LibrarySkills@UCL: Referencing and managing information

In the modern world there is a vast quantity of information available, in all sorts of formats. 

One of the essential skills for conducting research is being able to manage, organise and keep control of all the information sources you use in your work. You will need to be able to easily record the full details of your sources, including how you found your information, so that you can easily find it again.

You also need to be fully aware of how to use information responsibly and ethically. This includes correctly citing your sources to ensure academic integrity, to avoid plagiarism, and to ensure anyone reading your work can trace your sources.

In this guide you'll learn how to:

• Cite your references and avoid plagiarism;
• Understand how to ensure academic integrity and compliance with copyright;
• Use reference management software;
• Manage your research data.

"Keeping track of your sources is vital for deciding on a research question, for having reference values and for defining your methods. Having tools that allow you to collate your sources makes your life easier! It means you won’t be stressing about formatting your work for the right reference style and learn how to cite work correctly – not just the style but how to give people credit for their work – improving your academic writing in the process. Contact your Librarian or sign up for a Library Skills training session to learn how to use Reference Management Software."
Dewi Lewis
Chemistry

You may find our other LibrarySkills@UCL guides and resources useful: