How should I handle citations when studying?

iylock

How should I handle citations when taking notes for study?

I am unsure how to handle citations when studying a new field for the first time.

I believe that when there is no prior knowledge, one can utilize materials such as introductory books, encyclopedias, lecture videos, and textbooks.

Since the purpose is learning, if I were to cite, I would likely do so by summarizing the content. Should I mark the citations in my notes during this process?

Extreme mode:

• Check all references listed in the introductory book, read primary sources, and take notes.

Hard mode:

• Mark citations in every paragraph of notes.
• If two introductory books present different items, combine them and mark each item with a citation.

Easy mode:

• Write only a list of references at the bottom of the notes.

Nothing:

• Do not cite at the introductory stage.

Once you become an expert in the field, you realize that all such citations are futile. I was in the position of an engineer and practitioner in the fields of acoustics, music, and industry. From a practical perspective, this knowledge must all become 'common sense.' The source of the material is not what matters; knowledge itself is what is important.

However, I am trying to study an academic field, but I do not know how to do it. Citation leads to an increase in unnecessary actions that hinder my studies. When I do not cite at all, I often fail to distinguish between my own ideas and the ideas from what I have learned.

Additionally, I wonder if citing is necessary for explanations provided outside the textbook, even when taking in-person university lectures.

What is the use of all these things? Since I have not walked this path before, I do not know what to do.

ctietze

Have you revisited the Barbell Method of Reading recently? Recommended read: https://zettelkasten.de/posts/barbell-method-reading/ -- that could answer parts of the problem on where to spend energy.

One bottom line there is: discard details. Don't create a note in your ZK without source attribution (marking it as your own thought by virtue of exclusion); just don't capture it at all.

Focus on the stuff that is valuable, and process it diligently. It's hard work, and maybe you can create tools to make that more bearable than copy-pasting citations all the time if it really gets onto your nerves that much.

Textbooks are usually summaries of common knowledge from different fields anyway, so you'd need to go to the primary source. That's more work. That's why filtering is important. You can't unfold 100% of a textbook into your Zettelkasten without retreading the field so that you become an expert just like the person writing the book you just read, so sacrifices are to be made.

Once you become an expert in the field, you realize that all such citations are futile.

Who says so?