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Dr. J. White Williams

The Annotated Bibliography or the Literature Review

In preparing to write my dissertation during coursework assignments, two questions came to mind when reviewing empirical studies.


(1) When do I use the annotated bibliography vs the literature review?

(2) What are the differences between each?



Now, let's get to what each is:


Annotated Bibliography


An APA annotated bibliography is a type of Bibliography that goes further than just listing the sources used in a research paper. It also analyzes each source's credibility, relevance, and unique contributions to the subject matter.


*You only use the annotated bibliography when reviewing a source and creating a summary.


Literature Review


A literature review supports the comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge on a topic, identifies gaps for future research, and contributes to advancing knowledge in respective areas.


*You write a Literature review when you want to analyze the document and look for the gaps within the literature.


Simply stated:


An annotated bibliography evaluates sources individually concerning a topic, while a literature review analyzes multiple sources for agreement or disagreement.


It's important to remember that the definitions presented are subject to specific requirements that vary from one university or college to another. To ensure you are on the right track, follow the guidelines and class assignment rubric.


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