APA Style is the preferred citation style for social sciences. It was developed by the American Psychological Association to standardize the documentation of sources which makes it easier for readers to find and verify where cited information originated from. APA Style guides are updated regularly with the most recent 7th edition being released in 2020.

The most recent edition of the APA Handbook is available at the Quinebaug Valley Library.

Without giving proper acknowledgment to those who provided you with information, you are plagiarizing, which means you are claiming someone else's ideas and work as your own. Even if you did not mean to do it, not properly citing is viewed as plagiarism. 

Proper citations are also a way to:

• Strengthen your credibility. By aligning your ideas with existing work, you are building credibility and authority for your own ideas.

• Provide context for readers. Citations help your readers to trace your reasoning, explore further sources, and situate your work in the broader academic context.

• Contribute to knowledge creation. Citations trace a long line of academic conversation, showing where your ideas build on existing ideas and ensuring that future researchers can build even further.