Harvard Referencing Guide

There is no single definitive way of using the Harvard referencing system so you will see some
variation as you go through your readings.
You may find that your module coordinator gives you instructions for referencing that differ from
this handout. In that case, you should follow your module coordinator’s instructions.
This is not a list of everything there is to know about Harvard referencing. If you can’t find what
you are looking for, please try the internet or contact your Learning Support Coordinator
L.Smith@mdx.ac

In text citation
Direct quotation
This is using the exact words from your research material – cut and paste if it is an online source.
You must use quotation marks and give the author’s name, the date and the page number (if
there is one).
Example:
The main approaches favoured by many teachers include “active listening, reading and writing.”
(Brown, 2008, p. 26)
This can also be written with the author’s name in the main part of your sentence –
Example:
Brown (2008, p. 26) claims that “active listening, reading and writing” are the main approaches
favoured by teachers.

Indirect quotation
This is known as a paraphrase. Rather than taking the exact words from your source, you
rephrase the ideas in your own words. This still needs to be referenced because you need to
acknowledge the original idea. It will also give you better grades because it shows that you have
done some research. A paraphrase is generally better than a direct quotation because it shows
you have understood what you have read.
Example:
Original – From Ladies’ night at MTV awards on BBC news website, 6th November 2009, by
Emma Jones, URL http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8346212.stm

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Beyonce took three prizes - best female, best song and best video - Lady Gaga was awarded
best newcomer and Briton Pixie Lott was given the MTV push artist award.
There were also performances on the night from Leona Lewis, Shakira and Beyonce - not to
mention Perry.
Paraphrase -
During the recent MTV awards Beyonce was once more revealed as a superstar when she won
three awards (Jones, 2009).
Note: no page number here because it is from a website

Notes on in text citation

For 2 authors include both names – (Smith and Jones, 2009)
For 3 or more authors include all names the first time you mention the source, and then use ‘et al’
after the first name – (Davies, et al. 2008, p. 27)
For sources with no named author use the name of the organization, if there is one –
(World Health Organisation, 2007, p.230)
For sources with no named author or organization, use the title of the article or webpage - (Tips
for a healthy life, 2009)
For source with no date, write n.d. – (Centre for Child Protection, n.d.)
Caution – be very careful about using sources with no apparent author or date of publication!

Secondary sources
If you want to use a reference you find in one of your sources (for example, your textbook) you
will need to make a secondary citation.
Example:
Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning is widely recognized in the behaviourist tradition (cited in
Brown, 2002, p. 24).
The theory of operant conditioning is widely recognized in the behaviourist tradition (Skinner cited
in Brown, 2002, p. 24).

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Reference List
You must include a reference list at the end of your work. This should include full bibliographic
details of all sources you have used. The reference list must be in alphabetical order and you
should leave a space between each entry. Do not use bullet points or numbers.
Please follow the examples below EXACTLY (italics, punctuation etc.)
A book
Include author, author’s initials, date, title (in italics), place of publication, date of publication.
Example:
Brown, J. (2002). Current psychological thinking, London: Macmillan.

For a book with more than 1 author, include all the names and initials.
Example:
Jones, P., Ali, A. and Spencer, S. (2001). Critical thinking, New York: Palgrave.

For a book with more than 1 edition, include the edition number.
Example:
Taylor, S. (2006). Time will tell. (3rd edition), London: Sage.

For an edited book also include (eds.) after the name of the editor/s.
Example:
Jones, P. and Taylor, S. (eds.) (2003). Starting your own business, New York: Harper.

If you use a book which has chapters written by different people you need a separate entry in
your reference list for each chapter you use. You should include the page numbers of the chapter
you are referring to. You also need to include details of the main book (which is usually an edited
book).
Example:
Deacon, A. (2008). Employment, in P. Alcock, M. May., and K. Rowlingson (eds.), The student’s
companion to social policy, (3rd edition), Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 311-318.

A journal article
For an academic journal you need to include the author’s name, the date, the title of the article,
the name of the journal (in italics), the volume and issue numbers of the journal and the page
numbers of the article.
Example:
Harcup, T. (2002). Journalist and ethics: the quest for a collective voice, Journalism Studies, Vol.
3, No. 1, pp. 101 – 104.

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For an online journal article from a database you need to name the database and give the date
you accessed the article.
Example:
Marginson, S. (2000). Rethinking academic work in the global era, Journal of Higher Education
Policy and Management, Vol. 22, No. 1. Available: Proquest database. [Accessed 9th August,
2007].

For an online journal article from a general website you need to include the URL.
Example:
Quiggins, J. (1997). Economic rationalism, Crossings, Vol. 2, No. 1.Available:
http://www.uq.edu.au/economics/johnquiggin/JournalArticles97/Econrat97.html [Accessed 24th
October 2006]

Other electronic sources

For a webpage you need to find the author and the date, and include the title of the page and the
name of the website, as well as the URL and the date you accessed the webpage.
Example:
Trochim, M. (2006). Measurement, Web centre for research methods, Available:
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/measure.php [Accessed 9th November 2009].

For a webpage without a named author you should use the name of the organization or website
as the author.
Example:
Consortium for Street Children. (2009). Street children must be prime benefactors of 1GOAL
campaign. Available: http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/news.asp?newsID=116 [Accessed 25
October 2009]

Newspapers
For a newspaper article you need to include the author’s name, the date and day of publication,
the title of the article and of the newspaper, and the page number of the article.
Example:
Jones, P. (2008). Something to say, The Dubai Times, 7th June, p. 15.

For an online news or magazine article you also need to include the URL and the date you
accessed it.
Example: (from paraphrase above)
Jones, E. (2009). Ladies’ night at MTV music awards, BBC News, 6th November. Available:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8346212.stm [Accessed 9th November 2009].