Documenting Information Sources

Most research is not original, depending on your level and field of study.

• Sometimes a researcher will do an experiment. She will report it in a journal article. Even if the experiment is completely new, it will be based on earlier knowledge from others.
• More often research is a summary of information. This information is gathered from many resources.
• As you continue in your academic career, you will choose a major. You will learn much more about specific types of information relating to your career.

Researchers MUST document their work to let others know where their information was found.

• Citing is the process researchers use to document information used in research.
• Citing provides complete and accurate references or bibliographic citations to the information found and used to create a research paper, project, presentation or other information product.

There are many important reasons for documenting your research project or research papers. To avoid plagiarism, a failing grade, or even a lawsuit. To find the information cited again, if you or others need it or in order to do additional research. To give credit to the author when using their work or ideas.

To document sources -- in other words, create citations -- you must use a specific citation style. Most university teachers want students to use APA or MLA, although there are many other citation styles.