Would you reference a film in a scientific report and if so how?

[ShutUpAlex]

There’s a film that’s very relevant to a paper I’m writing but not sure if it would be appropriate to include and if so how I would do that. I want to highlight it as a pop culture reference that shows significantly basically what I’m trying to prove in my paper. I don’t want to go into it too much here as I’m fairly sure my supervisor is a mumsnetter!

Aibu to include it or should I leave it out?

I think you can. Media certainly has a big influence on us all.

Just include it in your References List and (Ref accordingly) in your text.

Depends if it's appropriate.

Obviously I wouldn't use 'it happened like this in X film' as evidence of a scientific or technical process 'It's possible to grow potatoes in space because Mark Walhberg did it in some film I don't know which one but DP is always watching it' but if it's relevant in the context you are thinking of then I don't see why not.

What level of qualification is it for? And does the piece of work count toward a final mark?

It’s for my dissertation.

What subject? I are sure the film isn't biasing you judgement?

How would the film bias my judgement?

Ask your librarian. They are usually brilliant at this stuff!

You certainly can. For some subjects such as theatre reception in Classics, film would be cited frequently. Each referencing system will have its own required format for in text and bibliographic referencing of film.

You can technically reference any published resource in academic work. However, different resources will not bring the same weight to your argument as they are not peer reviewed, such as news publications or blogs. There are issues of accuracy and bias in many potential resources for research and it may be relevant to explicitly address these dimension within your discussion of the film.

There is no reason that a particular type of media cannot be referenced if the reference is able to specify the resource to allow accurate access by a reader. Documentaries are regularly included in particular fields beyond expected disciplines such as film studies.

You, as the dissertation author would be the judge of relevance/appropriateness to your argument of all your references. I would raise it with your supervisor for guidance on relevance - as an academic supervisor myself, I would be very happy to provide guidance like this.

What is the citation system you are using?

It’s more of a speculation point I want to make in the introduction.

I’m not going to bother with my supervisor as they’ve never once replied to any of our emails during this project.

To go over it lightly, I’ve run a study looking at human interaction with AI, specifically true voice and the relationships that develop such as trust and reliance. I want to briefly reference the film HER where a user begins a romantic relationship with his AI due to her voice. It would only be very briefly and would just highlight a potential outcome of AI being i lntergrated into our everyday lives like this.

Oh and I’m using APA

You can use it, and reference it appropriately (I've used magazine front covers, posters advertising a product, and a public information film before) but films can be a bit tricky because obviously they're either made up or based in reality but with a specific slant. You have to think whether you can get the information elsewhere.

If your dissertation is based around a thought experiment, like "should we bring extinct animals back to life?" I can see why you might reference Jurassic Park, but I think you'd have to be very careful how you write it!

If you're using Harvard referencing, I've always found this guide to be useful - library.aru.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm

Cross posted - have just seen you are using APA

APA style guide referencing films.

I would include something like that if the tone was along the lines of 'society has speculated heavily on the possible future of x with imagined possibilities ranging from y (captured in the 20xx film HER) to z (some other piece of writing). Use it as an example of people's thoughts towards the tech, not as a true example of what could happen.

That would seem potentially relevant as representing some cultural and societal viewpoints that the film builds on or portrays - even in pointing out misconceptions.

(I haven't seen the film so cannot comment).

xpost with Pedalpushers!

I have just completed an anthropology module and referenced films I watched in several of my pieces of work. It is a perfectly valid thing to do academically as long as it is relevant to your work you cite and reference it properly.

I have referenced several films in mine.
For the point you're making though, could you find a paper saying something similar and reference it?

How is your supervisor not responding to you? I'm entitled to 10 hours talking to mine and tbh have probably had that already and I'm halfway through my second chapter.

Surely you have a right to some support.

If your supervisor is awol (which sadly does happen) you can speak to library staff for detailed help - they are usually really knowledgeable and helpful - regularly advising phd candidates.

Yes I’m going to give the librarian an email I didn’t even think of that!

My supervisor does a half an hour zoom once a week but it’s usually when I’m at work so not that helpful for me really.

Yes, as others have said, couch it as popular fiction, film etc. You could go back to some of the early pulp fiction etc, maybe Isaac Asimov's humanoid robots entering into love affair with human - use his Robotic Laws as a reference of how long human/android interaction has been written about - that could easily include Frankenstein etc.

Anything by Philip K Dick

Sorry Philip K Dick - this article might gve you something to use in that opening, help couch your dissertation in vox pop stuff.

www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/technology/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-according-to-philip-k-dick-why-androids-dream/