How Many References for a Dissertation? Let’s Talk Numbers & Nuance
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Hey everyone! I’ve been working on my dissertation and got to thinking—how many references for a dissertation is actually considered “enough”? I’ve heard everything from 50 to over 150 depending on the word count and subject. Some say 1 reference per 100 words is a good rule of thumb, but is that always true? Would love to hear from folks who’ve already submitted or are deep into writing—how many did you use, and did your supervisor ever comment on it?
During my dissertation process, I found that the number of references can really depend on several factors like the discipline, topic complexity, and university guidelines. For example, a humanities dissertation might require over 100 sources due to the extensive literature, while in some sciences, 40-60 high-quality studies might be sufficient. What mattered most for me was the credibility and relevance of the sources. To make sure I used well-supported arguments, I often consulted a research paper by experts to understand how seasoned researchers structure their references. Services like StudyMoose can also help guide citation strategies, especially if you’re balancing multiple sources across disciplines. It’s less about hitting a specific number and more about demonstrating comprehensive knowledge, critical evaluation, and engagement with existing research in the field.
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