Why Is Referencing Important and How Can It Help Build Your Knowledge
Referencing is to academics what ovens are to chefs: indispensable! Referencing is a practice commonly used in university assignments, scholarly textbooks, websites and journal submissions to credit an author for their words or ideas. For some, referencing is the worst part of academic writing. It can be a time-consuming process and may require access to specialist referencing software like EndNote or Zotero. So why is referencing important? What makes it such an essential part of scholarly writing, and how can it build your subject knowledge?
What is referencing?
Referencing is the academic method used to give authors and writers credit for their ideas. Whether in unpublished university assignments, journal articles, or professional research papers, referencing allows academics to give evidence for their claims. Typically, referencing involves in-text citations in the main body or footnotes of the text. It will give the author(s) name, year of publication, and relevant page numbers so the reader can locate specific quotes. It can add context to a statement, provide readers with the original source and allow the writer to demonstrate their academic integrity (but more on this later).
You’ll usually find the referencing bibliography at the end of a text, with a full list of sources organised according to the required format, such as APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), or Harvard style.
What kind of information should I reference?
It’s good practice to reference an author when you have described their concepts or ideas, even if you’re only summarising or paraphrasing. Making it clear where the information is from will show your knowledge of the field’s practices and acknowledge the original author's contributions to your piece.
Why do we reference?
If you’re an academic, you may face penalisation and criticism for failing to cite your sources. All institutions will have their own codes of conduct when it comes to intellectual property, academic integrity and plagiarism, so it’s essential to review these before starting your research.
What is intellectual property?
Intellectual property (IP) refers to the protections granted to authors for their original document, ideas, research outcomes and assets that result from intellectual effort. Failing to credit a writer for concepts they created or words they wrote may signal to journal editors or examiners that you lack academic integrity.
What is academic integrity?
Academic integrity is a moral code based on educational values. Each institution's code may be slightly different, but they admonish behaviours like plagiarism that undermine the truthfulness of a piece of work or the university itself.
It encourages students to hold themselves accountable for dishonesty, cheating, or laying claim to ideas they did not originally create: this is also known as plagiarism.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s words or concepts and presenting them as your own without proper acknowledgement. It’s considered a serious ethical offence and can take various forms, such as:
- Copying verbatim: Using another person's exact words without quotation marks or proper citation.
- Improper citation: Failing to provide accurate references or citations for sources used in the work, including ideas, data, or quotes.
- Paraphrasing without attribution: Rewriting someone else's work in your own words without acknowledging the original source.
- Unauthorised collaboration: Submitting work jointly created without acknowledging their contribution or claiming sole authorship.
- Self-plagiarism: Presenting one's own previously published work as new or original without proper acknowledgement.
What are the benefits of referencing?
Referencing, while sometimes a tedious, drawn-out process, is essential for abiding by the standards of your academic institution. It can also demonstrate your ability when it comes to scholarly writing practices.
1. Shows understanding of the topic
Writing a complete bibliography requires you to read your field’s prominent literature. Well-cited references from a variety of sources will show examiners (or publishers) your comprehension of the topic at hand. Understanding relevant and current scholarly conversations is essential for a good research paper. With referencing, you can situate yourself and your work within the context of previous studies.
2. Gives supporting evidence for ideas
Referencing lends weight to your assertions. Part of what makes a research paper, journal article or assignment convincing is your ability to present a cohesive argument with points backed up by others.
3. Allows others to view sources you’ve visited
Source verification is important, not only for academic integrity but to give the reader easy access to similar content. They may want to explore more about your chosen field and delve deeper into the topic themselves. By providing accurate references, readers can evaluate the credibility of the sources and form their own judgments.
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If you plan to attend university, referencing will be a big part of your educational journey. We hope that our comprehensive referencing guide has given you insight into the essay-writing process and the importance of academic integrity.
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