REFERENCING OR CITING IS THE PRACTICE OF ACKNOWLEDGING SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE USED. CORRECT REFERENCING IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO AVOID PLAGIARISM.
GIVING CREDIT TO THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND IDEAS IS ESSENTIAL IN GOOD RESEARCH AS IT :
ALLOWS YOU TO BUILD ON EXISTING RESEARCH
Information is gathered from the ideas of those who came before, and a good researcher then produces new knowledge by integrating the ideas of others with his/her own conclusions.
ALLOWS YOU TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
It is important that researchers give credit so readers can trace the ideas presented back to the sources. This is the basis for all scholarship. It also allows readers to access the cited materials if they are performing research on the same topic.
VALIDATES YOUR RESEARCH
Giving credit to experts and authoritative sources gives your conclusions validity that cannot be achieved by simply stating your own opinions.
WHILE A BIBLIOGRAPHY DOES NOT ACTUALLY PREVENT PLAGIARISM, IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN AVOIDING IT.
