Source confusion occurs when a person mistakenly attributes information or ideas to the wrong source. This can happen in various contexts, such as academic writing, where a researcher might cite a study but misremember the author or the findings. It can lead to misinformation and undermine the credibility of the work. In everyday life, source confusion can also occur in conversations. For example, someone might recall a quote from a movie but mistakenly credit it to a different film or actor, like confusing Marlon Brando with Robert De Niro. This can create misunderstandings and distort the original message.