Citing and Documenting Research
Print and Electronic Sources

Why? Properly documenting sources used for research is important because it ensures that:

  • Credit for information originally provided elsewhere is given,
  • Others can find the same information again, and
  • Plagiarism (passing off the ideas or words of another as one's own) does not take place.

How? Documentation (bibliographies, endnotes, citations, references, lists of works cited, etc.) is provided
according to the style appropriate for the audience that will be reading your work. There are many different documentation styles.

The four most popular styles used at Phoenix College include:

  1. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (REF BF76.7.P83)

    Refer to APA Electronic References Guide or
    PC Library Guide (.pdf file) APA Citation Guide for Information from PC Databases
    Examples with print and electronic sources (Weber State Univ.)

  2. Modern Language Association (MLA) Style Manual (REF PN147.G444)

    Refer to the MLA Style Electronic Formats or
    PC Library Guides (.pdf files)
         MLA Citation Guide for Information from PC Databases or
         MLA Citing of Web Sites
    Weber State University's Examples with print and electronic sources or
    Cornell University's MLA Citation Style Guide

  3. Scientific Style and Format from The Council of Biology Editors (REF T11.S386)

    Refer to the CBE Style Form Guide (Prepared by OSU Libraries) or
    Examples with print and electronic sources (Weber State Univ.)

  4. Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (REF LB2369.T8)

    Refer to the Turabian Documentation Guide (Prepared by Concordia Univ. Libraries) or
    Examples with print and electronic sources (Weber State Univ.)

Which style? Ask your instructor which style you should use.

Generally, the social sciences use APA. Sometimes, Turabian is also used. Generally, the humanities use MLA, while biologists often use CBE. You might also want to take a look at Citing Government Publications.

For any source, print or electronic, there might not always be a perfect example. In these cases, try using the closest example to document your source. Librarians at the reference desk can help you with this process.