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McNair Scholars: Annotated Bibliographies vs. Literature Reviews

This guide serves as a tool to assist McNair Scholars as they navigate their research.

What is the difference between an Annotated Bibliography and a Literature Review?

Annotated Bibliography - an annotated bibliography is a list of citations with brief notes added below each citation summarizing the content of the article cited (the annotation) included. The annotation accompanying a citation may also contain a short evaluation of the article in addition to a summary. 

Literature Review - a systematic review of the published material, or scholarly writings, on a specific topic or research question that can be part of a scholarly work or a stand-alone product. The primary goal is analysis - and not simply summarization - of these scholarly writings. This analysis serves to provide background information on your topic and detail the connection between those writings and your research question. 

Learn More - Annotated Bibliographies

Annotated bibliographies are:

  • Brief - about 150 words or so
  • Summarize and evaluate a source
  • Are located under the citation in a bibliography or works cited list
  • Are distinct from abstracts, which are mostly a condensed description of an article
  • Are distinct from literature reviews.

Learn More - Literature Reviews

A Literature Review will help you achieve the following:

  • Provides background on research topic
  • Guides you in detailing or focusing your own research question
  • Provides a framework for research or future research - identifying major themes and concepts
  • Offers insights on unexplored ideas related to a topic, gaps in the research
  • Assists with avoiding repetition of earlier research
  • Tests assumptions; may help counter preconceived ideas and remove unconscious bias
  • Identifies points of disagreement, or potentially flawed methodology or theoretical approaches

Searching databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Dissertations & Theses is the way you are able to discover the research that has been done on any given subject.

There are many resources available to help you understand what a literature review is and how to write one. Here are a few: