Harvard Style - referencing online sources
Please note that whilst Library Information staff can direct students to the location of referencing guides either online or in print, they cannot give specific advice to students on how to reference, as this is the role of academic staff, many of whom have specific preferences for citing.
Please contact the appropriate academic staff member to clarify any referencing issues you may have.
Why reference?
Information obtained from any source, including the Internet, is covered by copyright law. You must acknowledge any source that you refer to in your assignment, both within the text of your assignment, and at the end of it (by including a list of references). Referencing your sources also enables the reader to view your sources and follow your essay. This guide will show you how to cite electronic sources, such as journal and newspaper articles from the Internet or from an electronic database, electronic mail, Web pages, online images, electronic books and CD-ROMs.
Harvard Referencing - A Brief Guide presents an overview in a short Breeze presentation.
How to create a list of references
At the end of your assignment, create a list of the references you have cited in the text. Arrange this in alphabetical order of authors' surnames. The author's surname is placed first, followed by initials or first name, and then the year of publication is given. Where an item doesn't have an author arrange it by its title. The following examples show you how to include reference sources in your List of References.
Journal articles
Journal article on the WWW
Author Year, 'Article title', Journal Title, volume, issue, viewed Day Month Year, <URL>.
Example:
Griffith, AI 1995, 'Coordinating family and school: mothering for schooling', Education Policy Analysis Archives, vol. 3, no. 1, viewed 12 February 1997, <http://olam.ed.asu.edu/epaa/>.
Full-text journal article in electronic database
Author Year, 'Article title', Journal Title, volume, issue, paging if given or indication of length, viewed Day Month Year, Name of database service, Name of database, item number (if given).
Example:
Rasid, ZM & Parish, TS 1998, 'The effects of two types of relaxation training on students' levels of anxiety', Adolescence, vol. 33, no. 129, p. 99, viewed 23 September 1998, EBSCOhost database Academic Search Premier, item: AN589758.
Databases
Title, Producer, Vendor, frequency of updating.
Example:
AGRIS database, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, SilverPlatter (vendor), annual updating.
Newspaper articles
Newspaper article in electronic database
Author Year, 'Article title', Newspaper Title, Day Month, page number (if given), viewed Day Month Year, Name of database, item number (if given).
Example:
Pianin, E 2001, 'As coal's fortunes climb, mountains tremble in W.Va; energy policy is transforming lives', The Washington Post, 25 February, p. A03, viewed 8 March 2001, Electric Library Australasia.
Newspaper article on the WWW
Author Year, 'Article title', Newspaper Title, Day Month, page number (if given), viewed Day Month Year, <URL>.
Example:
Cleary, P & Lewis, S 2001, 'It's the end of a long boom', The Australian Financial Review, 8 March, viewed 8 March 2001, <http://afr.com/australia/2001/03/08/FFXIM9PU0KC.html>.
Electronic mail
Discussion list message
Author <Author's details - usually an e-mail address> Year of posting, 'Subject/title of posting', description of posting, discussion list Owner, viewed Day Month, <URL>.
Example:
Wilson, D <wilsond@rocketscience.com.au> 2003, 'Using the Web to your advantage', discussion group, National Computer Network, viewed 28 January 2003, <NETTRAIN@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu>.
Personal email
In-text references to emails are dealt with in the same way as in-text references to other types of personal communication and in general, it is not necessary to provide further details. If there are occasions where readers will be keen to pursue the subject, the email address can be provided in the reference list.
Please note: Email addresses should never be cited without the permission of the owner of the address.
Sender's name followed by year of posting, email, Day and Month of posting, <email address>.
Example:
Davis, A 2002, email, 24 April, <davis@unitc.edu.au>.
World Wide Web
Web document
Author/editor or compiler Year of the most recent version, Title, version number (if applicable), description of document (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location details or just the main site details>.
Examples:
Anderson, J (Minister for Transport and Regional Services) 2000, CASA approves avgas contamination test, media release, 23 January, Department of Transport and Regional Services,Canberra, viewed 7 February 2000, <http://www.dotrs.gov.au/media/anders/archive/2000/jan_00/al6_2000.htm>.
AWB Limited 2006a, AWB and the single desk, AWB Limited, Melbourne, Victoria, viewed 1 June 2006, <http://www.awb.com.au/aboutawb/factsandindustryinformation/
singledeskbenefits/AWBandTheSingleDesk.htm>.
------- 2006b, Inquiry into the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program - statement from the Board of AWB Limited, AWB Limited, Melbourne, Victoria, viewed 1 June 2006,
<http://www.awb.com.au/aboutawb/media/
InquiryIntoTheUnitedNationsOilforFoodProgram.htm>.
Web document (no author)
Title Year, version number (if applicable), description of document (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location details or just the main site details>.
Example:
Educating America for the 21st century: developing a strategic plan for educational leadership by Columbia University 1993-2000(initial workshop draft) 1994, draft workshop report, Institute for Learning technologies,Columbia University, viewed 16 May 1995, <http://ariel.adgrp.com/~ghb/trips/940717_ICT/policy/ILT/EdPlan.html>.
Web document (no publication date)
Author n.d., Title, version number (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location or just main site details>.
Example:
Sherman, C n.d., The invisible web, Free Pint Limited, UK, viewed 27 November 2000, <http://www.freepint.co.uk/issues/080600.htm#feature>.
Web site
Author (the person or organisation responsible for the site) Year (that the site was created or last revised), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year,<URL>.
Example:
The Body Shop Australia 2003, The Body Shop Australia, Mulgrave, Victoria, viewed 31 January 2003, <http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/>.
Online images
Title of image (or a description) Year, description of document (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source, viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location details or just the main site details>.
Example:
The lunar interior 1999, PlanetScapes, US, viewed 31 January 2003, <http://www.planetscapes.com/solar/browse/moon/moonint.jpg>.
Electronic books
Author Year (of creation or last revision), Title, edition/version (if applicable), name and place of the sponsor of the source (publisher, place), viewed Day Month Year,<URL either full location details or just the main site details>.
Example: ebrary
McClain, M & Roth JD 1999, Schaum's quick guide to writing great essays , McGraw-Hill, New York, viewed 17 January 2005, <http://ezproxy.usq.edu.au/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unisouthernqld/Doc?id=5002145>.
Example: free book
Fitzgerald, FS 1920, This side of paradise, Scribner, New York, viewed 18 January 2005, <http://www.bartleby.com/115/>.
Chapter in an electronic book.
Author Year (of creation or last revision), 'Chapter title', in book editor(s) (ed.), Book title, name and place of the sponsor of the source (publisher, place), viewed Day Month Year, <URL either full location details or just the main site details>.
Example:
Gould, SJ 2000, 'More things in Heaven and Earth', in H Rose & S Rose (eds.), Alas, poor Darwin: arguments against evolutionary psychology , Harmony Books, New York, viewed 17 January 2005, <http://ezproxy.usq.edu.au/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/unisouthernqld/Doc?id=10015543>.
CD-ROMs
The bibliographic details are the same as those required for films, videos, DVDs, television and radio programs (outlined in the companion guide Harvard Style - Referencing print & non-print sources).
Title Year (of recording), format, publisher, place of recording. Any special credits and other information that might be useful can be noted after the citation.
Example:
Australia through time 1994, CD-ROM, Random ROM in assoc. with the ABC, Sydney.
USQ lecture notes (online)
Follow the requirements for Web documents previously outlined.
Examples:
Stevens, J 2004, ECO 2640 Applied econometrics: course notes, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 7 March 2004, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
JRN 2001 Lecture 4: copy editing 2006, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 22 May 2006, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
Austin, L 2004, ECE 1001: wk9.ppt, University of Southern Queensland , Toowoomba, viewed 6 April 2004, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
USQ course materials and readings (online)
Examples:
Austin, L 2004, ECE 1001 Child studies I: introductory book, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 24 August 2004, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
When the author's name is unknown.
ACC 5003 NIA advanced financial accounting: study book 2004, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 11 October 2004, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
For articles and chapters from books of readings, include both a reference to the original article and a reference to the book of readings.
Kuebler, SA 2004, 'OSHA's enforcement strategy', Occupational Health & Safety, vol. 73, no. 12, pp. 12-3, in Eddington, I (ed.), MGT 8015 Corporate occupational health and safety: selected readings, 2005, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 16 October 2005, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
Hancock, L 2002, 'Australian federalism, politics and health', in H Gardner & S Barraclough (eds.), Health policy in Australia, 2nd edn., Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, in Eddington, I (ed.), MGT 8015 Corporate occupational health and safety: selected readings, 2005, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, viewed 20 August 2005, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
Additional readings on USQStudyDesk
Examples:
Arnold, T 2001, 'Achieving playtime positives', Journal of Early Childhood, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 117-121, viewed 13 July 2006, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
Tuczay, C 2005, ' Trance, prophets and diviners in the Middle Ages', in E. Pocs (ed.), Communicating with the spirits: Christian demonology and popular mythology, Central European University Press, Budapest, viewed 13 July 2006, <http://studydesk.usq.edu.au/webct/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.
USQ ePrints
The preference is that the original be cited. See the section on Unpublished Theses in the Harvard Style - Print and Non-print Sources guide for more examples.
Example:
Wright, S 2004, 'Open area test site (OATS) development', undergraduate project, University of Southern Queeensland, Toowoomba.
If the Web document needs to be cited, then it would look like -
Wright, S 2004, Open area test site (OATS) development, undergraduate project, University of Southern Queeensland, Toowoomba, viewed 27 March 2007, <http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00000047>.
How to cite references within the text of an assignment
These are also called in-text references. When you use another’s ideas within the text of your assignment you should immediately acknowledge your sources. Follow the same order for citing online sources in text, as you do for citing printed sources, eg. surname of the author followed by the year of publication.
Journal article
To cite a journal within the text of an assignment, use only the name of the author(s), followed by the year of publication.
Example:
Griffith (1995)
Web site
To cite a Web site within the text of an assignment, use the name of the person or organisation responsible for the site (author) and the date of the site's creation or most recent update.
Example:
The Bodyshop (2003)
Web addresses can be given directly in the text using angle brackets(< >) to isolate them from any sentence punctuation.
Example:
Details are available from the department's Web site <http://www.finance.gov.au>.
Web document (author known)
To cite a document from a Web site within the text of an assignment, editor or compiler and the date on which the document was created or last revised.
Examples:
Klintworth (2000)
International Narcotics Control Board (1999)
As with Web sites, the full address of a document within a Web site can be provided in the text. It is sufficient, however, to provide only the address of the Web site.
Example:
Details are available from the Attorney-Generals Department <http://www.law.gov.au/aghome/legal/pol/cld/aia/part_1.htm>.
Web document (no author)
To cite a document from a Web site within the text of an assignment, where the author is unknown, give the title of the document followed by the date of creation or most recent revision.
Example:
Educating America for the 21st century: developing a strategic plan for educational leadership by Columbia University 1993-2000(initial workshop draft) (1994).
Electronic books
To cite an electronic book within the text of an assignment, follow the examples listed in the other guide (Harvard Style - Referencing print & non-print sources) for print books.
Examples:
According to Fitzgerald (1999) ...
... these conclusions have since been questioned (Sheridan, Smith & Brown 2001)
CD-ROMs
In-text references should contain the title (in italics) and date of the CD-ROM.
Examples:
Australia through time (1994)
(Australia through time 1994)
Helpful Hints
-
You must specify the date on which you accessed the item, since Web documents can change or disappear at any time.
-
If a Web document includes both a date of creation and a date it was last updated, use only the date it was last updated.
-
If you find a document on the Web which is a series of linked pages, use the information from the main or "home" page.
-
If you have trouble identifying the title, look at the top of the Web page above FILE on your browser.
-
The date a Web document was created is usually listed right at the bottom of the document.
Additional online guides to citing Internet and electronic sources using the Harvard Style
University of Tasmania Library 2007, Referencing using the author-date or Harvard system, online guide, University of Tasmania, viewed 16 May 2007, <http://www.utas.edu.au/library/assist/gpoa/gpoa2.html>.
Curtin University of Technology Library & Information Service 2007, Harvard referencing 2007, online guide, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, viewed 18 May 2007, <http://library.curtin.edu.au/referencing/harvard.pdf>.
Note: APA style is used as the model for electronic sources. Curtin University Library is no longer updating this guide.
Guides available in print form
The examples in this guide have been adapted from the author-date style used in the
Style manual for authors, editors and printers 2002, 6th edn, Wiley Australia. Call Number: R808.02 Sty
Please note: Some details contained in this Library guide may differ from your department's assignment guidelines. Always conform to your department's requirements otherwise you may be penalised.
The following book is the standard work for citing electronic sources, however, it provides examples for the APA and MLA styles only.
Li, X & Crane NB 1996, Electronic styles: a handbook for citing electronic information, 2nd edn, Information Today, Medford. Call number R808.027 Li.
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