> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.specollective.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.specollective.org/our-work/research-and-development/citation-format.md). # Citation Format ## Introduction SPEC's documentation site utilizes a simple citation format to encourage contributors to always cite their sources. SPEC citation format leverages Gitbook's functionality. ## Online Article or Blog Post When the author name and publication date are known simply include the author's name, the title of the article configured as a link to page's URL, and the publication day (allowing for year only when exact date is unknown). For example for article Equality, Equality, and Reciprocity: The Three Pillars of Social Justice, written by Peter Corning on May 31, 2015. 1. Peter Corning, [Equality, Equality, and Reciprocity: The Three Pillars of Social Justice](https://complexsystems.org/publications/equality-equity-and-reciprocity-the-three-pillars-of-social-justice) (May 31, 2015) ## Online Resource with unknown author When the individual author and publication date are unknown, but the research group or other publication entity is known. Include the research group name, title of the entry as a link to the URL, the overarching organization name, and last access date. 1. Participation Research Cluster, [*Participatory Action Research - Glossary Entry*](https://www.participatorymethods.org/glossary/participatory-action-research)*,* Institute of Development Studies (June 1, 2021) ## Wikipedia Wikipedia is one of the largest and most-read reference work in history. Wikipedia is a free, multilingual online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers through a model of open collaboration, using a wiki-based editing system. Individual contributors, also called editors, are known as Wikipedians. For an entry citing a section from Wikipedia simply link the article include the anchor tag. For example for definition section of the Wikipedia entry on sustainability. 1. Wikipedia, [Sustainable Development - Definition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development#Definition) (June 1, 2021) ## Book (Single Author) Citing a book is simple. For a book with a single author simply include the authors name, the title as a URL to a sensible source for the book, the publisher name, and the copy right date. 1. Peter A. Gloor, [Swarm Creativity: Competitive Advantage Through Collaborative Innovation Networks](https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195304121.001.0001/acprof-9780195304121), Oxford University Press (2006) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://documentation.specollective.org/our-work/research-and-development/citation-format.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.