Citation Phobia is Real
Citation phobia is real. It's the fear and dread of citing correctly, adequately, frequently, and comprehensively, in the right style and without offending anyone by leaving them out. This fear has been so deeply ingrained in researchers that they often don’t realise how stressed out they are about it.
At a recent academic writing workshop I ran, I was discussing the writing style of a published paper in IJRM. A participant asked in a shocked voice, “But, in this paper, there isn’t a single citation in the first three paragraphs. Is it really okay to write like this?” When I assured them it was, they said, “Oh, this has really freed me up to write differently. Thank you for showing me this. It has made my day.”
Clearly, we need to address this issue! We can’t have people walking around scared of citations. To start tackling this, we first need to understand the importance and purpose of citing. Knowing why we cite can help clarify the process and reduce the anxiety around it.
Seven Reasons We Cite
1. Give Credit Where it's Due
The main reason we cite others is to show what ideas are ours and what ideas are borrowed. While this seems straightforward to those seasoned in the field, it can be pretty daunting for newbies. Where do we draw the line? After all, almost any idea we have has come from somewhere else. For instance, should we cite someone when we say, “Remote work has become a norm”? That's clearly not our original idea, but it’s widely acknowledged. So, does it need a citation?
This dilemma about citing the basics is perfectly captured in an article from Nature discussing citation trends:
“Truly foundational discoveries—Einstein’s special theory of relativity, for instance—get fewer citations than they might deserve: they are so important that they quickly enter the textbooks or are incorporated into the main text of papers as terms deemed so familiar that they do not need a citation.”
One way to decide if a general statement needs a citation is to ask: how controversial is this idea? Are many people likely to disagree with the notion that remote work is now widely practiced globally? If so, it’s a good idea to find a source that backs up this claim with data.
2. Pay Our Intellectual Debts
We're never the first to work on a topic, even if it's something as fresh as AI. The thoughts and ideas we have come from somewhere.
Citing shows we acknowledge those who paved the way. Take Watson and Crick, for example. They are famous for discovering the structure of DNA, but they didn’t do it all on their own. Their breakthrough was built on the work of many others, like Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray diffraction images were crucial to their findings. By citing the work of their predecessors and contemporaries, they acknowledged the collaborative nature of scientific discovery.
So, when we cite, we're showing that we recognize the shoulders we’re standing on and how those contributions have shaped our thinking. It's like saying, “Hey, I got here with a little help from these smart folks, and here’s what I’m adding to the conversation.”
3. Bolster Our Claims
When we present an argument, we make claims about how we think things work. And to convince the reader to accept our position, we need to provide the reader with some evidence about the truth of this claim. What better way to do so than to show that stalwarts in the field have said the same thing?
For instance, if you’re writing about the benefits of remote work, citing well-known studies or experts who support your points can make your argument much stronger. It’s like having a heavyweight champion in your corner. If respected researchers have already explored similar ideas and reached similar conclusions, referencing their work adds credibility to your own claims. Readers are more likely to trust your argument if they see that it aligns with established research.
So, by citing these influential sources, you’re essentially saying, “Don’t just take my word for it—here’s what the experts have to say.”
4. Show We've Done Our Homework
To be a legitimate participant in the academic community, we must demonstrate our trustworthiness by being thorough. Creating a web of citations shows that you have been thorough in the breadth of your reading, and have engaged with what others have to say on the topic.
If you were writing a paper on climate change, for example, you would need to reference various studies, reports, and articles that have explored different aspects of the topic. This shows your readers that you’re not just making things up; you have actually engaged with the existing research.
Engaging with the literature means you’ve created a networked map of the seminal authors and the various literature streams. You’ve identified who’s who in the field, what they’ve said, and how it all connects. It’s like being part of a book club where everyone has read the same books and can discuss them intelligently. By citing these sources, you're showing that you understand the context of your work and how it fits into the bigger picture. This not only adds depth to your paper but also builds trust with your readers, who can see that you've put in the effort to build a well-informed argument.
5. Place Our Work in the Right Conversation
Academic writing is like joining a big, ongoing conversation. When we cite others, we're telling our readers exactly which conversation we're joining. It's important to situate our work within a specific context so that reviewers and readers know where we fit in.
For instance, if you’re writing about social media’s impact on consumer behavior, you need to make it clear whether you’re building on previous studies that focused on marketing, psychology, or maybe even sociology. By citing relevant works, you’re showing which body of research you’re engaging with. Are you challenging a well-known theory? Supporting a recent study? Adding a new perspective to a long-standing debate? This helps readers understand the specific niche your work occupies within the broader academic landscape. Anne Sigismund Huff (2016) phrases it best:
“What is news in one conversation or subconversation is often of little interest to scholars in other areas of inquiry. Your contribution has to attract an audience interested in similar problems; one that understands compatible theories and methods.”
Think of it as attending a party where various groups are having different conversations. To join in meaningfully, you need to know which group you're approaching and what they're talking about. Without this clarity, readers might be left wondering where your ideas are coming from and where they fit in. So, by clearly situating your work, you’re saying, “Here’s the conversation I’m joining, here’s who I’m talking to, and here’s how my work adds to or changes this dialogue.”
Again, Anne Sigismund Huff says it best (1998):
“The content and process of scholarship is learned from other scholars; they shape the way the individual understands the world, and define the issues worth attention. Scholars need this audience to assess and appreciate their work. Even the most iconoclastic individuals are rooted in a social setting.”
6. Justify the Need for Our Research
Citing others isn't just about giving credit—it's also about showing why your research matters. This is often called "identifying the gap." Basically, you're pointing out what's missing in the current research landscape and why your study is needed to fill that void.
Imagine you're researching the effects of remote work on mental health. You'd start by reviewing existing studies and noting their findings. Maybe you discover that while there’s a lot of research on remote work productivity, there’s not much on its long-term impact on mental health. By citing these studies, you can highlight this gap and argue that your research is crucial because it addresses an overlooked but important aspect.
This not only shows that you’re well-versed in the current literature but also that your work has a clear purpose. It’s like saying, “Here’s what we know so far, here’s what we don’t know, and here’s why my research is the missing piece of the puzzle.” This helps reviewers and readers understand the significance of your study and why it's worth their attention.
7. Show Broader Consensus or Debate
When we reference multiple sources, we can show whether there’s a broad agreement or a lively debate about a particular issue.
By pulling together various viewpoints, you’re demonstrating that your work is grounded in a well-established field of study. It’s like saying, “Look, this isn’t just my opinion—there are many researchers exploring this issue from different angles.” This helps readers see the broader context of your research and understand how your work fits into ongoing scholarly conversations.
Moreover, showing the consensus or debate around a topic can strengthen your own argument. If you’re arguing that social media has a significant impact on mental health, citing multiple sources that support this claim can make your argument more convincing. On the other hand, if there’s a debate, you can position your research as a way to contribute to or clarify this ongoing discussion.
Understanding the Real Power of Citations
The takeaway here is that citing serves many purposes in the telling of our research story. But we must remember that it serves us; we are not in service of it. We use citations to convince our peers that we are insiders and our work can be trusted, that we do not appropriate the ideas of others and pass them off as our own, and that our research is needed and hasn’t been done before. We use citations to convince our peers that our research is valid and valuable, that our ideas could help change how we perceive the world.
And although we do need to ensure that we haven’t skipped any pioneering and important work in the field, or even entire streams of literature, honestly, what’s the worst that can happen? Someone will remind you to do it during the review process? Ok then.
I hope this article helps you relax that muscle in the pit of your stomach as you write this morning.
References:
Huff, A.S. (1998) Writing for Scholarly Publication. Sage.
Huff, A.S. (2016) “Unplugged: My own book review,” Management, 19(3): 240–247.
Feak, C.B. and Swales, J.M. (2016) “Telling a Research Story: Writing a Literature Review,” The Michigan Series in English for Academic and Professional Purposes, English in Today’s Research World, Vol. 2.