Citing tools for APA 6th: Google Scholar and Summon
Usually when I am showing a student how to cite something in APA 6th I look the article up in Summon (our discovery layer) and use the RefWorks tool to format it to APA. I then of course tell them to check the reference for errors. Today I was on Twitter and someone was suggesting using Google Scholar to cite sources instead. How does GS compare to Summon as a citation tool I wondered?
I used the article Obesity epidemic hits New Zealand as an example. GS cites it like this: Kent, H. (2003). Obesity epidemic hits New Zealand. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 169(7), 702-702. Summon cites it like this: Heather Kent. (2003). Obesity epidemic hits new zealand. Canadian Medical Association. Journal, 169(7), 702-702. Both citations have left out the DOI but the GS citation has less errors in it.
I tried another example: The neurobiology of attachment. GS cites it like this: Insel, T. R., & Young, L. J. (2001). The neurobiology of attachment. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(2), 129-136. Summon cites it like this: The neurobiology of attachment. (2001). Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(2), 129-136. doi:10.1038/35053579 This time Summon has included the DOI while GS has missed it out but Summon has left out the author.
I looked at another example and again neither GS or Summon were quite correct and both left out the DOI (assuming there is one). So neither citation tool is perfect, it just depends on which one you prefer using. GS is a bit quicker to use but doesn't ever seem to include the article DOI like Summon often does.
I used the article Obesity epidemic hits New Zealand as an example. GS cites it like this: Kent, H. (2003). Obesity epidemic hits New Zealand. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 169(7), 702-702. Summon cites it like this: Heather Kent. (2003). Obesity epidemic hits new zealand. Canadian Medical Association. Journal, 169(7), 702-702. Both citations have left out the DOI but the GS citation has less errors in it.
I tried another example: The neurobiology of attachment. GS cites it like this: Insel, T. R., & Young, L. J. (2001). The neurobiology of attachment. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(2), 129-136. Summon cites it like this: The neurobiology of attachment. (2001). Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(2), 129-136. doi:10.1038/35053579 This time Summon has included the DOI while GS has missed it out but Summon has left out the author.
I looked at another example and again neither GS or Summon were quite correct and both left out the DOI (assuming there is one). So neither citation tool is perfect, it just depends on which one you prefer using. GS is a bit quicker to use but doesn't ever seem to include the article DOI like Summon often does.
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