How Many References in a Master's Thesis?
How Many References in a Master’s Thesis?
If you’re writing a master’s thesis, you probably have to worry about how many references to include. While your bibliography is important, you should also make sure your thesis’s overall length is appropriate. Here are some questions to ask yourself before starting the bibliography. These questions should be answered honestly. After all, you won’t want your thesis to seem too lengthy. Using these guidelines, you can make sure your reference list isn’t too long, either.
Number of references
The number of references in a master thesis writing varies according to the subject matter and length of the assignment. A paper should include eight to 12 references per 1,000 words, but the number of citations should be based on the length of the paper. The following table summarizes the typical number of references for a master thesis. For longer master thesis projects, cite more than one reference per page. But for shorter projects, list fewer references.
Generally, a master thesis should have a total of around ten to twelve references. There should be a balance between internal and external references. Citations older than five years should be limited. Exceptions should be made for “seminal” works that have been published in the past few years. A good rule of thumb is to include 85% of cited works that are less than five years old. Including multiple citations is acceptable, but it is important to discuss their relevance.
If the master thesis involves journal articles, the number of references should be as low as possible. Students are tempted to add too many references, especially for a journal article. A rough guide in terms of numbers and words can help. In one class I taught, students were asked to bring in five or ten articles that they liked and consulted them for help. My supervisors looked at papers that included 20-30 references. It was clear that students needed to include fewer references than those with twenty-thousand-five-pages.
In general, the Graduate School requires a bibliography at the end of the thesis. The bibliography must be alphabetized by author. There are a few ways to format the bibliography. If you use option oneref, a list of references appears at the end of each chapter. Typically, this must be placed after the last chapter, before the appendices. A list of references should not exceed 10 pages.
The number of references in a master thesis varies based on the subject area. If it involves journal articles, the number of references can be a limiting factor. Moreover, there are other factors, including constraints on journal printing. Sometimes, you may not be able to access certain journal articles. If this is the case, it might be best to seek out another institution to access the literature. It can be time consuming to locate the relevant literature.
Number of footnotes
There are different ways to format your footnotes. APA style mandates the use of full-sized numbers, and the number of footnotes is dependent on your supervisor’s preferences. The number of endnotes is also determined by your supervisor. Your thesis must be consistent from beginning to end. If you’re using Word, you can convert your footnotes to endnotes by selecting the Footnote Text style and inserting it at the end of each sentence.
In your master’s thesis, you must place endnotes at the end of each chapter, but not at the bottom of the page. Footnotes should be centered within the page margins, and endnotes should be placed on a separate page. They should be placed after references and appendices. The heading for each endnote should be “ENDNOTES”, in capital letters. Center the endnote at one inch below the top of the first page.
Preliminary pages should be numbered using lower-case Roman numerals. Footnotes should follow directly under the text, and they should be double-spaced and italicized. The titles of the chapters should follow the formatting guidelines of Turabian, 9th ed., 402-404.
Despite being helpful, footnotes can sometimes interrupt the flow of the text. They force the reader to stop reading to look up a particular footnote. In addition, endnotes make the reader turn to the end of a chapter, which is tiresome. On the other hand, headnotes provide the reader with helpful information in one location. So, while the number of footnotes in your master thesis isn’t set in stone, it is generally accepted that you use them sparingly.
Number of primary sources
A master thesis requires the use of several primary sources, including the original book and digitised copies. Primary sources can be anything from an 18th-century memoir to a video document or Instagram post. Some primary sources are born digital, such as a blog by an artist or a financial dataset. Other sources are digitally preserved in repositories, like Summon. The purpose of evaluating primary sources depends on the type of information they contain.
The number of secondary sources will vary, but a master’s thesis on literature, for example, might require one secondary source per thousand words. In contrast, a doctoral thesis, on the other hand, may require 150 or more secondary sources. The amount of primary sources is dependent on the discipline and individual research methods used to write the paper. It is always a good idea to acknowledge the original sources when possible. In case of citations, the numbers are usually given in parentheses.
If your master’s thesis is written in English, there are two types of primary sources: literary sources and documentary sources. Primary sources include documents written by the author or by a study participant, and secondary sources contain information from other sources. The key difference between these two types of sources is whether or not the information in the source is original and scholarly. For example, a magazine review on Toni Morrison’s work is a primary source.
Using primary research is an important part of a quality master’s thesis or dissertation. It allows the researcher to customize the research according to his or her own needs and desires. Primary sources provide comprehensive information on a topic, and the researcher can decide on the best way to present it. Moreover, primary research results are highly respected in academic circles, which makes it an essential part of any master thesis. Once you’ve chosen the right method, your thesis will be a success.
It’s important to remember that all primary and secondary sources you use must be cited. Citing your sources is important to avoid plagiarism. While you can cite a source if you want to use it in your master thesis, you must avoid using too many secondary sources. When citing primary sources, remember to include the original documents, too. They’ll help you make the best use of the information in your essay.
Length of reference list
In order to determine the ideal length of your reference list, consider the type of article you are writing. Some fields have few published papers, while others have an extensive literature. Keeping in mind the requirements of your institution and the journal you are writing for can help you decide how much material to include. You can also read about the guidelines for increasing your publication list in our previous article. In general, a longer reference list is more relevant, but a shorter one can still be effective.
The number of references depends on the type of master’s thesis and its topic. For example, a master’s thesis in literature may require only one secondary source per thousand words. On the other hand, a doctoral thesis may call for as many as 150 sources. Again, it all depends on the topic and the researcher. In any case, a master’s thesis with a literature focus should contain at least one source for every three thousand words, while a doctoral dissertation may contain up to 150 sources.
The maximum number of citations can be as long as 80,000 words, including the bibliography, footnotes, and reference list. However, a master’s thesis should not exceed 60,000 words without the permission of the degree committee. If you exceed this limit, you must submit a special application to the Degree Committee explaining the reasons for the increase in citations. A reasoned case from your supervisor must be included to support your request.
The length of your references section should be consistent with your thesis style. You should use a consistent format and style throughout your manuscript. It is important that your manuscript is legible, both in printed and electronic format. For questions, contact your graduate school. It is important to follow APA standards and ensure that the references are properly formatted. If you are unsure about how to format references, you can look at APA 2.12 – References Manual.
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