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How to Cite a Reference in a Scientific Research Paper

Citing references in scientific research papers applies the CSE Manual guidelines. Formerly known as the Council of Biology Editors (CBE), CSE style cites references in text and in a bibliography at the end of a paper. The Duke University Libraries explains that the CSE citations cross-reference to reference lists.

Instructions

    • 1
      Use CSE style to reference books in scientific research papers.

      Write in-text citations for books, chapters, ebooks or dissertation/theses referenced in scientific papers with parenthetical notes. The Ohio State University Libraries provides examples of in-text citations for these items. Enter the author(s) and publication date in parentheses, for example, "(McCormac and Kennedy 2004)," but do not use quotation marks. Place in-text citations at the end of the sentence including the referenced material.

      Add a corresponding bibliographic reference for a book. Enter the author's last name first, followed by a comma and the first name or initials. End with a period. Enter the book title followed by a period. Add the city of publication followed by the state in parentheses. Use abbreviated capitalized state format. Enter a colon after the state, followed by the publisher and a period. Write the page number(s). Precede numerals with "p." (Do not use quotation marks.) The Ohio State Libraries gives an example of a CSE book bibliography: McCormac JS, Kennedy G. 2004. Birds of Ohio. Auburn (WA): Lone Pine. p. 77-78.

    • 2
      CSE style includes guidelines for citing electronic books.

      Enter a cited electronic book in your bibliography beginning with the author's last name first, followed by a comma, the first name or initials and a period. Enter the name of the ebook only capitalizing the first word in the title. Place "Internet" in brackets [Internet] and follow with a period. Add the city of publication followed by the abbreviated state in parentheses and a colon, for example, Denver (CO):. Enter the publisher with a semicolon and the publication year. Write in brackets the date cited in the following way: [cited 2012 April 19]. Close with a period. Close by entering "Available from: (URL)." Do not close with a period. Do not use quotation marks.

    • 3
      Cite dissertations and theses per CSE style guidelines.

      Add a dissertation or thesis to a scientific research paper bibliography. Enter the author's name, with last name first. Add the dissertation or thesis publication date, followed with a period. Enter the reference work title capitalizing only the first word. Place "dissertation" in brackets, for instance, [dissertation], ending with a period. Enter the city and state of publication in the following way: [Albany (NY)]:. Follow the colon with the publisher, ending with a period. End with page number(s) as follows: p. 2-29.

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