(9) Referencing practices in coaching vary in density

I am observing that of the 30+ articles I've engaged with as part of my Graduate Certificate in Professional Coaching that the reference density (how often and how many times a journal articles cites preceding work) varies a lot. Some feel a lot more sparse in citations. I'm unsure if this is because the papers are assuming a lot of what they're stating is common knowledge; however, I thought best practice is to cite as much as possible.

This has gotten me hyped to do a research project...! Patterns, Pathways, and Power-Bibliometric analysis of the citation practices shaping the field of professional coaching (1970-2020)