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Psychology: Citing and Referencing

The Royal Holloway University of London subject guide for the Department of Psychology

Introduction to referencing

You should reference every idea, opinion, fact or quote from a source, even if you put it in your own words. 

We always recommend that you check referencing advice given by your department and tutor as some referencing conventions may vary.

We can help you with any referencing questions you have, from the basics of referencing to how to manage your references using reference management software. 

Getting help with referencing

The Referencing strand of our Moodle page will help you develop the skills you need to understand and avoid plagiarism and reference accurately in your department's chosen referencing style. Content includes: avoiding plagiarism, activities on how to reference in your department's chosen referencing style and how to use reference management software.

You can find help with a wide range of referencing styles, including APA 7, Harvard and Vancouver on Cite Them Right, our online referencing resource.

Reference management tools help you to save and organise your research. They can also help you to format references and citations and create bibliographies, saving you time and effort.

The library provides access to RefWorks and Endnote for all students to use. There are also a number of free tools available online.

To find out more about these tools and how to use them visit this guide to Referencing Tools.

If you would like to talk about referencing, you can contact your Teaching and Engagement Librarian. You can email us or make an appointment if you need time to talk. We can help you understand your referencing style and give feedback on how you have referenced in your assignments, and can show you how to use reference management software.

Departmental Referencing Guides

This department recommend using the American Psychological Society 7th Edition (APA7) style which uses author-date citations in the text and a full list of references, entitled References, at the end of your work.

Please see the guidance in your student handbook and on Moodle for further guidance. The library also holds print copies of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association which covers this style.

Books on referencing

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