Academic citation -Understanding the Importance of Academic Citations and 9 reasons for citation in Nigerian Projects

Introduction

It is now obvious that young researchers, such as undergraduate students, do not acknowledge the book material they researched while writing their research reports, and they do not recognize the need to include such a list of references in their work. All pertinent books being mentioned by any writer or investigator and reviewed to write research project introduction, literature review, research methodology, result, and discussion sections of the study’s report or thesis should be included in such a citation list.

According to Sani (2017), citation or referencing is a recognized way to acknowledge and name the sources of the facts and concepts you used in your writing. Referencing encompasses more than simply direct words; it includes ideas, theories, and facts taken from published and unpublished sources. The use of direct words or paraphrase should always be properly recognized and documented.

Educational publications such as books, journals, articles, etc., are not simply produced from memory. Instead, various sources pertinent to the topic of interest are read, identified, and frequently mentioned to bolster any claims or arguments made by the author. For this reason, whether you read a book, an article in a journal, or any type of scholarly work, you will often find references to other works by the author when reading such work.

Why citing?

According to the University of Washington Libraries 2023, scholars use citations to strengthen and validate their own work and acknowledge the contributions of original thinkers and creators. Researchers “match” their work into the discussion by positioning it in a particular point of view by acknowledging their sources.

References are an excellent approach for creating evidence for those who want to investigate the topic further or utilize the information in their own written research. Citations should Offer regard, make writing stronger and more authoritative, set work in a certain context and create an example for subsequent academics. Effective references should not hide your sources; rather, it should expose them, as they need to represent the study you undertook accurately.

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What to cite.

All authors whose concepts, theories, or research directly influenced your article should be cited. They may supply crucial definitions and data, offer important background knowledge, or support or refute your point of view. MIT Libraries, therefore, noted that you have to cite the following:

• Information that is not generally known, including figures, facts, concepts, or other information.
• Inspiration, concepts, hypotheses, or phrases exactly used by another individual in other works.
• Writings including publications, textbook sections, papers, websites, projects, etc., have to be acknowledged.
• To properly attribute another individual, their precise words must be used in quotation marks

When to Reference

Sani (2017) and Neville (2007) offer the following suggestions as a useful manual for when to cite sources in a project work:

• When outlining or debating a theory, paradigm, or practice related to a specific author or source.
• When highlighting a certain idea, methodology, or practice that has attained a certain level of acceptance and support within the field.
• When it is necessary to alert the reader to direct quotations or definitions in your assignment.
• When you cite a source to support or validate an argument you make in your writing.
• You must cite the information’s original source if you use tables, statistics, diagrams, pictures, or other illustrations.
• When summarizing a main theme or paraphrasing the work of another author.

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Reasons of Citation

Sani (2017) noted the reasons why it is important to cite a work. He said citation is of the utmost importance for the reasons listed below:

• To prevent plagiarism,
• To confirm the quote.
• Proper referencing guarantees that you give the authors and sources you used to perform your research work the proper credit.
• Using citations for the sources you consulted in your research shows that you did extensive research before writing your piece.
• Citing your work allows viewers to research the same sources you did independently.

According to MIT Libraries, other numbers of reasons why it’s crucial to cite the sources you used for your analysis is:

• By citing the sources you used to gather your knowledge, you can demonstrate to your audience that you did your homework.
• To be a responsible academic by appreciating the work and ideas of other researchers
• Avoiding plagiarism by citing phrases and concepts from other authors
• To make it easier for your reader to locate the sources you utilized, accurately cite them in your article using footnotes, a bi liography, or a reference list.

The Importance of Citations

The importance of citation includes:

• Readers to Fact-Check

Credit your sources in your work to allow your readers to fact-check what you write. This skill keeps you trustworthy in academic writing and aids your readers with their study. Whoever the reader is, it gives them the means to verify the veracity of your facts. In these circumstances, accuracy plays a significant role in your grade, and accurate citations demonstrate your work’s

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• As a writer, enhance your research skills

Being an effective researcher is forced upon you by knowing that each direct reference and rephrase you use in your writing will require a citation. To appropriately cite your sources, you must make a thorough note. To properly credit the original author, you must mention the author’s name, page numbers, journal article and book titles, date of publication, and other information. Your general research skills will improve by keeping these details.

• Developing Your Writing

Your writing talents will increase if you have strong research skills. A well-written paper is frequently one that has thorough research and consistent attribution throughout. Citations also enable you to write in the active voice more frequently, a quality of a professional writer.

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• Gain More Credibility

A strong work will establish your standing as a diligent scholar and author-cited page with quality sources and a strong in-text citation that accurately acknowledges the effort of others. Additionally, it strengthens the defenses around your reputation. Even if your research is inaccurate, you can demonstrate that reliable sources supported the hypothesis. The right citation and trustworthiness will enhance your standing as an investigator if you compose articles for scientific disciplines. It will enhance your credibility as an esteemed researcher if you are writing for the physical sciences or medical sciences.

• Easier to confirm published work

It is simpler to confirm the precision of the work when you use an effective reference routine and a citation style suitable for the kind of writing you do. Assuming the project will be published, as is typical with postgraduate dissertation papers, authentication is a crucial step in the process. Additionally, strong citations will give you better feedback and fewer errors during the revision and editing processes.