Attribution refers to the process of identifying the source or cause of something, such as an idea, action, or event. In various fields, including psychology and marketing, it helps understand how people assign responsibility or credit. For example, in advertising, businesses analyze which campaigns lead to sales to determine their effectiveness. In academic writing, attribution is crucial for giving credit to original authors and avoiding plagiarism. Properly citing sources allows readers to trace the information back to its origin, fostering transparency and trust in the work. This practice is essential for maintaining integrity in research and scholarship.