A reference list is included in every APA-style researched paper.
As the name suggests, it lists the sources that you
use. The list allows readers to do two things:
- judge the quality of your research
- locate your sources
Quality Research
Some teachers look at the reference
list before they read
a paper. They use the
number and type of references
listed to judge whether
the author
Quality Sources
Print resources
have editors who check information
for accuracy. The most
authoritative journals
are peer-reviewed; that
is, articles are reviewed
by outside experts before
they are accepted for
publication.
On the Internet, anyone with a Web site can post information.
How accurate is that
information? You have to decide.
One way to evaluate information is to use the CARS
Checklist by Robert Harris, which is adapted here:
- Credibility
- What is the author's training or experience?
- Is the information associated with a reputable
institution,
such
as Mayo
Clinic
or Stanford
University?
- How is quality controlled (for example,
is the
information
peer-reviewed)?
- Accuracy
- Is the information current? (A 1999 article
about
"recent
advances
in chemotherapy"
would
no longer
be timely.)
- Is the information biased? (Studies
paid
for by
drug
companies tend
to find
that
the drugs
tested
are safe
and effective.)
- Reasonableness
- Does the information avoid logical
fallacies?
- Is the tone moderate, not hate-filled,
exaggerated,
or full
of personal
attacks
and unsupported
generalizations?
(An example
of a
balanced
approach
to controversial
issues
can be
found
at ReligiousTolerance.org,
which
aims
"to describe
all viewpoints
on controversial
religious
topics
objectively and fairly.")
- Support
- Can you confirm this information in other sources?
- Do you know where statistics come from?
Thorough Research
As a rule of thumb, you should have at
least one source for each page
of your paper. For example, a
6-page paper should have at least
6 sources. Having more than the
minimum required number of sources
suggests that you did careful
research.
Cite the
Original: In addition,
you should cite the original
source wherever possible. Suppose
you read that researchers found
a link between the amount of
time children watch television
and their risk of developing ADHD.
The summary of
the study appears on TurnOffYourTV.com.
There are two problems with
this summary: it's second-hand,
and it appears on a site
belonging to Ron
Kaufman, who wants people to watch less
TV. Because Kaufman is anti-TV,
his interpretation
of the study's findings may be
biased.
A careful
researcher would skim
the article for details about
the original, such as the authors'
names and the journal in which
it appears, and track down the original
study.
Think about it: which looks
more authoritative in your reference
list?
Know the Experts: Every
field has experts whose opinions
are read and widely quoted. For
example, Hans
Selye did pioneering
work on stress, managers use
Maslow's
hierarchy to motivate
employees, and John
Douglas helped
develop criminal profiling. Your
reference list should show that
you have read the experts on
your subject.
How do I develop a working reference list?
To generate
a working reference list, follow these
steps:
- Choose six sources that you might use for your paper.
- Create an APA-style reference list for them, following
format and citation guidelines.
- Note that this is simply a working list of sources.
After you draft your
paper, you will need
to create a new list
of references that includes all of
the sources used in your
paper (except for personal
communications such as
interviews and emails)
and only the
sources used in your
paper.
What is the difference between an APA-style
reference list and a bibliography?
A bibliography may include useful sources that
are not used in a paper. In a
reference list, "all references
cited in the text of a paper
must be listed alphabetically
by first author's last name in
the list of References and ... all references
listed must be cited within the
text" ("APA
FAQs," 2008).
Internet Resources for APA-Style Reference Lists
Reference List Format
Citation Makers
Note: citation makers can help you create reference
list entries. However, none are perfect.
You should always check the results against
a trustworthy guide to APA.
Judging the Quality of Sources
Class materials
Kaplan materials are on
the k: drive, which can be accessed only
when you are on the Des Moines campus.
 |
Directions and Model (k:\CM102\Unit4_project.doc) |
| |
Rubric (k:\CM102\Unit4_working_refs_rubric.doc) |
