How to Master Harvard Referencing for CIPD Assignments
Proper referencing is essential for any CIPD assignment. Not only does it demonstrate your research skills and academic integrity, but it also allows your assessor to verify your sources and shows that you've engaged with credible HR literature.
CIPD uses the Harvard referencing system, which places the author's name and year of publication in the text, with full details in a reference list at the end. This guide will show you exactly how to format references for every type of source you're likely to use.
The Basics of Harvard Referencing
In the Harvard system, the year of publication appears after the name of the author. The basic citation order for a reference is:
- Author(s) or organisation
- Year of publication
- Title (in italics for books/reports)
- Publication details (publisher, journal volume, URL, etc.)
Key Rules to Remember
Author names: Use surname first, then initials (e.g., Smith, J.)
Multiple authors: Use 'and' for two authors; for three or more, list the first three then use 'et al' in citations
Titles: Use italics for book and journal titles; use lower case except for the first word and proper nouns
Dates: Always include the year; for websites, include the access date
Corporate authors: If an organisation is the author, use the full name (e.g., Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)
How to Reference Books
Books are one of the most common sources in CIPD assignments. Here's the format:
Author(s). (Year) Title: subtitle. Edition (if not first). Place of publication: Publisher.
Single Author
SMITH, J. (2023) Fundamentals of people management: a practical guide. 2nd ed. London: HR Publishing.
Two Authors
JONES, A. and WILLIAMS, B. (2022) Employee engagement in modern organisations. Manchester: People Press.
Three Authors
TAYLOR, C., BROWN, D. and DAVIES, E. (2021) Strategic workforce planning: theory and practice. Bristol: Management Books.
Edited Books
HARRIS, F. and CLARK, G. (eds). (2023) Contemporary issues in human resource management. 4th ed. Edinburgh: Academic Press.
How to Reference Book Chapters
When citing a specific chapter from an edited book:
Chapter author. (Year) Chapter title. In: Editor(s). (eds). Book title. Edition. Place: Publisher. pp.page numbers.
PATEL, R. (2022) Performance management systems. In: HARRIS, F. and CLARK, G. (eds). Contemporary issues in human resource management. 4th ed. Edinburgh: Academic Press. pp145-178.
How to Reference Journal Articles
Journal articles require specific formatting:
Author(s). (Year) Article title. Journal Name. Vol X, No X. ppX-X.
Print Journal
THOMPSON, L. (2023) The impact of flexible working on employee wellbeing. People Management Journal. Vol 15, No 3, March. pp42-48.
Online Journal
CHEN, M. and ROBERTS, S. (2024) Remote leadership: challenges and opportunities in hybrid workplaces. International Journal of HR Studies. Vol 28, No 2. pp112-130. Available at: https://example.com/ijhrs/article [Accessed 3 December 2024].
Article with No Author
Addressing skills gaps in the UK workforce. (2024) HR Professional Weekly. No 892, 15 January. pp12-14.
How to Reference CIPD Resources
CIPD publications are essential sources for your assignments. Here's how to cite them:
CIPD Factsheets
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT. (2024) Performance management [online]. Factsheet. London: CIPD. Available at: www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/performance-management [Accessed 3 December 2024].
CIPD Survey Reports
CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL AND DEVELOPMENT. (2024) Health and wellbeing at work: survey report [online]. London: CIPD. Available at: www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/reports/health-wellbeing-work [Accessed 3 December 2024].
How to Reference Websites
For general websites and online resources:
Author/Organisation. (Year) Page title [online]. Place: Publisher (if known). Available at: URL [Accessed: Date].
ACAS. (2024) Managing conflict at work [online]. London: Acas. Available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-conflict [Accessed 3 December 2024].
How to Reference Government Publications
Acts of Parliament
Equality Act 2010. (2010) [online]. London: The Stationery Office. Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents [Accessed 3 December 2024].
Government Reports
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE. (2023) Good work: a review of modern working practices [online]. London: DBT. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/good-work [Accessed 3 December 2024].
In-Text Citations
When referencing sources within your text, use the author-date format:
Single Author
According to Smith (2023), effective people management requires...
Effective people management requires a strategic approach (Smith, 2023).
Two Authors
Jones and Williams (2022) argue that employee engagement...
Employee engagement is linked to organisational performance (Jones and Williams, 2022).
Three or More Authors
Taylor et al (2021) suggest that workforce planning...
Workforce planning should align with business strategy (Taylor et al, 2021).
Direct Quotes
When quoting directly, include the page number:
Smith (2023, p.45) states that "effective performance management is a continuous dialogue between manager and employee..."
Multiple Sources
When citing multiple sources for the same point:
Several studies support this view (CIPD, 2024; Jones and Williams, 2022; Smith, 2023).
Building Your Reference List
Your reference list should appear at the end of your assignment and follow these rules:
Alphabetical order: List references by author surname (A-Z)
Same author, different years: List chronologically (oldest first)
Same author, same year: Add letters (2024a, 2024b)
No author: List by title, interfiled alphabetically with authored works
Hanging indent: Use a hanging indent for each reference (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inconsistent formatting Stick to one style throughout
- Missing access dates Always include when you accessed online sources
- Incorrect italics Book/journal titles in italics, not article titles
- Missing page numbers Include for direct quotes and book chapters
- Incomplete URLs Ensure links are complete and working
- Outdated sources Try to use sources from the last 5-10 years where possible
- Forgetting 'et al' Use for three or more authors in citations
Quick Reference Checklist
Before submitting your assignment, check that you have:
- Cited every source mentioned in your text
- Included all cited sources in your reference list
- Used consistent formatting throughout
- Included access dates for all online sources
- Used italics correctly for titles
- Arranged references in alphabetical order
- Checked all URLs are working
- Included page numbers for direct quotes
Mastering Harvard referencing takes practice, but following these guidelines will help you create professional, accurate references that meet CIPD standards.