How many sources should be included in a research paper?

Question

1- The average number of references for a research paper is 45, with 90% of research papers having between 8 and 102 references. However, this number depends a lot on study design. For instance, a systematic review typically has 49 references while a case report has only 24.

How many sources should a research paper have?

Usually 3-4 reliable sources should be sufficient. This should be enough external information to complement your original thoughts/ideas. With too many sources, the essay becomes a compilation of opinions from other writers instead of your own.

How many sources should a 30 page research paper have?

It is much better to use a bibliography of 5-7 sources. The rule here is not to overdo the study; otherwise, your paper will not have value as a basis for awarding an academic degree.

How many sources are too many?

The longer the assignment, the greater the number of references required. As a general rule, there should be between 8 – 12 references for every 1,000 words.

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