What does plagiarism involve according to APA rules?

Plagiarism, according to APA rules, involves presenting someone else's work as your own. This definition encompasses a range of dishonest practices that violate the ethical principles of academic integrity. When a researcher or student incorporates ideas, words, or findings from another individual without proper attribution, they misrepresent the source of that material and claim it as their original contribution. This not only undermines the credibility of the individual but also disrespects the original creator’s intellectual property.

The other options describe practices that can lead to issues but do not capture the core definition of plagiarism as clearly as option B. For instance, quoting directly without citation does represent a form of plagiarism, but it specifically pertains to the failure to cite direct quotations. Using common knowledge does not typically require citation under APA guidelines, hence would not be considered plagiarism. Paraphrasing incorrectly may involve poor citation practices or misrepresentation, but again, it is a more specific issue than the broader definition provided in option B.