TB - Technology in Research [LESSON]

Technology in Research

It is important to understand the legal aspects of using technology as an online learning and research tool including copyright, plagiarism, and fair use. In this lesson, you will learn more about locating specific and credible online sources as well as the appropriate ways to use and cite sources.

Copyright, Plagiarism, and Fair Use | Knowledge Point

Interact with the learning object below to learn more about copyright, plagiarism, and fair use in business.

Ways to Avoid Plagiarism | Knowledge Point

Read about the three simple ways to avoid plagiarism in the infographic below.

3 Simple Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

Using MLA Citations | Knowledge Point

It is important to follow MLA guidelines when formatting your page layout, but it is also important to use these guidelines when citing work from other sources. There are two important parts of your paper to keep in mind when citing other sources: in-text citations and the Works Cited page. There are a variety of citation expectations that you must follow when quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing work from another author. This work may be in the form of a website, book, or an article from a journal or magazine; there are different citation requirements for these various source types.

Introduction to Citation Styles MLA 9th Edition | Video

View the following video; you may wish to take notes on important features of MLA formatting and citations as you view it.

Common Examples

Let's review some of the fundamental MLA rules for in-text citation. Each example of proper citation is followed by an explanation of the rule.

  • (Smith 26)
    • When you quote or paraphrase a source with one author, use parenthetical citation that includes the author’s last name and page number.  If no page number is available, just use the author’s last name.
  • (Smith and Franklin 26)
    • When you quote or paraphrase a source with two authors, use parenthetical citation that includes both authors' last names and the page number.
  • (Smith et al. 26)
    • When you quote or paraphrase a source with more than two authors, use parenthetical citation that includes the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.” and the page number.
  • ("A New Study Reveals Reading Levels" 26)
    • When you quote or paraphrase a source without an author, use parenthetical citation that includes the title of the article or reference and the page number.
  • The New York Times
    • The titles of ‘container works’ such as magazines, journals, and newspapers should be italicized.
    • Additional Example:
      • Journal of Scientific Research

"A New Study Reveals Reading Levels"

    • The titles of articles should be placed inside quotation marks.

The image below details the proper citation format for an article or page on a website. Be sure to refer back to this example and this page when you are creating citations for your work in this class.

Example MLA citation for an article/page on a website.

There are many online citation generators that can be utilized to ensure that sources are being cited correctly. When searching for options, be sure to choose a credible and reputable tool that is updated regularly (more about this in the next section!). Also, be sure to enter the information about your source accurately to ensure correct results. Lastly, be sure to check the generated citation against the original source to see if there are any errors in content or formatting.

Citation icon In this course, you will cite all sources in MLA format. Be on the lookout for this icon as a reminder to cite all sources you might use while completing assignments and/or projects. The icon will be there as a visual cue, but only for this course. Therefore, it is important for you to get into the habit of citing sources. If you get stuck or need help with your citations, be sure to reference this page. You can also reach out to your instructor for help. 

Evaluating Sources for Credibility | Video

Have you stopped to think about the many options available when conducting research online? Anyone can post almost anything on the Internet! So, it is important to understand how to find reliable and credible sources that might be appropriate for your research needs.

Watch the video below to learn more about how to evaluate sources for credibility.

OER Source: North Carolina State University Libraries' “Evaluating Sources for Credibility Links to an external site." Used according to terms of use.

Online Sources Self-Assessment | Practice Activity

Now that you have explored how to locate credible online sources and how to correctly use and cite sources, take a few minutes to test your knowledge. Answer each of the questions below to gauge your understanding.

Reflection

Technology is a powerful research tool, but it is important to use technology responsibly and correctly. Giving credit to the original owner is just as important as selecting appropriate resources that are credible and unbiased. The next time you use the Internet to conduct online research, take a few minutes to reflect upon what you learned in this lesson and apply that knowledge!

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Links to an external site.] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN LESSON.