How Long Should A PhD Literature Review Be?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The length of a PhD literature review varies greatly by subject. In Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences the review will typically be

around 5,000 words long

, while STEM literature reviews will usually be closer to 10,000 words long.

How long should a literature review be in a PhD thesis?

The length of a PhD literature review varies greatly by subject. In Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences the review will typically be

around 5,000 words long

, while STEM literature reviews will usually be closer to 10,000 words long.

How many pages is a PhD literature review?

In a thesis or , the review is usually a full chapter

(at least 20 pages)

, but for an assignment it may only be a few pages. There are several ways to organize and structure a literature review. Two common ways are chronologically and thematically.

How many references should a PhD literature review have?

Each main point you make should typically use 1-3 paragraphs, which should average around 200-400 words in total. This will give you room for around 5 key points, each supported by

2 or 3 references

. Try and use direct or primary references where possible. Sometimes you'll need to use in-text references, too.

How long should your literature review be?

In the absence of specific instructions about the length of a literature review, a general rule of thumb is that

it should be proportionate to the length of your entire paper

. If your paper is 15 pages long 2-3 pages might suffice for the literature review.

How long should a literature review be for a 10000 word dissertation?

One of the most crucial sections in a dissertation, the literature review, contains 30% of the total word count of the Dissertation. This means that if you are writing a dissertation of 10,000 words, then the literature review must be

3000 words

. In this section, our dissertation writing help experts.

How many references should a 3000 word literature review have?

How many references do you need for 3000 words? In your case, about 8.5 double spaced with 12-point font and 1′′ margins. Multiply that by three to get 25.5, so round up to

26

. That's about how many citations you should have at least – you can have more.

Is having too many references bad?

The consensus was that providing

too many references could be off-

putting, confusing, and even disrespectful towards a potential employer's time and resources – an example that yes, too much of a good thing can be bad.

How many references should a PhD thesis have?

How many references should be in a thesis? Each main point you make should typically use 1-3 paragraphs, which should average around 200-400 words in total. This will give you room for around 5 key points, each supported by

2 or 3 references

. Try and use direct or primary references where possible.

How many references do you need for a PhD?

The answer is actually very simple and very exact: You should

have precisely one reference per quotation or paraphrase

. It really is that simple. If you have N quotations and paraphrases you will have exactly N references. (You are allowed of course to cite the same work more than once in your paper.)

What is literature review sample?

  1. Narrow your topic and select papers accordingly.
  2. Search for literature.
  3. Read the selected articles thoroughly and evaluate them.
  4. Organize the selected papers by looking for patterns and by developing subtopics.
  5. Develop a thesis or purpose statement.
  6. Write the paper.
  7. Review your work.

How do you identify a theme in a literature review?

themes are

arising from papers read rather being a summary of each paper

.

examples

of where authors agree or disagree on particular points, ideas or conclusions. key theories being examined and how different authors are using or applying the theories.

How many words should a literature review be?

This type of research would usually take the form of an extended literature review. A project that involves an element of primary research with an 8,000 to 10,000 word limit would typically contain the following elements: Introduction (800 to 1,000 words) Literature review (

1,200 to 2,000 words

)

What percentage of my dissertation should be literature review?

As a general guide, the dissertation literature review should be around

25% of the complete dissertation

, although this will also depend on the wider structure of your dissertation and the scope of literature available to you.

How long should an abstract be for a 10000 word dissertation?

If your dissertation is around 10,000 words then the abstract should be

300 – 350 words long

. It is because, such dissertations contain much information and making the summary of all the information requires some more words.

How many pages is 1000 words?

A 1,000 word count will create about

2 pages single-spaced

or 4 pages double-spaced when using normal margins (1′′) and 12 pt. Arial or Times New Roman font.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.