Assignment 3 - What is the Harvard method of referencing? How is it different from other referencing methods?

The Harvard method of referencing is the preferred method now adopted by academics, it is sometimes referred to as parenthetical referencing. This just means that the referenced item is included within the text, so it can be seen by the reader in its shorthand form within the text, and not included as a numbered/lettered reference point to later be looked up in a footnote. This footnote style was previously popular but the Harvard style seems to have more regard in contemporary referencing.

Harvard is an example of referencing; its format is within the text, with the authors name and date in brackets. Depending on the source that is being cited then different elements will be included in the reference list/bibliography, for example with an internet website source, there will be ‘date accessed’ included. When citing material found on a website, you should identify the authorship of the website. This may be a corporate author, an organisation or a company; a guide to this can be found by looking at the URL or web address. To find the date of publication, reference to this might be found at the bottom of a web page relating to copyright, or from a date headline. This can then be referenced like, (Guardian, 2011) with in the text, after the quote or reference. Then a longer note will be made in the reference list/bibliography that explains the exacts in a predetermined order. (This can be found here)

There are some positive points about Harvard referencing, Firstly, It allows the reader to recognise works from an author while reading the text, and as they are short additions to the main body of text, it might be possible for the reader to make links between authors that have been quoted multiple times during the same piece of text. This will allow the reader to make a connection that they may not have realised if the footnote method had been used.  Secondly, with the name, date system it can allow readers to decide for themselves if the work is new enough to be considered useful to them, for example if they are only looking for sources dated post 2000. Another positive point about using the Harvard system would be to the academic creating the text, If the order of quotes is reordered, then the end note section, where the footnote referencing number points are, will not need to be re-ordered. This is because the bibliography that is included with the Harvard style is alphabetically ordered by author’s surname.

Unfortunately as with any system, there are some disadvantages, the main downside is that the references take up space in the main body of the text, they can be distracting to the reader. In many cases the date is not important to the work, so it just takes up space. Also some referencing points are missing, such as not knowing the date. In such cases the reference is (name, n.d) Which I’m assuming stands for no date. 


or for a quick cheat click here.
- Lisa Birch