Digital Design: Referencing & RefWorks

When writing up a piece of work you will need to cite (quote) the bibliographic references of all the documents which you have used or referred to.  It is very important to be consistent and accurate when citing references because the references may need to be traced at some later date by someone else who reads your work. Therefore, the same rules should be followed every time you cite a reference. 

A widely used citation style is the Harvard Reference System.  However please refer to you course handbook for specific guidance on which referencing style your tutors require you to follow. 

RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic management system which allows you to collect, organise and store references from a variety of sources such as books, journal articles and websites. It can then help you to produce bibliographies, reference lists and in-text citations in a range of referencing styles( including Harvard) automatically. 

Classes to show you how to make the best use of RefWorks are held in all campus libraries regularly during semester. These are advertised in the Library tab of the Portal. There are also short training videos available to help you get started.

Some Faculties and Schools at the University of Ulster have developed their own guidelines (listed below).  ALWAYS ask your lecturers for guidance on the correct referencing guidelines to use.

The library holds a range of books to help with study and writing skills at 808.042 and 808.66.

Please see the leaflet Finding information on writing, research and referencing for more guidance.

Reference to a book

Author’s Surname, INITIALS. (Year of publication) Title of book. Edition (only if it is not the first). Place of publication: Publisher.

e.g. Lockwood, T. 2009, Design thinking, U.S., Allworth Press.

Reference to a contribution in an edited book

Contributing author’s Surname, INITIALS. (Year of publication) Title of contribution. Followed by In: Surname, INITIALS., of author or editor of publication followed by ed. or eds. if relevant. Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher, Page number (s) of contribution.

e.g. Hilmes, M. 2009, Digital television: High definitions. In: Creeber, G., Martin, R. (eds) Digital cultures: understanding new media. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Reference to an article in a journal (magazine)

Author’s surname, INITIALS. Year of publication, "Title of article", Title of journal, Volume number. part number, Page numbers of the article.

e.g. Diaz, L.. 2011, "New research practices for a new media" Journal of Visual Art Practice, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 3-4

Reference to web pages with an organisation as author 

Name of Organisation (Year of publication/revision) Title of web page. Place of publication: Publisher. Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g. ISTD, 2013, Eduction - a fundamental part of ISTD activity. ISTD. Available from http://www.istd.org.uk/education [Accessed 10 May 2013]

Copyright law gives creators the right to control their work and enables them to profit from its use.

See the links below for more information.