Research & Citation Skills (OCR A Level Physics)

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Katie M

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Katie M

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Online & Offline Research Skills

  • Research is very important in order to gather information about others who have carried out similar experiments
  • For example, when carrying out a risk assessment for a practical, the CLEAPSS Student Safety Sheets are an ideal resource
  • Suitable sources to use for research include:
    • Books and textbooks
    • Scientific articles and journals
    • Reputable websites

Citing Sources of Information

  • A citation is a quotation or reference to an academic text when it is included within a practical report
  • The information to be included when citing sources depends on the type of resource

Referencing Books

  • The following information is required:
    • Author(s)
    • Book title
    • Chapter and page numbers
    • Edition (if relevant)
    • Date published
    • Publisher

  • The general format is:

Authors (year), Title, edition, publisher’s location, publisher, pp. xxx–xxx

  • Note: If the reference is to a single page then 'p.' should be used, if reference is made to several pages then 'pp.' is used
  • For example:

Young, H., Freedman, R. (2004). University Physics with modern physics, 12th ed., Boston, Addison Wesley, p. 125

  • For books that have an editor or editors, include (ed.) or (eds) after the names.
  • If a book does not have named authors or editors, the reference begins with the title, such as:

CLEAPSS Laboratory Handbook (2001), Uxbridge, CLEAPSS School Science Service

Referencing Articles

  • The following information is required:
    • Author(s)
    • Article title
    • Date published
    • Journal

  • The general format is:

Authors (year), ‘Article title’, Journal title, vol. no, issue no, pp. xxx–xxx

  • For example:

Aad, G, et al (2012), ‘Observation of a new particle in the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC’ Physics Letters B vol 716, no 1, pp 1-29

Referencing Websites

  • The following information is required:
    • Author(s)
    • Website title
    • Date written
    • URL
    • Date accessed

  • The general format is:

Authors (year), Title [online] Last accessed date: URL

  • For example:

Dianna Cowern (2014), Crazy pool vortex [online] Last accessed 15 June 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnbJEg9r1o8

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Katie M

Author: Katie M

Expertise: Physics

Katie has always been passionate about the sciences, and completed a degree in Astrophysics at Sheffield University. She decided that she wanted to inspire other young people, so moved to Bristol to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science. She particularly loves creating fun and absorbing materials to help students achieve their exam potential.