How to Cite a Dissertation: A Complete Guide
Getting a dissertation citation right is very important in academic writing. It means that the sources you use to back up your work are properly referenced so the reader can acknowledge them, and so you can maintain the credibility and integrity of your work. Whether you are working on a research paper, thesis, or dissertation, learning how to cite dissertations in the appropriate styles is a must. This very comprehensive guide takes you through the whole process of citing a dissertation in different styles like APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.
Why Proper Citation is Important
Citing a dissertation is important for several reasons:
- Acknowledging Sources: It gives recognition to the original author and their research.
- Avoiding Plagiarism: Correct citation helps you avoid plagiarism, which is a serious academic violation.
- Building Credibility: Citing dissertations properly enhances your own work’s credibility by demonstrating that you’ve relied on well-researched sources.
- Providing References for Further Study: Dissertations are often vast research works that can provide valuable insights and resources for further study.
How to Cite a Dissertation in Different Citation Styles
1. APA Style (7th Edition)
American Psychological Association (APA) is considered one of the major fashions of citing, especially in the social sciences. The citation style in APA for presenting a thesis depends on whether it is published or not.
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation:
- Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Name of Institution, Location. - Example:
Smith, J. L. (2019). The impact of social media on academic performance (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Oxford, Oxford, England.
Citing a Published Dissertation:
- Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Doctoral dissertation). Name of Database. URL - Example:
Brown, P. L. (2020). Analyzing the effect of climate change on agriculture in Europe (Doctoral dissertation). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. https://www.proquest.com/xyz123
2. MLA Style (8th Edition)
Modern Language Association (MLA) styling is normally used by those people who work in the field of humanities, especially in matters of literature, philosophy, and art education. MLA gives priority to the author’s last name as well as to the title of the work.
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation:
- Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation. Year of Publication, Name of Institution. - Example:
Williams, Emma. Exploring the Role of Art in Social Movements. 2018, University of London.
Citing a Published Dissertation:
- Format:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation. Year of Publication, Name of Publisher, Database Name, URL. - Example:
Green, Samuel. Studying Urbanization and Its Effect on Rural Communities. 2017, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, https://www.proquest.com/xyz123.
3. Chicago Style (17th Edition)
The Chicago Manual of Style is versatile and widely used across different disciplines. Chicago style has two citation systems: Notes, Bibliography, and Author-Date. Both will be discussed.
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in Notes and Bibliography:
- Format:
Author’s First Name Last Name, Title of Dissertation (PhD diss., Name of Institution, Year). - Example:
Miller, Susan, The History of Economic Theory (PhD diss., University of Cambridge, 2017).
Citing a Published Dissertation in Notes and Bibliography:
- Format:
Author’s First Name Last Name, Title of Dissertation (PhD diss., Name of Institution, Year), Database Name, URL. - Example:
Johnson, Robert, Modern Architecture: A Study of Structural Innovations (PhD diss., University of California, 2016), ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, https://www.proquest.com/xyz123.
Author-Date Citation Style:
- Format:
Last Name, First Name. Year. Title of Dissertation. PhD diss., Name of Institution. URL. - Example:
Johnson, Robert. 2016. Modern Architecture: A Study of Structural Innovations. PhD diss., University of California. https://www.proquest.com/xyz123.
4. Harvard Style
The Harvard referencing system is common in the UK and elsewhere. It is used in many disciplines and fosters the most direct and easy approaches.
Citing an Unpublished Dissertation:
- Format:
Author, Initial(s). (Year). Title of dissertation (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Name of Institution, Location. - Example:
Brown, T. J. (2020). The Role of Technology in Education (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Manchester, Manchester.
Citing a Published Dissertation:
- Format:
Author, Initial(s). (Year). Title of dissertation. (Doctoral dissertation). Name of Database. Available at: URL - Example:
Taylor, A. S. (2018). Climate Change and Global Agriculture. (Doctoral dissertation). ProQuest Dissertations. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/xyz123
Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Citing a Dissertation
Citations in a dissertation have a couple of common mistakes that you should be careful of:
- Incorrect Author Name: Be sure to have the correct spelling and the order of the author’s name. It may seem obvious, but this does happen, especially with dissertations from databases.
- Date Errors: The year should always show the actual year of submission or publication. Cross-check if it’s the year of completion or when it was officially published or made available.
- Not Including the Type of Work: It’s essential to specify whether the dissertation is unpublished or published.
- Forget to add the Database Name/URL: For online dissertations, the database name and direct URL.
- Correct Institutional Details: Ensure the name of the institution is accurate, and its location is right if needed, by the style of citation.
Conclusion
Appropriate dissertation citation is a very critical skill in academic writing. It is vital to acknowledge the rules of each and every extended style of writing, be it APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard, as the case may be, to ensure accuracy. Proper acknowledgment of the research efforts by others not only gives them their proper due credit but also controls plagiarism and supports the field’s academic conversation. Always double-check the rules of your specific citing style, and don’t hesitate to use the citing tools or guides available online to help you with your citations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I cite an unpublished dissertation?
In all citing styles, an unpublished dissertation is generally cited by giving the author’s name, year of publication, title, and that it is unpublished.
Can I use a dissertation as a source?
Yes, you can use dissertations as sources, and you will be right to do so especially if it provides in-depth research on a topic. Just ensure that you are citing correctly.
How do I find a dissertation to cite?
Dissertations are usually published and sold through ProQuest or are hosted in university repositories or other academic sources.
Is there a difference in citing a master’s thesis versus a doctoral dissertation?
While the format is relatively quite same the doctoral dissertation generally is more comprehensive so that may be varied in a slightly different manner regarding citation style.
Can citation tools automatically format my dissertation citation?
Yes, several citation tools like Zotero, EndNote, and Citation Machine can generate references in numerous styles, including dissertations.
