Which section of a research paper provides a list of works cited throughout the study?

The section of a research paper that provides a list of works cited throughout the study is known as the References section. This part is crucial because it acknowledges the sources that contributed to the research, allowing readers to track down original materials for further reading and verifying the information presented in the paper. It ensures academic integrity by crediting original authors and avoiding plagiarism.

The References section typically includes all publications, articles, books, and other resources that were quoted or significantly influenced the research, formatted according to specific citation styles (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago). This facilitates a scholarly dialogue and allows other researchers to build on existing knowledge. It validates the research by showing that the findings are grounded in established studies.

Other sections, such as Results, Methods, and Discussion, serve different purposes; they present findings, describe experimental procedures, and interpret outcomes, respectively, but do not list cited works. Hence, the References section is specifically designed to fulfill the need for comprehensive source documentation in scholarly writing.