Research Process: A Step-By-Step Guide: Citing and Referencing

When you start out with citing and referencing it's easy to get confused as to which is which:

• Cite = when you mark within your text to show that the the information comes from a published source
• Reference = when you give full publication details of the sources in an A-Z list by author surname at the end of your work
• Reference list = includes only those authorities that have been cited in the document

• Validates your work - by showing that your work is based on that of authorities in the field, you give credibility to and showcase the research you have done
• Maintains academic integrity by giving credit to the original authors of the sources you have used
• Helps readers to locate the sources you have consulted
• Situates your work in the discipline  - you are building on work that has already been done in your field
• Avoids plagiarism

You do not need to acknowledge a source for information that is common knowledge.

Common knowledge is information that either the general public or the average reader in your subject area would know. If you are unsure if something is common knowledge you should include a reference for it. 

For detailed information with specific examples and a link to the full length version of DkIT's Guide to Harvard Referencing see:

Quick guide to Harvard referencing.