I’m often asked, "How much research is enough?"- and I have a rule of thumb I like to share about this. I suggest that, for every major point, you should have at least three, but no more than seven, sources to support that point. Usually, if you have found the same point supported in numerous studies, it’s enough to provide just three or five citations. In most cases, you will want to use the most current of the available citations (unless you are showing that there is a long history of information on this topic- in which case you might want to use a mix of older citations and newer ones). It’s good to write out your major points for each chapter and then note how many sources you have/how many sources you need. This can define your research a bit more solidly, and can keep you from bringing home too many sources for just one point. Special Announcement: I forgot to mention in the previous post that my new dissertation newsletter is offering a free report: "15 Tips for Ph.D. Completion" for all new subscribers. Once you submit your name and email, you will get a request to confirm your subscription. Once that’s done, you’ll get a welcome email and a copy of the report right away. If you’re looking for some extra support and information, I invite you to sign up today. Visit http://www.CompleteYourDissertation.com to join. Don’t worry, your email is safe with me- I won’t share it with anyone without your consent. I hate spam, too!
