The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for HR and people development. For students and professionals in this field, producing high-quality academic and professional work is paramount. A key component of this is accurate and consistent referencing. The CIPD advocates for the use of the Harvard referencing system, a widely recognized author-date style. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the CIPD’s specific application of Harvard referencing, offering detailed instructions and examples to ensure your work meets the required standards of academic integrity.
Proper referencing is not merely a matter of academic convention; it is a cornerstone of ethical and credible research. It allows you to acknowledge the work of others, provides your readers with a trail to your sources, and demonstrates the breadth and depth of your research. Failure to reference correctly can lead to accusations of plagiarism, which can have serious consequences for your academic and professional career. This article will break down the CIPD Harvard referencing style into its core components, providing clear guidance on how to format both in-text citations and the final reference list.
The Fundamentals of CIPD Harvard Referencing
The Harvard referencing system is an author-date system, meaning that citations in the body of your text include the author’s surname and the year of publication. This concise in-text citation directs the reader to a more detailed entry in the reference list at the end of the document. The CIPD has its own specific guidelines for formatting these references, which, while based on the standard Harvard style, have some unique characteristics.
In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within the main body of your work that point the reader to the full reference in your reference list. The format of these citations varies depending on the number of authors.
Number of Authors |
In-Text Citation Format |
Example |
One |
(Author’s Surname Year)
|
(Taylor 2002)
|
Two |
(Author 1’s Surname and Author 2’s Surname Year)
|
(Taylor and Brown 2002)
|
Three or more |
(Author 1’s Surname et al Year)
|
(Taylor et al 2002)
|
When quoting directly from a source or paraphrasing a specific point, you should also include the page number(s) in your in-text citation. This is done by adding a comma and “p.” for a single page or “pp.” for a page range after the year.
For example: (Taylor and Brown 2002, p236) or (Taylor and Brown 2002, pp236-238).
If you are referencing multiple works by the same author published in the same year, you should differentiate them by adding a lowercase letter after the year, both in the in-text citation and in the reference list.
For example: (Taylor 2002a) and (Taylor 2002b).
The Reference List
The reference list appears at the end of your document and provides the full details of all the sources you have cited. It should be arranged alphabetically by the author’s surname. If you have cited a source with no author, it should be listed alphabetically by the first significant word of the title. The CIPD provides specific formatting guidelines for different types of sources.
Referencing Different Source Types
The format of a reference list entry varies depending on the type of source. Below are examples of how to reference some of the most common source types according to the CIPD Harvard style.
Books
For a standard book, the format is as follows:
Author’s Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of book. Edition (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher.
Example:
BURKEMAN, O. (2012) The antidote: happiness for people who can’t stand positive thinking. Edinburgh: Canongate.
Edited Books
When referencing a book that has an editor or editors instead of an author, you should use “(ed.)” for a single editor or “(eds.)” for multiple editors.
Editor’s Surname, Initial(s). (ed.) or (eds.) (Year) Title of book. Edition (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher.
Example:
BACH, S. and SISSON, K. (eds). (2000) Personnel management: a comprehensive guide to theory and practice. 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Business.
Chapters in Edited Books
When referencing a specific chapter from an edited book, the format is as follows:
Chapter Author’s Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of chapter. In: Editor’s Surname, Initial(s). (ed.) or (eds.) Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher, pp. [page range].
Example:
CHEN, X., BISHOP, J.W. and SCOTT, K.D. (2000) Teamwork in China: where reality challenges theory and practice. In: LUI, J.T., TSUI, A.S. and WELDON, E. (eds). Management and organizations in the Chinese context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, pp. 269-283.
Journal Articles
For journal articles, the format is:
Author’s Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of article. Title of Journal. Volume(Issue), pp. [page range].
Example:
CHIARONI, D., CHIESA, V. and FRATTINI, F. (2011) The open innovation journey: how firms dynamically implement the emerging innovation management paradigm. Technovation. Vol 31, No 1, January. pp. 34-43.
Online Sources
For online sources, it is important to include the URL and the date you accessed the information.
Author’s Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of document [online]. Place of publication: Publisher (if available). Available at: [URL] [Accessed date].
Example:
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT. (2012) Resourcing and talent planning: annual survey report 2012 [online]. London: CIPD. Available at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/survey-reports/resourcing-talent-planning-2012.aspx [Accessed 10 May 2013].
Best Practices for CIPD Harvard Referencing
To ensure your referencing is accurate and consistent, here are some best practices to follow:
- Be meticulous: Pay close attention to the details of each reference, including punctuation, capitalization, and the order of information.
- Keep a record: As you research, keep a detailed record of all the sources you consult. This will make it much easier to create your reference list later.
- Use referencing software: Consider using referencing management software such as EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero. These tools can help you to store your references and automatically generate citations and reference lists in the correct format.
- Consult the official guide: When in doubt, always refer to the official CIPD referencing guide. This is the most authoritative source of information on the CIPD Harvard style.
Mastering the CIPD Harvard referencing style is an essential skill for any HR professional or student. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your work is academically rigorous, ethically sound, and professionally presented. Accurate referencing not only gives credit to the original authors but also enhances the credibility and authority of your own work. While it may seem complex at first, with practice and attention to detail, you can become proficient in this important academic skill.
