Skip to Main Content

Sociology

This guide is a selection of all the best resources, from the Library and beyond, for your research in Sociology.

Citation Styles

When writing a research paper, you must always cite any sources that you have consulted. You must acknowledge when you are using the ideas, information, arguments, phrases or any other intellectual or creative output by another person. Not to do so is referred to as plagiarism.   Any form of cheating is a serious offense that comes with disciplinary consequences: see KPU's Policy ST2, entitled Student Academic Integrity Policy. The related Procedures for Dealing with Academic Integrity Violations offers definitions of cheating and plagiarism.

 

  • Find out more about Plagiarism and academic honesty.

Always check with your instructor which citation style you are supposed to use when writing your paper.

Books in the KPU Library:

ASA Style Guide, 5th edition: HM 586 A54 2014

ASA Style Guide, 7th editionHM 586 A54 2022

Online Guides

       From ASA: ASA Quick Style Guide (based on the 4th edition).

From the OWL at Purdue University: ASA Style (based on the 5th edition)

Check the APA Citation LibGuide for more help.

From the OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue: APA style information with student sample paper

Chicago Citation Style LibGuide - University of Lethbridge

What Zotero Does

Zotero (pronounced "zoh-TAIR-oh") is a Firefox addon for Windows, Mac, or Linux that collects, manages, and cites research sources. As such, it lives in your web browser where you do your work, is easy to use, and best of all it's free.

Zotero allows you to attach PDFs, notes and images to your citations, organize them into collections for different projects, and create bibliographies. It automatically updates itself periodically to work with new online sources and new bibliographic styles.

Search the Zotero Guide for more information

Don't believe everything you read. Ask some critical questions about every website:

Currency

  • Does it indicate when the page was written or last updated?
  • Are there dead links?
  • Is the information current enough for your topic?

Relevance

  • Does the information directly relate to your topic?
  • Is the level and depth of the information appropriate?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Did you compare a variety of sources to determine which one works best?

Accuracy

  • Is the information supported by evidence or sources that can be verified?
  • Is there a bibliography / references list?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Is the information free of spelling mistakes, poor grammar, and typos?

Authority

  • Does it indicate who wrote the information?
  • Is an author or institution responsible for the page?
  • Are the author’s credentials given?
  • Is there evidence that the author is an expert on the subject?

Purpose

  • Does the content seem biased? (one-sided or extreme)
  • Is it written to inform? (not to sell, entertain or persuade)
  • Are there ads on the site?

Harvard Fake News Research Guide - fake News, Misinformation, and Propaganda

Concordia Fake News LibGuide

Pace University Fake News LibGuide

Evaluate Your Sources!