Viittausvaatimus

Viittausvaatimus refers to the requirement that a text, particularly in scientific, legal, or technical documents, must contain explicit references to original sources for any statements or data that are not common knowledge. The term is used in Finland to describe a formal citation policy that ensures transparency, traceability, and accountability of information. Viittausvaatimuksen mainakset are often included in the editorial guidelines of academic journals, in the regulations governing the publication of official statistics, and in national legislation for the disclosure of procurement documents.

The basic principle of a viittausvaatimus is that every statement that can be disputed—statistical figures, factual claims, legislative provisions, or methodological claims—must be supported by a reference to a reliable source. The reference is usually presented in a standard format such as the Finnish Academic Referencing Style or one of the international systems like APA or Harvard. When a text meets the viittausvaatimus, reviewers and readers can verify the origin of the content by consulting the cited source.

Implementation of viittausvaatimus can vary. In university coursework, instructors may enforce citation of primary sources and the prohibition of plagiarism. In government publishing, a viittausvaatimus is often codified in a document set from the Ministry of Justice stating that all official documents must cite the statutes, regulations, or previous official findings that form their basis. In the context of open access scientific repositories, a viittausvaatimus is sometimes coupled with a style guide that prescribes open source licensing for cited materials.

The viittausvaatimus aims to curb misinformation, strengthen academic integrity, and promote cross‑disciplinary accessibility. By mandating precise source attribution, it supports a cumulative knowledge base and allows stakeholders to assess the reliability of claims made in public and scholarly discourse.