Academic referencing question

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[imaginif]

Ummm...have had some questions around how to reference blogs in academic papers and resorts.

I provided the info on how to reference electronic media, but, the more I thought about it, the more I thought perhaps personal communications may also be an option for many blogs and for some posts that are more conversation rather than psychoeducational in structure.

Has any one else ever referenced blogs in academic papers? What format did you use: electronic media or pers com?

And...I had some feedback that blogs will never take off in academia (I know they are used as a learning tool in many disciplines - that is not what the critiquer meant though) because they are not peer reviewed or credible (as opposed to a journal) ..... has anyone else come across this and how did you rebuff?

[Meg]

Megan

This might help?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=citmed.section.61024

[miscmum]

And...I had some feedback that blogs will never take off in academia (I know they are used as a learning tool in many disciplines - that is not what the critiquer meant though) because they are not peer reviewed or credible (as opposed to a journal) ..... has anyone else come across this and how did you rebuff?

You say have you heard of http://stephanietrigg.blogspot.com/ ? She's a blogging academic and there are a few out there.

As for referencing blogs, I'd kind of lean towards thinking you 'could' just reference them like Websites generall are, but I'll have to go dig our my old university referencing manuals to brush up on how to do that properly. Hope that helped  

[miscmum]

Never mind, Meg did the PERFECT link 

[Lani]

Megan, this might be of use in terms of how to actually write the citation...

http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/study-support/study-skills/handouts/e-reference.php

In terms or the validity / credibility, though, it's really a question of context, imo.  As a general rule, they are probably more useful as illustrative references, or as sources of opinion / ideas you explore further. 

With regards to the peer review issue, I think that is an outmoded elitist position to take. Not the the idea of work being peer-reviewed, obviously, but the idea that journals are best equipped to do this.  If anything, blogs are capable of being more widely peer-reviewed, and you only have to look at some of the discussions on scienceblogs to see this in action.

Having said that, blogs are not the best medium for publishing research reults, but they are a great medium for discussing them, or for floating exploratory ideas.  As with any other medium, the standards adhered too effect the quality of the information, so you have to choose your sources.  Not all blogs were created equal. And neither were all journals.

[Missy]

I did an essay last year on blogs vs online and print new media. And I think I did one before that on publishing blogs.

Both times I think I made up my own referencing style! Really, they don't mind as long as you're consistent throughout and provide enough info (author, address, date published and accessed, etc).

[therinofandor]

that is not what the critiquer meant though) because they are not peer reviewed or credible (as opposed to a journal) ..... has anyone else come across this and how did you rebuff?

What's to stop a group of academics to peer review (and comment upon) each others' blogs on a regular basis?

I'd also think that, these days, many blog posts turn into parts of academic papers, and could perhaps be treated as "first drafts" (or "discussion papers", not necessarily the final product. With blogs you see the formative life of an academic paper.

So long as the status of the blog entries are clearly specified, I see them as having value.

[Evan]

Personally I hope the corrupt peer review process disappears from the face of the earth (people getting to talk behind your back - who may not be qualified to comment and whom you have no ability to challenge - is no way to run a conversation).  In my view it is not only rude but conducive of corruption (decisions should be transparent not made behind closed doors).

But they are of course correct.  At the moment blogs aren't peer reviewed and so won't compete with journals until they become peer reviewed.  However, books and conference papers aren't peer reviewed and these tend to be referred to.

[therinofandor]

...books and conference papers aren't peer reviewed and these tend to be referred to.

Books, journal articles, and the conference papers that inspire them (or are adapted from them) can certainly be peer refereed. Maybe we are thinking of different things here, but surely the peer review process can, and should be, be quite transparent? The "reviewers" are learned "peers" of the author, are they not? And isn't the aim of peer review to ensure that a piece of research (or even a blog entry?) is quality controlled - ie. embarrassing errors caught in time?

[Kin]

Karen Brooks (a popular culture expert who used to teach at the University of the Sunshine Coast) would be the first person I can think of who would know.

http://www.karenrbrooks.com/msgBoard/home.asp

[imaginif]

Thanks guys.

I think I'll just recommend referencing per the APA as electronic media.

The comment about questionable credibility and non peer reviewed status annoyed me no end. I'll follow up with the academic bloggers and present them to my colleagues.

I'm also about to write a paper on Social Workers and technology and use Web 2 applications as an example of how far behind the times our profession is.

Good luck with your studies this year for those who are studying. I am not teaching at JCU this year (means more time for blogging and showing academic colleagues the inherent worth and credibility of blobbing as a consciousness raising tool).

[imaginif]

Meg - that site on citing blogs was most helpful thanks.
Am going to blog on it because I have so many students and workers access my blog for child safety info.

[Gillian]

I reference blogs according to whatever rules my editor prefers.  Having said that, I've only had to reference them academically once, and that was in MLA style.  There's no standard, even within the disciplines I know, but that's not specific to blogs. 

In terms of the status of academic writing that appears on them, the peer review is really seldom relevant.  Blogposts have the capacity to range in value from the highly informed (communicating original research, containing proper referencing etc) to opinions by people who have read a single popular book on the subject and feel like ranting.  I know that uni staff are developing students' skills in assessing blogs and their usefulness, but that's not the same as them being acceptable on academic CVs.  If they were, my CV would be enormous!  (but I don't spend the work referencing etc for even the blogposts that contain original research, so it would be unfairly enormous). 

Blogs really are popular writing rather than scholarly and can be wonderful primary sources.  When I use them, I keep my draft referencing to the same standard as I do webpages, with printouts showing date of version, plus using the permalink page rather than the overall blog page.  This meets most referencing standards.

Gillian

[Rhiannon]

You might also try this great site:

http://easybib.com/MyBib/view.php

It does most of the work for you. I also believe Microsoft Office Enterprise Edition does it in Word for you. I know it does a running list of citations but not sure if one of the choices is a blog. I am on my PC and only have that edition on my laptop. So short of going and booting it up, if you have it you might check.

[Evan]

Today's Sydney Morning Herald p.19 on the corruption that is peer review.

The academic wants to retain the system (funny about that) despite his critique undermining the system's 'value'.