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I've lost my identity – oh, there it is … in a style manual: Teaching citation styles and academic honesty

Sarah Park (B.D. Owens Library, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, USA)
Lori A. Mardis (B.D. Owens Library, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, USA)
Connie Jo Ury (B.D. Owens Library, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 15 February 2011

3843

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the process that Northwest Missouri State University B.D. Owens Library uses to decrease plagiarism including citation style guides, academic honesty and plagiarism tutorials, online movies, and interactive learning objects that teach citing, which can be used or adapted by other libraries in both online and on‐ground information literacy instruction environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Rationale for the inclusion of citation instruction in on‐ground and online formats, their application, and uses are discussed.

Findings

Citation reference questions as a percentage of the total number of reference questions answered by librarians are on the rise. This increase may be attributed to the growth of electronic resources, which are inadequately covered in citation manuals. Students frequently struggle with identifying types of sources listed in database or bibliography citations, causing them to create bibliographies filled with errors.

Practical implications

Resources are presented that can be adapted by academic librarians seeking to curb plagiarism and student citation problems.

Social implications

Tutorials are listed and described which cover the ethical issue of plagiarism. These can be used in their native format or adapted with permission to meet the needs of local institutions.

Originality/value

To address an increasingly fluid online academic environment, this case study provides a systematic approach, which includes online style manual textbooks, tutorials, instruction, and reference.

Keywords

Citation

Park, S., Mardis, L.A. and Jo Ury, C. (2011), "I've lost my identity – oh, there it is … in a style manual: Teaching citation styles and academic honesty", Reference Services Review, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 42-57. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907321111108105

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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