It's important to include references in your research paper because references

A. reduce the risk of false conclusions.
B. prove that you didn't conduct your research on the Internet.
C. give credit to authors.
D. are required on most writing assignments.

The correct answer is C. References in a research paper are important because they give credit to the authors whose work has been cited. This is important for acknowledging the original source of information and ideas. When you include references, you are acknowledging the intellectual property of others and avoiding plagiarism.

To arrive at this answer, you can utilize a few strategies. First, you can rely on your general knowledge and understanding of research papers. References are commonly known to be included in academic writing to support claims and provide evidence. If you are familiar with the purpose of references, you can make an educated guess that option C is likely the correct answer.

Alternatively, you can eliminate the incorrect options to narrow down the choices. Option B, which suggests that references prove you didn't conduct research on the internet, is easily dismissible. Many research papers do use internet sources, but they still include appropriate references to credit the authors. Option D is also incorrect because while references are typically required, it is not the primary reason for including them in a research paper.

Option A, which suggests that references reduce the risk of false conclusions, might sound plausible at first. However, this is not the primary purpose of including references. References are more about giving credit, supporting claims, and demonstrating the depth of research rather than preventing false conclusions. Therefore, the most accurate answer is option C, as it aligns with the primary purpose of including references in a research paper.