Research Methods at SCS
- Basic Strategies
Literature Reviews
Annotated bibliographies, writing the literature review, matrix for organizing sources for literature reviews / annotated bibliographies, sample literature reviews.
- Qualitative & Quantitative Methods
- Case Studies, Interviews & Focus Groups
- White Papers
A literature review is a synthesis of published information on a particular research topics. The purpose is to map out what is already known about a certain subject, outline methods previously used, prevent duplication of research, and, along these lines, reveal gaps in existing literature to justify the research project.
Unlike an annotated bibliography, a literature review is thus organized around ideas/concepts, not the individual sources themselves. Each of its paragraphs stakes out a position identifying related themes/issues, research design, and conclusions in existing literature.
An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that gives a summary of each article or book. The purpose of annotations is to provide the reader with a summary and an evaluation of the source. Each summary should be a concise exposition of the source's central idea(s) and give the reader a general idea of the source's content.
The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to:
- review the literature of a particular subject;
- demonstrate the quality and depth of reading that you have done;
- exemplify the scope of sources available—such as journals, books, websites and magazine articles;
- highlight sources that may be of interest to other readers and researchers;
- explore and organize sources for further research.
Further Reading:
- Annotated Bibliographies (Purdue OWL)
- How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography (Cornell University)
" Literature Reviews: An Overview for Graduate Students " 2009. NC State University Libraries
Review the following websites for tips on writing a literature review:
Literature Reviews. The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Write a Literature Review: Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Matrix for Organizing Sources
Levac, J., Toal-Sullivan, D., & O`Sullivan, T. (2012). Household Emergency Preparedness: A Literature Review. Journal Of Community Health , 37 (3), 725-733. doi:10.1007/s10900-011-9488-x
Geale, S. K. (2012). The ethics of disaster management. Disaster Prevention and Management, 21 (4), 445-462. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09653561211256152
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