3.4 Sources of Information in an Article
It is important to identify the correct source of information in an article. How do you know when to cite to author of the article or when to cite one of their citations:
Ask: Where did the information you want to use come from?
- If the information comes from the author’s statements or observations ⇒ cite the article author
- If the information comes from a source cited in your article ⇒ cite the original source
Note
- Always cite the original source of information
- Make sure to look at the original article to confirm the information you want to cite
Let’s look at an example:
This article discusses a dolphin that choked on an octopus it was trying to eat. This article also lists other articles sharing examples of suffocation in cetaceans (whales/dolphins/porpoises) caused by eating or inhaling fish.
(Stephens et al. 2017)
(see article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12420 )
Which article do I cite?
If I write: A dolphin choked on an octopus it was trying to eat
Who do I cite? Stephens et al. 2017, the example article above
Why? I am using information presented about the author‘s research and observations, so I cite the article author
If I write: Two whales choked on fish stuck in their nasal cavities
Who do I cite? IJsseldijk et al. 2015, the original source of the information
Why? I am using information that the article authors cited. So I go to the original source of information and cite the original article
See the image below for clarification:
Remember: Always cite the original source of information!
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