Subroutines: Returning a hash vs. hash reference

mt2k has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am continually working on a set of modules for a system I am planning to use in the (hopefully) near future. I have come across something new that I have never given much thought to. This is not a problem I have come across, but more of a question of style and perhaps preference. In these modules, I have several subroutines that give a hash as a return value. My question to you wise and wonderful monks is whether I should return a hash or a hash reference.

To explain perfectly well, this is an example of one of my subroutines:

package Module::Name;

# require CGI, strict, constructor, all other code...

# A sub to return a [hash|hash reference] of CGI params.
sub get_params {
  my $self = shift;
  my %input;
  $input{$_} = $self->{$cgi_handle}->param($_)
      foreach $self->{$cgi_handle}->param());

  # The two possible ways of returning the hash.
  # Is there a preference (style or personal)
  # as to which one I should use?
  return %input;  # return hash
     # OR
  return \%input; # return hash reference
}
[download]

The first method of returning the hash (return %input;), would be handled as such:

my $CGI = new Module::Name;
my %INPUT = $CGI->get_params();
print $INPUT{'node'};
[download]

The second method of returning the has (return \%input;), would be handled as such:

my $CGI = new Module::Name;
my $INPUT = $CGI->get_params();
print $INPUT->{'node'};
[download]

My guess is that this is probably a completely personal preference rather than style, but I might be wrong. If it is personal preference, I'd like to know which method other perl users prefer and perhaps any reason(s) as to why. :)

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