Writing references

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is a concept that often appears in academic contexts. Among other things, it means that you must state which sources you have used in your own work. You must also cite and reference your sources correctly. This is important for many reasons.

By referring to the sources on which your own work is based, you show:

• respect for the work that the original authors have put into writing and researching
• your contribution to the field of knowledge differs from someone else’s
• where the reader can find the original source and continue reading.

The most important reasons for why you use citations in an academic text are:

• the reader has to be able to locate the original source
• to ensure the original author receives acknowledgement for their work
• to differentiate information from another’s text from your own
• to demonstrate that you are familiar with your field; this gives your text credibility
• because you need to support or criticize others’ claims
• because you need to compare or illustrate your ideas or results.

Cheating and plagiarism

Not citing sources or plagiarizing texts is not in line with academic integrity. Doing so counts as cheating and can lead to severe penalties. KI's disciplinary committee handles cases of suspected cheating and plagiarism.

The following examples have been judged as cheating :

• copying text from the Internet or other sources without citations
• collaborating with another student without permission (for example, students submit identical texts even though the assignment is individual)
• copying another student's written work
• self-plagiarism, that is, reproducing information from previous work you have written yourself, without stating the source.

APA

APA (American Psychological Association) is a reference style commonly used in psychology and health sciences. KIB's reference guide to APA is intended primarily for students at Karolinska Institutet. The reference guide should be regarded as recommendations based on APA 7.

The reference guide gives you answers to most things you may need to know in order to write correct references according to APA. For example, you will learn how to write references to most types of sources (such as articles, books, web pages, reports, images, and datasets).

In the reference guide, you can also click on FAQ to learn how to handle specific situations (several references in the same parentheses, or several references by the same author from the same year), and how to write references in-text as well as in the reference list.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a reference style established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. It is commonly used in the field of medicine. KIB's reference guide to Vancouver is intended primarily for students at Karolinska Institutet. The reference guide should be considered a recommendation based on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Sample References and Citing Medicine, an e-book on the Vancouver Style by National Library of Medicine.

The reference guide gives you answers to most things you may need to know in order to write correct references according to Vancouver. For example, you will learn how to write references to most types of sources (such as articles, books, web pages, reports, images, and datasets).

In the reference guide, you can also click on FAQ to learn how to handle specific situations (several references in the same parentheses, or several references by the same author from the same year), and how to write references in-text as well as in the reference list.

Reference management software

When writing texts with many references, it can be easier to use a reference management software. These can help you keep your references organised.

Support and contact

Finding referencing tricky? Visit us in the library or online if you want individualised support from a librarian.