Which research step occurs last in the research process?

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Citing your sources is the final step because after you’ve refined your topic, located good sources, and organized the information you gathered, the last formal action is to acknowledge those sources. This attribution shows exactly where ideas and evidence came from, allows readers to verify the materials, and helps prevent plagiarism. While you might insert citations as you write, the culmination is assembling the complete list of references or works cited at the end. The other steps—refining the topic, locating sources, and organizing information—happen earlier in the process as you plan, gather, and structure your material.