1. Academic resources and referencing for postgraduate study
Katherine Hughes
On behalf of Clare McCluskey Dean
Academic Liaison Librarian

2. Key aims
To highlight the resources available for academic study at postgraduate level
To give examples of how to find, evaluate, use, and reference these resources

3. Learning outcomes At the end of this session, you will be able to
Demonstrate knowledge of different types of resources that can be used for research
Demonstrate a knowledge of the main attributes of each type of resource
Use an appropriate search tool to obtain resources
Harvard reference key resource types

4. Task
In pairs or small groups, list as many types of resource that you have used in previous study as possible You have two minutes…

5. Task
Are there any types of resource missing from the list? What makes each of these different?

6. Some types of resource
Textbooks – overview of a topic/practical guide Journal articles – research, usually narrow focus Policy – Government guidance etc. Professional news – from across the sector Theses – research from PhDs etc. Conference papers – usually research in progress And more…
Emphasise importance of looking at policy documents as well as more traditional academic texts
Also of blending with own experience and bringing in own academic voice
Important of synthesising views across multiple sources – not just cherry-picking one or two

7. The type of resource, and how you integrate it in your work, is more important than how you accessed it.
Many of the resources you want to use – policy docs, etc. – will be sourced via the internet rather than the library site
This is fine – evaluate based on type of resource, authorship, how you found it, rather than where

8. Demos:
Library catalogue for known title search for books
Reading lists – e.g. MPG094, show TOC. Suggested further resources by topic – but important to go beyond these and do your own research.
A-to-Z databases list – filter by education
Taylor and Francis – just one publisher but includes a lot of well-regarded education journals. Nice easy search interface and recommends articles on related topics. Example search: ‘teaching physical education’
British Education Index – a more complex search function, includes both full text and citations. Try this if you’re not finding what you need in T&F
Searching for policy documentation – Google search is often more effective than searching gov.uk
Resources don’t have to be textual – can use Youtube videos, TV programmes, etc., as long as used in conjunction with range of other sources

9. Why reference?
To give due credit to the authors/creators of the original work
The consistent style allows the reader to see what type of information has been used and to find it themselves
Principles-based approach in Education – just use consistent Harvard style

10. What type of resource is it?
First question…
What type of resource is it?
E.g. book, journal article, report…

11. Who is the author? Second question…
May be corporate author e.g. a government dept. If you can’t work out who the author is at all, reconsider using the source.

12. What makes a citation? (Stacey, 2009, p.10) Author surname(s)
Page(s) from which the information came
Author surname(s)
(Stacey, 2009, p.10)
Date of publication
Can go through the next few slides quite quickly – more for them to refer back to later

13. Citation (Author, date) (Author, date, page)
Used for general points, summarising
(Author, date, page)
Used for direct quotes or paraphrasing
Not always available for web pages – can leave it out then
Just author-date used when summarising ideas that appear throughout a piece of work – no need for page number in that case as arg will span a number of pages
Include a page number when directly quoting or when paraphrasing – putting a statement/arg found on a particular page in your own words
If the source doesn’t have page numbers, e.g. a webpage, you can just leave this out

14. Direct quotes
“Job descriptions for Early Years practitioners usually mention the importance of being part of a team.” (Stacey, 2009, p.11).
Stacey (2009, p.11) states that “Job descriptions for Early Years practitioners usually mention the importance of being part of a team.”.
Examples of direct quotes and how these should be cited.
N.B. it’s best not to use direct quotes most of the time – instead you should be paraphrasing in your own words, bringing ideas from multiple sources together

15. Paraphrasing
Teamwork is often mentioned in job descriptions for those working in Early Years settings (Stacey, 2009, p.11).
Stacey (2009, p.11) asserts that teamwork is often mentioned in job descriptions for those working in Early Years settings.
How to reference when paraphrasing – have included a page number here as putting an idea that appears on a particular page in your own words
However when summarising an idea that occurs throughout a particular article, in multiple places in book, etc., no need to include page number

16. Synthesis
Teamwork, and interprofessional working, is a key part of the role of those working in Early Years settings (Miller Cable and Devereux, 2005; Reed, 2009; Stacey, 2009).
Miller, L., Cable, C. and Devereux, J. (2005) Developing early years practice. London, David Fulton.
Reed, M. (2009) Partnership working in the early years. In: Callan, S. and Robins, A. eds. Managing early years settings: supporting and leading teams. Los Angeles, Sage, pp
Stacey, M. (2009) Teamwork and collaboration in early years settings. Exeter, Learning Matters.
This is an example of synthesis – bringing together ideas from multiple sources you have read. This is what you should be aiming for at postgrad level. Details of how to cite – no need for page numbers here.

17. What makes a book reference?
Author(s)
Date of publication
Stacey, M. (2009) Teamwork and collaboration in early years settings. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Place of publication
Publisher
Title

18. Referencing websites
Children’s Workforce Matters (no date) The children, young people and families workforce project. Available at: (Accessed: 23 September 2015).
Example of a resource where link no longer works – this is why we include a date of access with internet resources
If there’s no date available, indicate this.

19. Official documents - policy
National College for Teaching & Leadership (2013) Teachers’ standards (early years). NCTL London: National College for Teaching & Leadership.
Example of how to reference a policy document. Many govt resources (though not all) will have an official report/serial number. If not, just leave this out.

20. A common query How do I reference a PDF?
PDFs are printable, online versions of an existing resource (e.g. book, newspaper article) – reference as the resource type

21. RefWorks
There are many tools to help you with collating the resources you use and then referencing them
They only work well if you understand the information that is going into them
The main one at YSJ is RefWorks
Tutorial available
Useful especially when you are producing longer pieces of writing

22. Search Success
Gives an introduction to resource location and evaluation
Good to refer back to later

23. For further help
Clare McCluskey Dean Academic Liaison Librarian for School of Education
Clare will be coming to speak to you in more detail about library resources once you start your studies