Research Methods at SCS

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Literature Reviews

Annotated bibliographies, writing the literature review, matrix for organizing sources for literature reviews / annotated bibliographies, sample literature reviews.

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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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IMAGES

  1. APA Annotated Bibliography Guide With Examples

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  2. Annotated Bibliography

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  3. Understanding Annotated Bibliography vs Literature Review

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  5. APA Annotated Bibliography: 7th Edition Format & Examples

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VIDEO

  1. What is an Annotated Bibliography? Lecture Video

  2. The Annotated Bibliography Lecrture

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  4. How to Compile Your Literature Review & Annotated Bibliography: Forward & Backward Citation Searches

  5. What to include in an annotated bibliography

  6. Using a Bibliography to Find More Articles