- Only cite websites which meet scientific standards (unless the website is your object of investigation).
- You need the deep link to the exact page which you would like to cite.
- As websites may be altered at any time, give the access date, too.
What’s special about citing online sources?
With the advance of digitalization, our daily business finds its way to websites, online platforms, and social networks. Thus, such platforms are increasingly investigated by research. Furthermore, scientific papers and results can be found online, too. If you come across such publications, please make sure that they are reputable. You will find further information about the authors in the imprint of the website. Sometimes, it may also be advisable to double-check the author and their findings in other sources like a journal or a monograph.
If you would like to cite an online source, please take care of the following aspects:
- Online sources can be changed at any time. In order to back up your reference, also state the access date.
- If you plan to publish your paper, you should check relevant licenses, i.e. if you’re legally allowed to include these materials in your paper.
- Always use deep links. So, instead of providing the link to the homepage, you give the exact URL which leads to the page you want to cite.
| Link to homepage | Deep link |
|---|---|
| https://www.hausarbeiten.de/ | https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/889058 |
Additional information about online sources
You sometimes need further information for your references. The title and author are often named at the top of an article. You will also find its publication date at the top or at the bottom of an article.
The owner of a website as well as further legal information can be found in the imprint of a website. Most often you will find a link to the imprint at the bottom of the page or in its navigation. The imprint is also where you can find copyright information.
How to cite online sources
As there are many different types of online publications, there are also various aspects to keep in mind when referencing them. We distinguish between citing text, images or videos, social media posts, and using screenshots.
- Text, images or videos
If you want to cite a text passage, an image or a video from the internet, the most important thing is to provide a deep link and the date you accessed it. - Screenshots
A screenshot is useful whenever you want to illustrate your observations of an online source. You can take a screenshot with the Print Screen button on your keyboard or use the Snipping Tool (only for Windows). Still, don’t forget to give a deep link and the access date, as well. - Social media
Social media can also be cited with a deep link and the access date. Additionally, you can add the publication date of the post as well as the page name or profile which you’re referencing. Please keep in mind that social networks are mainly for private use. Profile pictures and posts may not be visible to the public, which is why you should consider obtaining consent before you use material from a private profile in your paper (especially, if you plan to publish your paper).
- Don’t cite a website which doesn’t meet scientific standards.
- Don’t forget to give a deep link and the access date.
- Don’t use copyright material if you plan to publish your paper.
Test yourself: Do you know everything about citing a website or social media?
How do you find out if an online source is reputable?
- If I find the word “scientific” on the page, the website must be reputable
- I should cross-reference information which I found online with other sources like a journal or a monograph from a well-known author
- All the information on the internet is true
Solution:
B – I should cross-reference information which I found online with other sources like a journal or a monograph from a well-known author.
What is a deep link?
- A link to a online catalog
- A shortened link
- A link which directly leads to a specific page instead of the homepage
Solution:
C – A link which directly leads to a specific page instead of the homepage
What is the access date?
- The date when I accessed a page and found the information which I want to cite
- The publication date of the website or posting which I want to cite
- The copyright date of a website or posting
Solution:
A – The date when I accessed a page and found the information which I want to cite
What purpose can you use a screenshot for?
- To add illustrations to my list of references
- To illustrate observations which I made on a website or online platform
- To prove that I wrote the paper myself
Solution:
B – To illustrate observations which I made on a website or online platform
What information might be helpful if you cite a social media post?
- The publication date and the name of the page or profile
- The number of postings by the same creator
- How I came across this page or profile
Solution:
A – The publication date and the name of the page or profile
