Introduction
When writing a research paper, it is important to properly cite all sources using a standard referencing style. The reference page is where full citations for all sources used in the paper are listed. The type of sources cited and how they are formatted will depend on whether the research paper utilizes descriptive or inferential research methods. This article will explore the key differences between descriptive and inferential research, provide examples of common source types for each, and demonstrate how to format those sources on a reference page.
Descriptive vs Inferential Research
Descriptive research is aimed at gathering data that describes characteristics, behaviors, or attributes of a population or phenomenon being studied. It typically uses observational methods like surveys or interviews to summarize characteristics of respondents or describe patterns of relationships between variables. Inferential research goes beyond mere descriptions to make generalizations from a sample to a population and test hypotheses about relationships or differences among variables. It relies on experimental or correlational methods and statistical analysis to infer causal relationships or make predictions.
Common Source Types for Descriptive Research
For descriptive research papers, common source types that would be cited on the reference page include:
Survey data: Cite the raw data or findings from a published survey. Provide details on who conducted the survey and when.
Interview transcripts: Cite verbatim quotes or paraphrased perspectives from interviews the researcher conducted as part of the study.
Published descriptive studies: Cite other scholarly works that utilized descriptive methods like observations, surveys, interviews, or content analysis to describe characteristics.
Government reports/census data: Cite any reports, statistical releases, or census data used to summarize population demographics.
Academic journals: Cite any journal articles presenting descriptive analyses of observational data from a study.
Common Source Types for Inferential Research
Sources frequently cited on the reference page for inferential research include:
Experimental studies: Cite any published experiments assessing the effect of manipulated variables.
Correlational research: Cite scholarly works analyzing relationships between non-manipulated variables through statistical analyses.
Meta-analyses: Cite any published syntheses or analyses that integrated multiple relevant experimental/correlational studies.
Academic books: Cite chapters or sections from authoritative texts providing relevant statistical/methodological background.
Psychometric tests/scales: Cite validity/reliability information for any standardized tests or scales used to measure variables.
Statistical databases: Cite any archival datasets utilized for secondary analyses assessing hypotheses.
Formatting Reference Page Sources
Regardless of the type of research method used, all sources cited within the paper must then be properly formatted on the reference page. Common referencing styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago have strict rules for formatting sources like journals, books, websites, and more. Key formatting conventions often include:
Author surname, initials. Publication date. Title. Publisher location: Publisher. For books.
Author surname, initials. (Publication date). “Title.” Journal Title, Volume(Issue), pages. For journal articles.
Organization name. Publication date. Title. URL or database name. Access date. For reports, datasets.
It is important to pay close attention to punctuation, capitalization, italicizing, ordering of elements, and other small details that can affect the accuracy of a formatted citation. Consult the chosen style guide for any obscure or unique source types. Proper formatting acknowledges the intellectual work of others and allows readers to easily locate cited materials.
Conclusion
In research papers utilizing descriptive or inferential methods, the reference page serves the important purpose of attributing ideas and documenting sources. While descriptive approaches tend to cite more observational sources like surveys, qualitative interviews, or existing descriptive studies, inferential methods often reference experimental literature, correlation studies, and statistical analyses. Regardless of methodology, correct referencing is crucial for avoiding plagiarism and allowing readers to evaluate sourcing. Adhering to a standard referencing guide ensures sources are formatted uniformly and credit is properly given.