Research Guides: Agriculture: Research Issues

Why Cite or Reference?

To avoid plagiarism
To acknowledge debts to other writers
To verify quotations
To enable all those who read your work to locate your sources easily
To enable readers to follow-up and read more fully the cited author’s arguments
To demonstrate the body of knowledge upon which your research is based

It is Plagiarism if you.....

Copy sentences from a web page, a blog, a book, or an article and insert them into your paper without citing them.
Copy large chunks of text from one or more original sources and insert it into your work.
Use an image or video from any source and do not cite it properly.
Quote or paraphrase from another paper without crediting the original author.
Cite data without crediting the original source.
Propose another author’s idea as if it were your own.
Fabricating references or using incorrect references.
Submitting someone else’s presentation, program, spreadsheet, or other files with only minor alterations.

Test your knowledge: take Indiana University's plagiarism quiz

Basic information needed for citing

Please ensure that you record the needed information about a book or journal article you are using to facilitate using it in your dissertation or thesis or manuscript. Listed below are the pieces of information you need to write down about a work when you consult it.

Book Journal Article

Author(s) Author(s)
Title Article Title
Year of Publication Article Page Numbers
Publisher Journal Title
Place of Publication Journal Volume Number
Edition (if not the first) Journal Issue Number
- Year of Publication

Some useful links

Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism-Don't do it

Referencing

Research and Documentation Online

Literature Review

What makes a good literature search? Summarises what a search for relevant literature entails
Doing a literature review The why, what and how of a literature review

Useful Titles

These titles and more on different aspects of research are available in libraries in the University of Ghana. Look them up in the UGCat for precise location and call no.

Understanding Research Methods by Mildred L. Patten
ISBN: 9781936523009
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
The Literature Review by Diana Ridley
ISBN: 1446201430
Publication Date: 2012-07-31
This Second Edition of Diana Ridley's bestselling guide to the literature review outlines practical strategies for reading and note taking, and guides the reader on how to conduct a systematic search of the available literature, and uses cases and examples throughout to demonstrate best practice in writing and presenting the review. New to this edition are examples drawn from a wide range of disciplines, a new chapter on conducting a systematic review, increased coverage of issues of evaluating quality and conducting reviews using online sources and online literature and enhanced guidance in dealing with copyright and permissions issues.
The Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagarism by Colin Neville
ISBN: 0335220894
Publication Date: 2007-07-01
Why is there so much emphasis on citing sources in some written work? How can I be sure I am referencing sources correctly? What is plagiarism and how do I avoid it? There is a great deal of emphasis on accurate referencing in written work for university students, and those writing for professional purposes, but little information on the ‘when’, the ‘why’, as well as the ‘how’ of referencing. This book fills that gap, giving clear guidelines on how to correctly cite from external sources, what constitutes plagiarism, and how it can be avoided.A unique feature of the book is the comparisons it makes between different referencing styles - such as Harvard, APA, MLA and Numerical referencing styles - which are shown side-by-side. This provides a useful guide, for students as they progress through higher education, and particularly for those on combined studies courses - who may be expected to use two, and sometimes three, different referencing styles.Other special features in the book include: Essays demonstrating referencing in action Exercises on when to reference, and on what is, and what is not, plagiarism A ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section on the referencing issues that most often puzzle people A detailed guide to referencing electronic sources, and advice on how to choose reliable Internet sites A Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarismis essential reading for all students and professionals who need to use referencing to accurately reflect the work of others and avoid plagiarism.

Subject Guide

Theodosia Adanu

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