LibGuides: Harvard Reference Style: Secondary sources

Secondary sources: Reference formats & examples

In some cases you may want to refer to a source that is mentioned or quoted in the work you are reading. This is known as a secondary source. It is important that, whenever possible, you cite and reference the primary source of your information.
For example, if you read about a study by Warkington (primary source) in a journal article written by Roberts, Jones and Munroe (secondary source) you should try and locate and read the original work by Warkington. If you cannot locate the primary source (in this case Warkington), you cannot include it in your reference list. You can only cite it in your text. In your essay or assignment, you should cite both sources and use the phrase “quoted in” or “cited in” depending on whether the author of the secondary source is directly quoting or summarizing from the primary source.

In some cases you may want to refer to a source that is mentioned or quoted in the work you are reading. This is known as a secondary source. It is important that, whenever possible, you cite and reference the primary source of your information.

For example, if you read about a study by Warkington (primary source) in a journal article written by Roberts, Jones and Munroe (secondary source) you should try and locate and read the original work by Warkington. If you cannot locate the primary source (in this case Warkington), you cannot include it in your reference list. You can only cite it in your text. In your essay or assignment, you should cite both sources and use the phrase “quoted in” or “cited in” depending on whether the author of the secondary source is directly quoting or summarizing from the primary source.

**Secondary source: Examples**
TYPE	REFERENCE LIST	IN-TEXT CITATION
Secondary Source	Example: Roberts, M., Jones, R.L. & Munroe, N. 2014. Children and cognition and the development of language. Psychological Reports, 19(7):412-419. Notes: Give the secondary source in the reference list if you are unable to read the primary source. The secondary source can be a book, journal article or any other type of information source.	Example: In Warkington’s study (as cited in Roberts, Jones & Munroe, 2014:413) … Notes: If you are unable to read the primary sources you can only cite them (as in the above example).