Citation

Correctly citing a source of information you’ve used in your research is important because other researchers, or people in general that might be interested in your research can trace it back to where it came from for their own use. They can do what they need to with it, and then when you compare their findings, and interpretations to your own, you can discuss the common ground between both your findings, and the findings of others who use the same source. You can learn from each other, and potentially discover a whole new way of interpreting it, or using it. It can also help to discern false or skewed information from legitimate information that you might not have been able to discern had you not cited it. It enables people to go behind you, and double check not only your work, but the work of the people who you cited as well to make sure no false information is being spread. This is especially important in peer reviewed content, as it is normally a focus for budding scholars, and students utilizing them for their own studies. Without citation, anyone could claim to be a researcher, and make up their own information without honest facts or data to back them up, let alone where they found such information.

Plagiarism

Equally as important as citing, discussing plagiarism is important as to credit those who did the footwork, conducted the studies, and published the facts. As I stated about citations, without them, anyone can come up with any facts with no supporting evidence, and the same can be argued for plagiarism. People can plagiarize studies, or information by directly copying, or closely paraphrasing an article, and no one would be able to check behind them. Discussions involving plagiarized subjects would just go in a circle, with the information in interpreted, and combined with other sources, but simply copied from them. Not only that, you detract from those that did the work, spoke the quotes, and found the information; you essentially steal the hard work that they did. When it comes to discussing the topics, you are trapped because you can only parrot what other researchers have stated, unable to effectively draw your own conclusions, unlike those who read, and interpreted the information, and then combined it with other sources. Even unintentionally, plagiarism is dangerous; you unconsciously, or accidentally plagiarize a source, either by too closely paraphrasing, or without thinking, using a statement they used word for word. Being able to discuss it with other researchers and scholars, we can better understand, and be aware of plagiarism, both intentional and unintentional.