles, it is important to first explain in-text citation and reference lists.

 In-text Citation

In-text citation refers to citing information or a statement taken from another source within the content of your research report. This is typically done by including the last name of the author and the year of publication within the sentence.

Example: A researcher may include a statement from a book in their thesis to support a point. The statement is:
“Women do two-thirds of the world’s work but only receive ten percent of the world’s income.”

Details of the source are as follows:

• Author: Michelle Stanworth
• Year of Publication: 1983

There are two common ways to cite this statement in-text:

1. By writing the last name of the author and year of publication in parentheses within the sentence:
   Women contribute to two-thirds of the world’s work but earn only 10% of the world’s income (Stanworth, 1983).
2. By starting the sentence with the author’s last name and including the year in parentheses:
   Stanworth (1983) stated that women contribute to two-thirds of the world’s work but earn only 10% of the world’s income.

 Bibliography / Reference List

The same source must also be cited in the Bibliography / Reference List at the end of the research report. To cite the source in the reference list, complete details are required, including the author’s name, year of publication, book title, place of publication, and publisher.
Details for the above source:

• Book title: Gender and Schooling
• Author: Michelle Stanworth
• Year of Publication: 1983
• Place of Publication: London
• Publisher: Hutchinson

Reference list entry (APA Style):

Stanworth, M. (1983). Gender and Schooling. London: Hutchinson.

This reference follows a specific format, demonstrating that approved styles (APA, MLA, Chicago) are used to maintain consistency and clarity.

  STYLES OF REFERENCING

Three widely accepted styles are used by researchers and authors worldwide:

1. APA Style (American Psychological Association) – used in Psychology, Education, Sociology, and other social sciences
2. MLA Style (Modern Language Association) – used in Humanities
3. Chicago Style – used in Fine Arts, History, and Business studies

The purpose of these styles is to provide a common format for references that is easily understandable.

The three referencing styles are illustrated below using this example:

• Book title: The Mediation Process
• Author: Christopher Moore
• Year of Publication: 1996
• Place of Publication: San Francisco
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass Publishers
• Page No.: 37

Statement to cite:

“Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement.”

In-text citation:

Only the author’s last name and year of publication are included within the sentence (last name, year).

Example:
Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement (Moore, 1996).

Including the page number:
Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement (Moore, 1996, p. 37).

Reference list format:

Last name of author, Initial of first name. (Year). Book title in italics. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Example:
Moore, C. (1996). The Mediation Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

In-text citation:

The author’s last name and page number are included in parentheses (Last name page-number).

Example:
Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement (Moore 37).

Reference list format:

Last name, First name. Book title in italics. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

Example:
Moore, Christopher. The Mediation Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1996.
Note: Unlike APA Style, the year in MLA Style appears at the end and is not in parentheses.

In-text citation:

Chicago allows two methods:

1. Author-date in-text citation:
   Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement (Moore 1996, 37).
2. Footnotes: The sentence is numbered, and a short citation is included at the bottom of the page.

Example:
Mediation is a process wherein an individual facilitates negotiations between disputing parties to reach an agreement[1].

Footnote:

1. Christopher Moore, The Mediation Process (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1996), 37.

Reference list / Bibliography:

Moore, Christopher. 1996. The Mediation Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

 Additional Guidelines for Writing References and In-Text Citations

1. When preparing a research report, thesis, or paper, following certain additional guidelines ensures clarity, consistency, and academic integrity.
   1. Alphabetical Order

   • All sources in the Reference List / Bibliography must be arranged alphabetically by the last name of the first author.
   • This applies to APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
   • Example (APA Style):
   • Moore, C. (1996). The Mediation Process. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
   • Stanworth, M. (1983). Gender and Schooling. London: Hutchinson.

   2. Hanging Indent

   • Each reference should use a hanging indent:
   • The first line starts at the margin.
   • All subsequent lines are indented to the right.
   • This improves readability and distinguishes each source clearly.

   3. Accurate Author Details

   • Include the full last name and initial(s) or first name as required by the citation style.
   • For sources with multiple authors, follow the specific rules of APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

   4. Consistent Use of Years

   • APA: Year is in parentheses immediately after the author’s name.
   • MLA: Year appears at the end of the reference.
   • Chicago: Year appears after the author’s name in the bibliography; in author-date citations, year is in parentheses in-text.

   5. Page Numbers

   • Include page numbers in in-text citations when:
   • Directly quoting a source.
   • Referring to a specific idea or data point.
   • Example (APA): (Moore, 1996, p. 37)
   • Example (MLA): (Moore 37)

   6. Digital Sources

   • For online journals or e-books, include:
   • DOI (APA)
   • URL (MLA and Chicago)
   • Ensure URLs are complete and accessible.

   7. Paraphrasing and Quotation

   • Direct quotes: Use quotation marks + in-text citation.
   • Paraphrasing: Even when rewording, provide an in-text citation to acknowledge the source.

   8. Multiple Source Citations

   • When citing more than one source for the same idea, separate them with semicolons in APA or Chicago (author-date).
   • Example (APA): (Moore, 1996; Stanworth, 1983)

   9. Avoid Common Mistakes

   • Forgetting to italicize book titles.
   • Omitting parentheses around the year (APA).
   • Misplacing page numbers.
   • Using inconsistent formats within the same document.

   10. Consistency Across the Document

   • Use the same referencing style throughout the research paper.
   • Avoid mixing APA, MLA, and Chicago styles in a single document.