2 Using the Harvard reference system for in-text citation

References for your assignments in Metropolia Business School should use the Harvard referencing system. 

The Harvard referencing system uses the author, date: page number format for in-text citations. The writer should always place the source information in parentheses (brackets) as in the examples below. The author’s last name should be followed by a comma then the year of publication. Use a colon (:) to separate the page number(s) from the year and author. You give the full-stop to the sentence after the brackets.

For example:

You should use in-text citations whenever you have obtained information from another source, whether using a direct or indirect quote. Whenever you use a source in your assignment or thesis, it is important you have cited it correctly in the text. In-text citations must be given each time a reference is used, even if it has been used in a previous paragraph. Use varied reputable sources as taught in your courses and according to instructions and advice given by lecturers and your thesis supervisor.

You must give references when:

• quoting the exact words of another author = direct quotation.
• paraphrasing or summarising a passage by another author = indirect quotation.
• using an idea or material based directly on the work of another author.
• using statistical data.