Different Ways of Indicating Sources in Your Text

There are different ways of indicating sources in your text: you may provide just the reference and not mention the authors at all, or you may both mention the authors and give a reference. You may also mention something about the study in your text (but not the names of the authors) and provide a reference. Not only do these different ways of indicating sources signal slightly different things to your reader, but they are also used to different extents in different parts of the scientific text.

Compare the following:

In example 1, only a reference is provided; there is no mention of the researcher in the text. Such a way of indicating sources is used when presenting information which may be viewed as “true” or “uncontroversial”. Sources are often presented in this way in the introduction/background section of a scientific text, where much information is presented and summarized. Sources may, however, be indicated only with the reference in the discussion section as well, for example when sources are used to underpin a theory offered to explain results.

By contrast, a mention of the researcher or the research group in addition to the reference – such as in example 2 above – signals something slightly different. This way of indicating a source may be used when presenting information that is less established or emphasizing the difference between sources, for example when comparing your results to the results of others and analyzing all of those in detail. Sources are introduced along with the name of the author(s) primarily in the discussion, but may also be so in the introduction, for example when outlining a field with conflicting results or controversy, or when presenting a study which is similar to your own and highlighting how yours complement it. It is worth noting that the mention of researchers’ name will also draw more attention to the researchers and not just to the results.

When the names of the authors are mentioned to introduce a source, the summary marker chosen also affects how the information presented is perceived. Summary markers are words that connect the researchers with their finding: “Sucre has shown that sugar has a negative impact on health (1).” “Sucre has shown that…” is quite different from “Sucre has suggested that…”; the former sounds much more certain. There are a number of summary markers to choose from, some of which are listed below. Choose yours with care to make your text more precise and clearer.

There is also a third option, in addition to giving only the reference and to mentioning the authors’ names and giving a reference. You may mention something about the study in your text – but not the authors’ names – and give a reference. For example:

• ”The results of a minor study indicate that…” By mentioning that the study is minor, and that there is only one, you signal that the information may be less reliable than if a bigger one had been conducted. You do not do so to question the study results, however; you merely help your readers assess the information that you present.
• ”An Australian study has shown that…” Stressing the setting of the study instead of the research group draws attention to the setting. Your readers will not be surprised if you continue this sentence with “…whereas a Japanese study observed…” or “whereas less is known about the matter in a Swedish context…”. However, only mention the setting if it is indeed important.