You've just read an article that makes claims and provides statistics you would like to use in your report. Why is it important to determine if other sources are making the same claims and citing the same statistics?
To gain different perspectives and discover new ideas by examining several sources
To ensure that the statistics are real and the claims are generally agreed upon by experts
To find out if the author is quoted by others on the web and establish his or her credibility
To determine if the author's thoughts and ideas are unique and original