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(I posted this previously in answer to another student on a forum that was totally unconnected to referencing and sources so have reposted it here so that it can be read – and more importantly – APPLIED by other students)
“There is a thing called “Quality rather than quantity” when it comes to referencing, A RAP that has 40 references that are mainly from study texts and text books and general sources is inferior to one that has just 10 references that use relevant and current sources -specialist articles and statements and reports from independent reputable organisations – the World Economic Forum, the Stock Exchange, industry confederations that sort of thing.
Wikipedia should not be cited from directly but sometimes it shows a source so you could try to find the original source and cite from that. Try not to over-cite the Annual reports – of course you will be relying on them heavily for some topics but they MUST be balanced with some independent commentary (Particularly Topics 17 & 20) otherwise the report only shows what the directors want to emphasise.
Basically the annual reports are needed for figures and the Directors & CEO reports are great to find out the strategies. Above all do NOT make statements when discussing trends that read like notes to the annual report – they are not enlightening – saying that the costs increased because depreciation and administration costs rose is next to useless UNLESS you explain exactly why they rose and provide some sort of evidence to back it up. For example “depreciation costs rose sharply because of heavy investment in a new production plant as part of the management’s expansion plans outlined last year (XYZ CEO report, 2013) which also explains the 20% increase in Plant and equipment on this year’s balance sheet” shows that you have applied logic, reason and research rather than making a statement about something that is obvious to anyone who just glanced at the income statement.”
Wow!! @trephena, you are doing a great job in this forum. I like this, thank you so much.
Hi Trephena
First of all, thank you for your useful information always.
Sorry for a basic question but FS is a primary source and annual report is a secondary source, right?
I do not think I need a list of all sources on this section but do I need some examples of sources why I used and why it is useful for, something like that?Kind regards
@akonda Thank you for your kind comments. I know it is a struggle for some students to get appropriate advice and guidance and it is hard to recognise (until it is pointed out) exactly how to approach some aspects of the RAP. Figures on their own do not ‘tell the complete story’ it is what lies behind them and how they all connect up that brings value to the report.
@pinkmonkey Primary data is a specific term used to refer to data that the researcher has collected for themselves i.e. it is not published. This could be data from a survey/questionnaire or interviews that the researcher has conducted or information that they have assembled by ‘objective observation.Secondary data is information that is already available for others to use but the researcher was not involved in collecting it.
So Financial statements and the annual report will always be secondary data when it comes to the RAP. However if you were doing topic 6 and surveying employees about their motivation and attitudes to work then the data collected would be primary.
Some topics e.g. 8, 15, 17 and 20 (and usually 18) only require secondary data.
You do not have to go into a lot of detail if you are only using secondary data. You can list it and say briefly why it is useful but it more important to set out any limitations of it.Thank you very much for your quick reply and answer , Trephana.I have questions: (i am doing topic 8 , bu the way)
1. Could you give me some examples for your saying that more important to set out any limitations of it.
2. I actually saw a website someone clearly said FS was primary and annual resource is secondary so this is a limitation of genuine source?
3.researcher means myself?
4. Could you give me some examples for primary and secondary for topic 8?
5. I thought the list is no nee because the list should be in the reference section?
6. Why for topic 8 only require secondary?Kind regards
Dear Trephena
Sorry , I forgot to ask one more thing.
Would it be better like you did although I am not going to copy what you exactly said, to define what primary source and secondary source are with a start?Kind regards
Sorry , again.
My question is that how I can avoid to be subjective as I rely on only secondary sources not using primary sources which are objective observation according to your saying.
Kind regards
Dear Trephena
I am afraid of asking you that your saying of ” topic 8 is not required a primary source’ is approved by OBU written somewhere?
Kind regards
@pinkmonkey – Sorry but I am involved in a tight work deadline for a project I am doing at the moment that has to be completed in the next 72 hours and just do not have the time to answer all of this in detail. Financial statements are SECONDARY DATA, you use them in Topic 8 as your main source and you supplement them with articles from the business press and trade journals as such articles will add objectivity. You state these general sources used in your Information Gathering section in Part 2, use them in Part 3 for your evaluation & analysis and list them in detail in your Reference List. I suggest that you read the latest Information Pack which should answer some of your questions as there is a lot of information from senior markers there that you may find useful.
Dear everyone
I just want to know that Google scholar is acceptable to be used as a reference?
Thank you
@pinkmonkey Google Scholar is a search engine for finding other information – on its own it is not a reference. You could mention the fact that you have used Google Scholar in your information gathering section to find relevant articles and those particular sources you need to reference.
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