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)
Authors: Ranasinghe, N., Tolley, D., Nguyen, T. N. T., Yan, L., Chew, B., & Do, E. Y.-L.
Year published: 2019
Article title: Augmented Flavours: Modulation of Flavour Experiences Through Electric Taste Augmentation
Journal title: Food Research International
Volume number: 117
Page numbers: 60–68
Note: In this example, the publisher is Elsevier. You do not need to include Elsevier anywhere in the citation for this article.
Authors: Boehme, M., Guzzetta, K. E., Wasén, C., & Cox, L. M.
Year published: 2023
Article title: The gut microbiota is an emerging target for improving brain health during ageing
Journal title: Gut Microbiome (Note: Many students identify the publisher or the publication platform instead of the journal title. ).
Volume number: 4
Page numbers: 1-29
Note: In this example, the publisher is Cambridge University Press and the publisher’s platform is Cambridge Core. You do not need to include Cambridge University Press or Cambridge Core anywhere in the citation for this article.