How many references for a research project?

[Mattalbie]

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Hi

I'm in the process of conducting background research for a 12,000 word research project comparing the behaviour of smokers and nonsmokers for my MSc

Any advice with regards to how many references I should include, 100, 200 + more / less?

Is there a general rule?

Thanks

 

[Ollie123]

Ummm, there's no real rule other than as many as necessary. You want to do a thorough review of the literature so you'll probably be reading many things you don't end up citing just for background. The topic you described is beyond massive so it would probably be a stretch to cover it in 12,000 pages let alone 12,000 words. Depending on what you focus - read what's out there. If its relevant to your topic and fits into your paper, cite it. If not, don't. 12,000 words is really only medium-length for an academic paper so you simply won't have room for TOO many references.

No one sits down and counts references at this level. Its a relic from high school where teachers would set a minimum number so unmotivated students had to at least put SOME effort into finding research.

 

[erg923]

Who assigns 12,000 words research papers? If its a real research paper, the lit review is just as long as it needs to be in order to review the relevant literature for your study and hypothesis.