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Theses and dissertations overview

A thesis or dissertation will either be unpublished - available only in print at the awarding institution; or published - either on a website, or in a theses database such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. The principles when referencing a thesis are similar to those used when referencing a book.

Theses/Dissertations format

Thesis/Dissertation printed and paper bound

 

Reference elements

annotated reference example for a thesis or dissertation that is printed and paper bound

 

In-text citation

  Format Example
Paraphrase

(Author Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... as was demonstrated in the research (Kennedy 2015).

OR

Kennedy (2015) researched the ...
Quote

'...' (Author Year, p. xx)

OR

Author (Year, p. xx) '...' 

'... characteristics ...' (Kennedy 2015, p. 34).

OR

According to Kennedy (2015, p. 23) '... nurses ...'.

 

Reference

Format Example

Author, AA Year, 'Thesis title', Document type, University, Location of University if required.

Kennedy, B 2015, 'The personality characteristics of emergency nurses,' Master’s thesis, University of Sydney.
Note:
  • Only include the location of the university if it is unclear from the name of the university.
  • Document type: PhD thesis, doctoral dissertation, Master's thesis, MBA thesis, honours thesis.

Thesis/Dissertation from an online database

 

Reference elements

annotated reference example for a thesis or dissertation from an online database

 

In-text citation

  Format Example
Paraphrase

(Author Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... as demonstrated in the research (Sanner-Stiehr 2015). 

OR

Sanner-Stiehr (2015) demonstrates ...
Quote

'...' (Author Year, p. xx)

OR

Author (Year, p. xx) '...'

'... nursing staff ...' (Sanner-Stiehr 2015, p. 34).

OR

Sanner-Stiehr (2015, p. 34) found that '... nursing staff ...'.

 

Reference

Format Example

Author, AA Year, 'Thesis title', Document type, University, Location of University, viewed Day Month Year, Database name.

Jarrah, M 2018, 'Making it in America: a phenomological study of the identity reformation of Syrian refugees', Doctoral dissertation, The George Washington University, Washington, viewed 3 July 2019, ProQuest database.
Note:
  • Document type includes: PhD thesis, doctoral dissertation, Master's thesis, MBA thesis, honours thesis.

Thesis/Dissertation from an online website/repository

 

Reference elements

annotated reference example for a thesis or dissertation from an online website or repository

 

In-text citation

  Format Example
Paraphrase

(Author Year)

OR

Author (Year)

... as discussed in the research (Tonkin 2016).

OR

Tonkin (2016) discusses the correlation between ...
Quote

'...' (Author Year, p. xx)

OR

Author (Year, p. xx) '...'

'... innovation in schools ...' (Tonkin 2016, p. 12).

OR

Tonkin (2016, p. 12) concluded that '... innovation in schools ...'.

 

Reference

Format Example

Author, AA Year, 'Thesis title', Document type, University, Location of University, viewed Day Month Year, http://xxxxx.

Tonkin, AT 2016, 'Leading schools for innovation and success: five case studies of Australian principals creating innovative school cultures', Doctorate thesis, The University of Melbourne, viewed 21 June 2019, http://hdl.handle.net/11343/57430. 
Note:
  • Document type: PhD thesis, doctoral dissertation, Master's thesis, MBA thesis, honours thesis.
  • URLs are formatted as normal text and are not hyperlinked.