Finding and using knowledge

It can be difficult to see why we need to reference any reports, assignments or research that we produce. It can feel like a time consuming task with little benefit.

But good referencing has benefits for both the reader and the person writing.

Benefits to the reader

Good referencing allows the reader to:

• See how your arguments have developed
• Follow your argument(s) to their conclusion and see the background to them
• Realise there is other evidence on specific questions or issues
• Assess for themselves the material that your discussion is based on

Benefits to the writer

Good referencing allows the writer to:

• Demonstrate their breadth of reading
• Set their research in context
• Show they have evidence for any conclusions
• When work is referred to by others it gets acknowledgement, so helping to build a research portfolio

See also advice for effective note-taking.

This 30 minutes introductory session covers the basics of plagiarism and referencing.