This is an example post demonstrating the citation and reference system implemented for the Frequently Asking Questions blog.

Using Citations

When writing blog posts, you can cite sources using kramdown’s footnote syntax. This creates superscript numbers in the text that link to a references section at the bottom of the post.

Basic Citation Example

According to recent research in data transparency1, providing direct access to source materials significantly increases reader trust and enables independent verification of claims. This is particularly important for data-driven journalism and analysis2.

Multiple Citations

The methodology employed here follows established best practices12, ensuring both accuracy and reproducibility. These standards are widely accepted in the research community3.

Benefits of PDF Source Linking

By storing PDF sources directly in the repository, we achieve several goals:

  1. Persistence — Links won’t break if external sites go down
  2. Transparency — Readers can verify claims immediately
  3. Accessibility — No paywalls or registration required
  4. Archival — Sources are preserved alongside the content

How It Works

The citation system uses several components:

  • kramdown footnotes — Markdown syntax for creating citations
  • PDF storage — Files in /references/ directory
  • CSS styling — Automatic formatting of footnotes and PDF links
  • Visual indicators — PDF links show a document icon (📄)

Epistemic Standards

This approach establishes high epistemic standards by:

  • Making all sources directly accessible
  • Enabling readers to verify claims independently
  • Maintaining transparency about data sources
  • Preserving source materials for future reference

The references section appears automatically below when you use footnote citations.

References

  1. Smith, J., & Doe, A. (2024). Transparency in Data Journalism: Best Practices. Example Journal of Data Science, 42(1), 123-145. PDF ↩ ↩2

  2. Jones, M. (2023). Source Citation and Reader Trust: An Empirical Study. Available at: https://example.com/jones-2023 ↩ ↩2

  3. National Standards Institute (2024). Guidelines for Research Transparency. PDF ↩