Email: libraries@colorado.edu
On the previous page we learned it is important to cite your sources to give credit to work previously done by others and to help your readers find your sources to develop a deeper understanding of the topic.
On this page you will learn to identify the parts of a research article needed to create a citation to that research article.
Different scholarly journals use different citation styles, but every citation style includes the same information in the citation: author(s), year published, article title, journal title, volume number, and page numbers (if given). This citation information efficiently guides your reader to the source you reference.
Many researchers mistakenly include unnecessary information in their citations, such as the name of the database, publishing platform, or publisher; or they include one of these elements instead of the name of the journal. If you are unsure of the journal title, try conducting a quick internet search for what you think the journal title is and see if it is truly a journal title, or if it is something else like a database, publisher, or publishing platform.
Below are three screenshot images of example sources, with the information needed to cite the source listed below each image. The information needed to cite the article is included in the screenshot, however you can also click on the image to open the article in a new window if you would like to view the journal article.
Authors: Katzschmann, R. K., DelPreto, J., MacCurdy, R., & Rus, D.
Year published: 2018
Article title: Exploration of underwater life with an acoustically controlled soft robotic fish
Journal title: Science Robotics
Volume number: 3(16)
DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aar3449
Authors: Austin C. Hayes, Jorge Osio-Norgaard, Shelly Miller, Gregory L. Whiting, Marina E. Vance
Year published: 2021
Article title: Air pollutant emissions from multi jet fusion, material-jetting, and digital light synthesis commercial 3D printers in a service bureau
Journal title: Building and Environment
Volume number: 202
DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108008
Note: In this example, the publisher is Elsevier, and the publisher's platform is ScienceDirect. You do not need to include Elsevier or ScienceDirect anywhere in the citation for this article.
Authors: Zarske, Malinda S; Vadeen, Maia L; Tsai, Janet Y; Sullivan, Jacquelyn F; Carlson, Denise W.
Year published: 2017
Article title: Undergraduate Engineers and Teachers: Can Students Be Both?
Journal title: Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research
Volume number: 7(1)
DOI: 10.7771/2157-9288.1161
Note: In this example, the database platform is ProQuest. You do not need to include ProQuest anywhere in the citation for this article.
