Research writing is a complex and arduous process that requires valid, concise, and
accurate information. The writing process requires significant source from the findings
of current work and from the existing or published studies. Thus, good research writing
must be associated with good citations. Citation is the academic marker to represent
where the information is sourced. Referencing is the action of giving credit to the
published article when the information is utilized while writing a research paper.[1] Citation is the way to disseminate the published findings when the information had
contributed during research analysis. Citation should be made when a published study
provides best work or content can be related.[2] In the recent days, citation is considered to be providing merit for the sourced
information and hence it helps in measuring the impact of research or scholarly work.
Hirsch index (H index) measures author level metrics on productivity and impact of
scholarly research. In other words, more the research work is cited, higher is the
value. H index value can be calculated for an individual researcher, group of researchers,
department, or university. Thus, it can be said that H index helps in ranking the
researcher and research work. Hence, researcher must be ethical while citing an information
from published source. Self-citation is referencing your own previously published
data. This can be done when the information is adequately relevant and must be avoided
when it not required.
In recent days, technology-assisted reference management is available in the form
of software package. There are various software that are available either for free
of cost or premium package such as Endnote, Refworks, Zotero, Reference manager, and
many others. These software allow one to archive and organize the citation information
of published material. The software also help in maintaining consistency of reference
styling and reduce risk of overlapping citation.[3] These software must be considered as a way forward for research writers who are
inundated with source of information.
European Journal of Dentistry (EJD) follows in-text citations, where the source of
information can be identified in the text at the body of manuscript. The EJD follows
American Medical Association (AMA) style of referencing. In this style of referencing,
in-text citation is made with Arabic numerals and sequentially numbered list of references
is documented at the end of research paper. AMA reference is written by listing authors
at the beginning and followed by the title of research paper, then Index Medicus journal
title abbreviation and ends with year, volume, and page numbers of the published article.
[Table 1] shows citation style of journal, chapter in a book, book, thesis, government publication,
online article, and symposium article.
Table 1
AMA style of citation
|
Description of citation resource
|
AMA style of citation
|
|
Abbreviation: AMA, American Medical Association.
|
|
Citing a journal
|
Newburger JW, Takahashi M, Burns JC, et al. The treatment of Kawasaki syndrome with
intravenous gamma-globulin. N Engl J Med 1986; 315:341–347
|
|
Citing a chapter in a book
|
Toma H. Takayasu’s arteritis. In: Novick A, Scoble J, Hamilton G, eds. Renal Vascular
Disease. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1995:47–62
|
|
Citing a book
|
Stryer L. Biochemistry. 2nd ed. San Francisco: WH Freeman; 1981:559–596
|
|
Citing a thesis
|
Stern I. Hemorrhagic Complications of Anticoagulant Therapy [Ph.D. dissertation].
Evanston, IL: Northwestern University; 1994
|
|
Citing a government publication
|
Food and Drug Administration. Jin Bu Huan Herbal Tablets. Rockville, MD: National
Press Office; April 15, 1994. Talk Paper T94–22
|
|
Citing an online article
|
Rosenthal S, Chen R, Hadler S. The safety of acellular pertussis vaccine vs whole-cell
pertussis vaccine [abstract]. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med [serial online]. 1996; 150:457–460.
Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/scipubs/journals/archive/ajdc/vol_150/no_5/abstract/htm.
Accessed November 10, 1996
|
|
Citing symposium article
|
Eisenberg J. Market forces and physician workforce reform: why they may not work.
Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges;
October 28, 1995; Washington, DC
|
This editorial message is aimed to reach target audience of EJD to advise about importance
of crediting published study when an information is archived for their writing and
guide them with advanced technology resources to reduce their challenges while citing
others’ work.
