You have to pick a method or a standard for how your references, your sources, are to be arranged in your written assignments - no matter if you manage your references manually or use a reference management tool. These standards are often referred to as styles or output styles. 

An output style defines which information to include in your references and your citations. It also defines how the information will present itself in your written assignment, both as to how your citations or footnotes will look and how your bibliography will look. 

Which standard/output style should I choose?

• Check your course description, your study portal, your study handbook or other relevant sources to see if there are special requirements for the output style/standard, you must use when it comes to references and reference list. Are there no special requirements you are welcome to ask at your library at AU Library or contact your supervisor to see if he/she has specific preferences.

  The most important thing is that your references and reference list are presented in a consistent way and your sources are sufficient.  

When do I use the abbrevation ibid.?

• Ibid. is short for ibidem, which is Latin. It means in the same place. The abbrevation can be used to cite or refer to the same source that has just been cited. Just make sure that it is the citation cited previously, there can be no citations in between. 

Primary or secondary sources?

It is always best to cite primary sources (books, articles etc.). That is original works. However, you are not always able to get hold of primary sources and then you have to cite other (secondary) sources that cite the primary source. In your text this can be done in one of these ways:

• Sorensen et al. explain the concept in this way… (Meyer, 2008, p. 109)
• ...the concept is explained in this way... (Sørensen et al., 2001 in Meyer, 2008, p. 109)

In this case the Meyer publication from 2008 is the secondary source. In the Meyer publication at page 109 the primary source (Sorensen et al.), which could not be obtained, is cited.

• Arts, Department of Education: the department uses the American Psychological Association (APA) standard for referencing.
• Aarhus BSS, Department of Management: students who are writing their bachelor thesis have to use the Harvard Referencing System. Read more about the Harvard Referencing System and see examples of how to create references/citations in your text and how to list your sources in the reference list and check your study portal for more about registration deadline, writing proces and handing in your thesis. 
• Aarhus BSS, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences: the department uses the standard/output style APA 7th edition (American Psychological Association).