EPQ Support: Referencing Guide

At the end of your EPQ you will need to list all of the sources of information that you have used (cited) in your work i.e. books, websites, journal articles etc. This is the reference list.

Your school may have its own referencing style or recommend a specific style for you to use.  If not, then use our guide below to help you reference different types of information. We are using the Harvard referencing style. You can also discover how to format in-text citations (if required) when you paraphrase or quote from an information source.

Accuracy and consistency are important.

Find out how to reference Books, Journal and Magazine Articles, Web Pages, Newspaper Articles, Blogs, YouTube videos, Twitter, TV Programmes and Films/Movies.

For a BOOK reference you will need the following information: Author(s)/Editor, Year of publication, Title, Edition (if applicable), Place of Publication and Publisher.

Here are a few examples:

• Book with one author and a specific edition

Smith, T. (2020) How to be a good researcher. 4th edn. London: Bounty Press.

• Book with two or more authors

Patel, A., LeBlanc, J. and Schmidt, H. (2019) Television production and broadcasting. Leamington Spa: Davis and Cooper.

• Book with an Editor

Gerome, M. (ed.) (2019) Treasures of the British Museum. Ipswich: Bagton Publishing.

In-text citations (paraphrased information):

• Citing a book when name of author(s) ARE mentioned in the text

According to Smith (2020), the most important part of the research process is.........

• Citing a book when name of author(s) ARE NOT mentioned in the text

It is generally agreed that the most important part of the research process is developing a robust search strategy (Rizvi, 2017; Parry, 2019; Smith, 2020).

In-text citations (quotes):

• Many independent programme producers have questioned the "middle-class moral restrictions imposed on creativity" by the BBC (Patel, LeBlanc and Schmidt, 2019, p.186).

For a JOURNAL or MAGAZINE ARTICLE reference you will need the following information: Author, Year of publication, 'Title of article', Title of journal, Volume and (Part number), Pages, URL and (Accessed date).

Here are a few examples:

• Journal article with one author (electronic or print or both)

Bell, T. (2014) 'How soon is now: A history of eighties music'. Journal of Music Technology, 54(8), pp.234-251. 

• Journal article with one author only available online (no print alternative)

Hall, T. (2017) 'Ghost Town: How the Midlands became Top of the Pops'. Music Monthly, 6(12), pp.14-22. Available at http://www.musicmonthly/full/28675 (Accessed: 22 April 2021).

• Journal article with two or more authors

Coverdale, D., Rose, A., Plant, R., and Young, A. (2011) 'The truth about global warming'. Journal of the Environment, 2(5), pp.22-41. 

• Magazines (electronic or print)

Burg, T. (2015) 'Money matters in retirement'. Home and Heart (May/June) pp.12-16. 

In-text citations (paraphrased information):

• Citing a journal or magazine article when name of author(s) ARE mentioned in the text

According to Hall (2017), the urban deprivation caused by the decline of industry provided a backdrop to .........

• Citing a journal or magazine when name of author(s) ARE NOT mentioned in the text

Many researchers have commented on the significance of industrial decline and the resulting urban deprivation on the creation of a new genre of music in the late 1970s (Dolman and Wheeler, 1998; Hudson, 2005; Hall, 2017).

In-text Citations (quotes):

• Burg is adamant that the "tax-free golden handshake" lavished on many people enjoying early retirement in the 1990s paved the way for more restrictive practices in the years that followed (2015, p.14). 

For WEBSITES you will need the following information if available for a reference: Author/organisation, Year published/last updated, Title of website, URL and (Accessed date).

Here are a few examples:

• Web page with individual author

Price, G. (2016) Domestic housing and town planning. Available at: http://www.domestichousingtownplanning.co.uk/ (Accessed: 21 January 2017).

• Web page with organisation as author

National Society of Music Entrepreneurs (2019) Making a success of your hobby. Available at: http://www.nsme.org.uk/success_hobby/ (Accessed: 23 October 2020).

• Web page with no authors

Robots in film (2020) Available at: http://www.robofan.com/film/ (Accessed: 18 November 2021).

In-text citations (paraphrased information):

• Citing a website when name of author(s) ARE mentioned in the text

According to the National Society of Music Entrepreneurs (2019), the proliferation of music talent shows on TV in the late 1990s contributed to the.........

• Citing a website when name of author(s) ARE NOT mentioned in the text

There is much evidence to suggest that domestic housing needs changed significantly in the new millennium (Dolman and Wheeler, 1998; Hudson, 2005; Price, 2016).

In-Text citations (quotes):

• It has been suggested that film producers must "ditch the cuddly robot" if they are to keep the public's interest (Robots in film, 2020, para.4).

[When citing direct quotations from sources without pagination (for example, ebooks, online journal articles, web pages), use the information that you have to help the reader locate the quotation. For example, you may use a paragraph number if provided, or you can count down paragraphs from the beginning of the document.]

• Blogs

Oganabulo, R (2017) 'Home cooking from the edge', Renee's food heaven, 12th January. Available at: http://www.wordster.com/blogs/RO/ (Accessed: 16 January 2017).

• Twitter

Kuenssberg, L. [@bbclaurak] (2018) anyone might imagine that inside he’s a tiny bit pleased [Twitter] 25 September. Available at: https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1044553972277817344 (Accessed: 19 December 2018)

• Newspaper articles (electronic or print)

Sharma, M. and Elba, I. (2014) 'Inner city crime and the gang related myths', Northampton Gazette, 30th June, p.12.

• TV Programmes

Sugar, A. (2012) The Apprentice. BBC One Television, 23 June.

• YouTube videos

JPonline (2012) Ask the experts – understanding the news. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWerhy3j20 (Accessed: 13 January 2017).

• Films or movies

King of the skies (1951) Directed by George Clough [Film]. Sandy Bay City, California: Valiant Film.