How Many References Should a Dissertation Have
The following is a well-known quote from Jacque Fresco on dissertation citation. The referencing is best described in one word. In essence, referring! Every university and college student, regardless of their level of academic writing, is familiar with this term. In academic life, referencing is important and plays a critical function. It is imperative to correctly reference sources when writing a dissertation. In addition to helping your academic work come together, it is essential for bolstering the ideas and arguments and creating a coherent grasp of your level of expertise.
We will talk about what a dissertation citation is and how to properly cite one in today’s blog.
Dissertation Citing: What is it?
In order to provide a list of the resources utilized during the writing process, citing a dissertation is employed. Put simply, a page in a lengthy article that contains comprehensive references for all the sources and materials the writer used while writing is known as the dissertation citing page. Any text or statement written or said by someone other than oneself that they have paraphrased, quoted, or made reference to is eligible.
Reference for thesis is an absolute must. The rationale for using these accurate references is to demonstrate to the audience that you have thoroughly examined and composed the literature review, making it pertinent to the topic at hand.
However, some students question whether or not it is actually necessary to include references in dissertations.
What is the recommended number of references for a dissertation?
It also relies on the kind of dissertation we are working on how many references we employ. The dissertation’s literature review calls for the greatest number of references. It requires the inclusion of all cited concepts as well as appropriate extensions or inconsistencies to the theories. Everything is dependent upon how long the academic work is. Generally speaking, for every 1,000 words, there should be 8–12 in masters dissertation reference.
Additional citing a dissertation might only be required if additional research has confirmed, reinforced, expanded upon, or disproved the concept. Generally speaking, an academic paper should cite one to three sources for each topic discussed. Your dissertation may contain an unlimited number of references.
The deciding factors will be your degree level, your topic idea, and any limitations set by your university or academic institution. Furthermore, it relies on the kind of research you are conducting; for instance, a qualitative study may require fewer references than others. This dissertation’s word limit illustrates the appropriate number of references.
- An 8000 words dissertation must include 63 references.
- A dissertation of 10,000 words must include 72 references.
- A 15000-word dissertation must include 95 references.
Why Is Referencing Necessary for Dissertations?
There are various indications that referring in a dissertation is essential and crucial. Some of the things that can be accomplished by dissertation citation are listed below. Let’s examine.
1. Avoid plagiarism
The majority of students believe that rephrasing some statements and using your own language will remove the need for citations. However, this is untrue. Giving due acknowledgment to the appropriate source for your work is essential. Thus, it is essential to understand how to properly reference a dissertation and use the appropriate sources for your references.
2. Demonstrates Your Expertise
Additionally, dissertation referencing allows students to demonstrate their knowledge. For instance, it displays the amount of work you have put into reading, writing, watching, and compiling the data during the months of being ready to cite a dissertation. The quoting will also demonstrate the breadth and specificity of the reading that the students have completed.
3. Authority and Credibility
When students properly reference their dissertations, it demonstrates their original writing and ideas. The argument you present to support your position is the focus of your entire dissertation. To put it simply, the more evidence you can provide to support your position, the stronger your case will be.
4. Honesty in Learning
It is common knowledge that academics at universities and colleges take plagiarism very severely. Nevertheless, there are instances in which it might occur accidentally. When students cite credible and accurate sources, it shows that they are sincere and that they have made every effort to give credit to all those who have helped them with their dissertation and helped shape it into what it is.
The arguments presented above demonstrate why it is important for students to reference their dissertations. However, citing sources in a dissertation is insufficient to finish your job. Understanding how to reference a dissertation is essential. Making accurate references to your dissertation is essential.
How to Properly Cite a Dissertation?
After you’ve learned everything there is to know about dissertation referencing and its necessity. It is crucial for students to understand how to properly reference their dissertation or how to give the set of guidelines that directs readers to the sources they have quoted, cited, or otherwise taken inspiration from for their work. Students can prevent mistakes when dissertation citation by following the guidelines mentioned below.
- The work's creator
- The work's title
- The kind of publication (dissertation, whole book, novel chapter, journal article, webpage, etc., for instance)
- Add the release date of the particular version of the work.
- Provide the publisher's information as well as the publication's location.
- If more information is required, indicate the volume, issue number, and page range. It may make it easier for the reader to locate the precise source.
- Methods for properly citing the dissertation are the first thing discussed. Additionally, if you're unsure about the proper way to cite sources for a dissertation, check out the information below.
Different types of dissertation reference format
This article has covered the different dissertation reference format. Let’s take a look and find out what kind of reference your article needs.
1. AAA
When citing sources, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) suggests using the Chicago author-date style. There is no defined standard for AAA style of citation format for thesis. Anthropology makes extensive use of this technique.
2. APA
APA Style is defined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. Although it was created with psychology in mind, it is currently widely used in many other fields, especially the social sciences.
3. Author-date in Chicago
The author-date style (17th edition) is one of the dissertation citation formats available in the Chicago Manual of Style. The social sciences and sciences make the most use of it.
4. APSA
Political scientists frequently utilize the American Political Science Association (APSA) citation format.
5. Harvard
Economics is a discipline that commonly employs the Harvard style. It’s also widely used in several disciplines at UK universities. There is no one official style guide for Harvard style; instead, many colleges have their own definitions of the style.
6. MLA
According to the MLA Handbook (9th edition), MLA style is the official style of the Modern Language Association. It is frequently used in many humanistic subjects. Unlike other parenthetical citation styles, it is author-page rather than author-date.
If you still need help with referencing the dissertation or have any other questions, you may speak with academic writers. They can help you receive the help you need to get through your academic problems quickly.
Advice on Referencing a Dissertation
The following reference guidelines will assist you in correctly citing your dissertation:
1. Verify the suggested citation style
There are numerous colleges, publications, and journals that have suggested referencing styles.
Decide which system they need you to use before you start writing. The referencing style can be either APA, MLA, or Harvard.
2. Citation When It's Completely Required
Some people worry that their work doesn’t have enough references, but you should remember that quality matters much more than stuffing your paper with superfluous references.
If anything, we highly advise that you only cite sources in your dissertation when absolutely required.
Every time you cite another author’s work in your writing or use it to support a point you make, you must add a citation.
Including references shows that you did your study carefully. It is also, as we have already stated, the sole effective method of avoiding plagiarism.
3. As You Write, Gather Your References.
Creating a reference list during the writing of your dissertation is more manageable than doing so at the conclusion.
By doing this, you may make sure you don’t forget any important sources and find it easier to check the texts you quoted again when revising.
When referencing sources in your writing, it’s critical to stick to a consistent approach.
Keep in mind that if your reference list and citations are consistent and easy to understand, the reader will have a simpler time finding the sources.
4. Verify your sources again before submitting
Even if you create your reference list as you go, you still need to double-check it before turning in your dissertation. Verify that all the publishing information in each source you utilized is complete.
Verify that you have supplied your reference in the correct order. If you’re using an endnote system, list them either alphabetically by author last name or numbered according to where they appear in the text.
5. Make Use of Software to Reference Your Dissertation More Quickly
As you study, you can either make a spreadsheet or just take thorough notes.
The best method for saving, accessing, and citing the sources you find while writing your dissertation is, nevertheless, to use a reference management program.
Even though some colleges provide paid programs like EndNote and RefWorks, a free program like Zotero can still save you a ton of time.
The drawback of Zotero is that it provides significantly fewer citation formats than other commercial applications, and it lacks advanced facilities for creating bibliographies.
These are the factors which determines the number of references
A dissertation’s reference count is influenced by several variables. You can determine how many references to utilize in your dissertation by having a thorough awareness of these aspects. The factors are as follows:
Methodology for Research
The number of references you include is mostly determined by the method of your study. In order to obtain the required data and support their assignments, students are given a variety of assignments to complete, and they must select an appropriate research methodology. A qualitative research methodology, for example, will require fewer references and an emphasis on small samples. Before beginning work on the projects, you must comprehend this.
Subject
It all depends on what field of study you are in. Compared to a dissertation in the humanities, one in science will include more references. To make a point, science requires a great deal of investigation and proof. A science project will require you to do a number of experiments, which is why these papers have a lot of references.
Perspective
A dissertation’s scope is a major factor in figuring out how many references it needs. The dissertation will contain more references if it addresses a wide variety of subjects. Knowing the scope will help you decide how many references your dissertation will need.
Requirements of Dissertation
Before determining the required number of references, you must review the requirements. Throughout the entire procedure, the dissertation requirements are crucial. It is not possible to disregard the dissertation requirements while adhering to the recommended reference count. Students should follow the directions provided by the university in order to improve their performance.
That’s not all, though. It’s also necessary for you to understand how to select appropriate references and support your project. You can go over the advice on selecting the appropriate references in the section that follows.
Guide for selecting appropriate references
To successfully complete the referencing procedure, you must understand how to choose the appropriate references. Check out some of the professional advice below to select the appropriate references:
Select reputable sources
If you don’t select reliable sources, your research will be useless. It is necessary to locate reliable sources that readers would accept. To beat the odds, it is essential to know how to locate reliable sources and comprehend what they signify. See your professor or a specialist to have a better understanding and support for the paper.
Apply current resources
Citing outdated sources won’t accomplish the goal. Before using any information, make sure to verify the publication date. Sometimes students don’t use material from current sources in their papers, which results in them receiving low marks. You must recognize the significance of current data and gather information appropriately.
Recognize your audience
While choosing your references, it is important to keep your audience in mind. You should locate academic publications on the subject if you are writing for readers who are more interested in education. What you are saying needs to resonate with the audience. Finding data that is pertinent to the audience is therefore necessary. You will be able to defend the papers and improve your grade with its assistance. You must select your sources based on what is most appropriate for your paper.
While writing my dissertation, there are many concepts need to grasp. To get good grades on the papers, you need to make sure you have the greatest solution. Finding the proper material is essential for dissertations, and conducting research is a skill that you must possess. In order to guarantee that the document is perfect, you must begin with the fundamentals when it comes to referencing.
How Can Experts Help Dissertation Referencing?
Many students struggle to comprehend the proper way to reference a dissertation and what information is necessary. You can speak with our specialists if you’re a student who struggles to properly cite dissertations. You can consult experts if you are unsure about any of the topics or if you are having trouble understanding them. They have years of experience finishing academic work and a wealth of expertise. Thus, purchasing a dissertation from us is simple. However, some students choose their dissertation subjects for their write-up with the help of professional writers.
