How many Sources for an Essay, Research Paper or Term Paper

In their research and academic writing, junior researchers commonly worry about how many references or sources they should cite and include in their papers. What is the most common response? “As many as you require.” So, what does that imply?

If you do not know how to cite, we can write quality research papers for you if you need papers with no plagiarism and that score high grades. However, read on to learn how to do it.

While we acknowledge that there are few hard-and-fast rules in this area, we will attempt to present more precise suggestions in this post to assist you in determining whether you have enough references in your work. So, how many sources should you use?

Ideally, the number of sources for a research paper or an essay is at least 3 to 5 sources but that depends on the instructions from your assignment. In fact, there is no universal number of sources because each paper is unique and has varied requirements as set by the instructor.

Let us first discuss why references are important and whether the number of sources or references you include can reflect certain perceptions about your work’s quality. There’s such a thing as having too many or too few of anything.

Here are some broad recommendations to follow if your instructor is unclear:

• Three to four credible sources should usually suffice.

• This should be sufficient external facts to support your initial ideas and opinions.

• If you use too many sources, your essay will become a collection of other writers’ opinions rather than your own.

Here is a summary of the recommended number of sources for various lengths of papers in pages

What Determines the Number of Sources for Research Papers

One of the requirements for receiving a college degree is the completion of a college research paper. A college research paper helps students prepare for future research projects. It is an academic criterion that must be met if a student is to have any chance of succeeding in his academic pursuits.

1. The Instructions from your Instructor

The number of references that should be referenced in some institutions is determined by the student’s level of study.

Some colleges, for example, demand B.sc degree students to cite only 10 references in their research papers. Other institutions have higher requirements.

The majority of the time, the schools do not have a set amount of sources that students must mention.

In this situation, the student is free to choose how many sources he wants to include in his research report.

2. Your own Personal Preference

The majority of research papers require a student to utilize his best judgment in determining the quantity of works to be referenced. This necessitates that the student compile a complete list of all the literature consulted during the research paper’s preparation stages.

For example, if a student used five books, four journals, and three newspaper pieces to prepare his research paper, he must identify all of these sources in his reference list.

He should cite 12 sources in his reference list. These 12 sources should be split up in his in-text citation. It will be considered plagiarism if the student only uses ten sources in his reference list.

That means the learner could be penalized if he uses sources without acknowledging them. Plagiarism is a serious offense that should never be committed.

3. The Type of the Research Paper

The quantity of sources a college student will cite will be largely determined by the type of research paper he produces. A long article, such as a dissertation or even a case study, should, for example, have numerous references.

This is because the student is expected to have read extensively in order to prepare for the essay. There is no possibility that 5 sources can satisfy for research objectives in a lengthy article.

In this scenario, a reference list of at least 15 is recommended. Again, if a student is required to write a brief research paper of roughly 1000-1500 words and cites 30 sources, this will be regarded excessive.

The mere mention of 30 citations for a 1500-word research paper is enough to get a student in trouble. A citation of 30 sources in the text will take up 1500 words. The general idea is to keep your reference list to about 5 to 7 sources.

5. The Grading and Perceptions of your Teacher

We’d be negligent if we didn’t warn you that being on the wrong end of the spectrum (having too few or too many references) can reflect adversely on your intellectual ability and the legitimacy of your research. This is why.

Readers may believe you haven’t done enough study into existing literature if you don’t have enough references, especially if the topic is well-known. Surely, someone else has considered similar issues or employed similar tactics.

Readers will question whether your article is worth reading if you are sloppy with your due research. What makes your paper unique and valuable?

Why References are required in Essays and Papers

References demonstrate that you have thoroughly examined the relevant literature and are now making a unique contribution to the academic community.

When you can critically evaluate other material and distinguish your findings from earlier works, you create authority and credibility (if any exist).

In the last statement, we highlight the word “critically examine,” because references are only as useful as how you use them in your research. As a result, the cliché “quality above quantity” is crucial in determining how many references are required.

Were you equally sloppy when it came to conducting your research? Answers to these questions must be obvious. Readers may also be afraid that you plagiarized because you failed to properly cite facts.

Unless you’re John Nash, who only cited two sources in his famous 26-page PhD thesis (one of which was to his prior work), make sure you’ve done your homework and provided suitable citations!

Readers may worry if you done any original research if you have too many references. Unless you’re doing a literature review, your article should be primarily on your research and findings.

Don’t bury your hard work beneath a mountain of citations and debate over other works.

Show your audience what you’ve learned and how the new knowledge you’ve presented fits into or differs from the prevailing understanding of your topic among academics.

Importance of Citations in a Term Paper

Let us also emphasize the distinction between the number of references and the number of citations. Because references are the source materials, each one should only be listed once in your references section.

Citations are used to show where the information in your work came from. A reference can be cited many times. As a result, your number of citations is usually more than your number of references. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever

Tips How to Reference and Cite Sources well

1. Avoid repetition of references

In a reference list, don’t use the same references twice. Also, don’t cite oneself over and over again. Make careful to include citations from other sources in your discussion.

2. Avoid Old sources

Be cautious when quoting old sources. The general norm is to only go back five to six years.

Exceptions to this rule should only be made for “seminal” works that are crucial to understanding why your study was conducted. Approximately 85% of all mentioned works should be under five years old.

3. Avoid multiple reference within a Paragraph

Avoid citing multiple references in one paragraph without addressing the significance of each book to your research.

To put it another way, don’t say something like “We referred to past studies in this field (1-7)” unless you follow up with an explanation of how each of the references 1-7 relates to your discussion.

4. Use quality quotes

Verify that the work you quote is of high quality. Are there any ethical difficulties with the paper that would make it unsuitable as a source?

Do you use reliable sources for your references, such as recognized publications, rather than random blogs and internet links?

Remember that the verifiable information you utilize to do your study determines the quality of your analysis.

5. Demonstrate Knowledge

One of the primary goals of quoting existing literature is to demonstrate the “knowledge gap” in your field. As a result, ensure that the works you cite organically pique readers’ interest in the research subject you address in your paper.

Consider your favorite fictitious narrative as an example. Only the background information required for the reader to follow along in the plot is revealed in a well-written story.

Unless the occurrence is related to an important component of the plot, an author will rarely waste time writing about how the main character stubbed his toe on his way to work one day.

Similarly, the sources you cite in your research paper should complement the story you’re telling.

6. Follow the Hypothesis

Don’t dismiss the paper that contradicts your hypothesis entirely. You want to demonstrate neutrality and that you conducted your study in a balanced and unbiased manner.

Mention any possibly contradictory evidence and explain why you think it’s defective or irrelevant to your study.

7. List all sources in references page

Make a list of everything you cite in your paper in the references section. Anything marked as a reference in the text should have been quoted or paraphrased. Something is wrong if either rule is broken.

8. Distribute citations carefully

Finally, keep in mind that citations are more common in the Introduction and Discussion sections of a paper than in other areas. However, you may have fewer references in qualitative research publications. If you do not know how to do this, you can buy research papers from us and we will do all the work for you.