How to solve a problem like researching for your first science assignment!

We will cover:

• Whether you are using APA 7th or the numerical system used by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
• The meaning of specific referencing terms.
• Why we reference and how to reference specific types of information.
• Using online tools to help you cite and reference information.

This is the current recommendations for Biosciences and Chemistry referencing guidance by course (2024/2025)

• If you are studying on a biology or biosciences based course at undergraduate or postgraduate level then you follow the APA style.

• If you are studying on a chemistry course at an undergraduate or postgraduate level then you follow the numerical system used by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

• If you are studying at PhD level, you will use a variety of referencing formats and styles and will be advised by your supervisor on the specific style needed at specific times of your PhD.

If you are in any doubt regarding which style of referencing to use check with your course leader or your teaching team (before submitting work) as soon as possible!

You need to know the meaning of referencing terms to be able to understand the process

Words like these are very similar but the meaning can be different!

• reference.
• bibliography.
• citation.

For example, a reference list is a list at the end of your work provides information to identify and find each source cited. 

 Activity 1: Use the Academic Skills Glossary to look up each word.

You may have used or heard these words already but look each one up to make sure you are clear what the meaning of each word is!

 Activity 2: Take a look at the referencing material on the Referencing at Sheffield Hallam University guide.

Which referencing style do I read about?

• If you are on a chemistry course, read the information which covers the use of the Royal Society of Chemistry style.
• If you are on a biology or biosciences course, read the information which covers APA 7.

If you are unsure which approach you need to use, check with your course leader or the person that set the assignment!

Here is a range of referencing support and information:

 Activity 2: We are now going to check your understanding about referencing.

• Answer Question 1-4.
• The answers are in Box 8: Answers at the end of this page.

Lets put those citation skills into practice!

For this activity, we are going to use the Elements of Science Fiction article linked in the activity section. There are APA and RSC questions related to the article.

You can choose to answer both sets of questions or just the questions that relate to the referencing style your course uses. You can find the answers in Box 8: Answers at the end of this page.

 Activity 3: Answer the questions.

• Go to the article to find out who wrote the article.
• Answer the questions.

Limits of technology: Poll questions and answers

Due to the lack of editing options for poll answers, the answers do not have reflect when italics, bold or superscript are used in references or citations. However the answers will reflect any need for bold, italics or superscript.

Lets put those referencing skills into practice!

For this activity, we are going to use the Elements of Science Fiction article linked below.

There are APA and RSC questions related to the article. You can choose to answer both sets of questions or just the questions that relate to the referencing style your course uses.

You can find the answers in Box 8: Answers at the end of this page.

 Activity 4: Working with journal articles.

• Go to the article.
• Look at Page 1 of the article to find the information you need to write an article reference.
• Answer the questions.

Limits of technology: Poll questions and answers.

Due to the lack of editing options for poll answers, the answers do not have reflect when italics, bold or superscript are used in references or citations. However the answers will reflect any need for bold, italics or superscript.

There are many online options and tools that you could choose to use instead of typing your references out yourself.

However, you still need to know what an APA or RSC citation and reference needs to include to be a complete reference. If you use an online tool, you still need to check your citations and references and have the referencing knowledge to spot if your citation and reference is correct or you may lose marks in your assignment!

You are the ultimate quality control of your work.

Does Library Search have a referencing tool?

The good news is yes it does!  You can see an example of the feature in Library Search below. You can use it for APA 7 and RSC.

You still need to check for accuracy because if information is missing from the Library Search record this will be missing from your reference!

The screenshot below shows the tool with APA 7 selected. Once selected, you can copy and paste the reference into your reference list.

This screenshot shows the feature with Royal Society of Chemistry selected. Once selected you can then copy and paste the reference into your reference list.

There are other tools available to help you keep track of your references and format references and citations in your work. They can capture reference details from Library Search, databases and Google Scholar saving you time and effort. 

Referencing tools can help you manage resources you use and format citations and references in your work.  Everyone at Hallam is entitled to a ProQuest RefWorks account which you can continue to use after you complete your studies.

The Library recommends and supports students using ProQuest RefWorks, however, this does not mean that you cannot use other reference management software.

Answers:

 Activity 2: We are now going to check your understanding about referencing.

Question 1: Accurate referencing is important because...

• Answer: All the answers are correct but some answers may be more important than others depending on your perspective.

Question 2: I am confident that I am using the following referencing style...

• Answer: Biology or biosciences based courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, follow the APA style. Chemistry courses at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, follow the numerical system used by Royal Society of Chemistry.

Question 3: Citing is...

• Answer: Citing is referring to someone else’s work or ideas in the text of your work.

Question 4: References to the information I use are put...

• Answer:  References to the information I use are put at the end of my work.

 Activity 3: Answer the questions

Question 1: What referencing style does this article follow?

• Answer: Numerical referencing.

Question 2: Which is the correct APA 7 citation for the chosen article?

• Answer: Kundu (2019) discusses how science fiction, comics and films have influenced the development of materials with properties that mirror what is being used in these fictional realms.
• However there are other ways to cite within the text and you could take this approach as well: (Kundu, 2019).

Question 3: Which is the correct RSC citation for the chosen article?

• Answer:  Kundu discusses how science fiction, comics and films have influenced the development of materials with properties that mirror what is being used in these fictional realms. ¹

 Activity 4: Working with journal articles.

Question 1: Which is the correct APA 7 reference for the article?

• Answer:  Kundu, S. (2019). Elements of science and fiction. Nature Chemistry, 11(1), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-018-0194-5

Question 2: Which is the correct RSC reference for the article?

• Answer: S. Kundu, Nat. Chem., 2019, 11, 13-16.

Congratulations you have completed six sections! 

Time to take a break - maybe find your next box set to watch.