1.2.1 Understand your references
To do the background reading recommended by your lecturer, you need to understand what type of publications have been referenced. They could be books, book chapters, journal articles or Web pages.
| Book Reference | Beachamp, T. L. & Bowie, N. E. (2004). Ethical theory and business. 7th ed. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. | The parts of the reference that help you understand this is a book are the place of publication and publisher. |
| Book Chapter Reference | Davidson, D. Kirk. (1996). Gambling in America. In D Kirk Davidson Selling sin: the marketing of socially unacceptable products. (pp. 67-88) Westport, Conn.: Quorum Books | The part of the reference that helps you understand this is a book chapter is the word In, and because both the place of publication and publisher are recorded. |
| Journal Article Reference | Hing, N. (2001). Changing the odds: a study of corporate principles and practices in addressing problem gambling. Journal of Business Ethics, 33(2), 115-144. | You can tell this is a journal article because the volume, the issue and page numbering are recorded. |
| Web Page Reference | Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia's Gambling Industries (Report No 10). Retrieved September 8, 2005, from | You can tell this is a Web page because the reference contains a URL and access date. |
There are also clues that can help distinguish online journal articles and newspaper articles from other types of references.
Activity
Distinguishing online articles
References are also discussed in 4.3 Citations and references.
Test your understanding
What type of reference is this?
Biggs, J. (1999). Teaching for Quality Learning at University. Buckingham, UK: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.
You have now identified the references you have been given. How will you locate them effectively?
