SOCI 3220: Quantitative Data Collection

As you search the literature it is vital that you record what you find. Researchers commonly create what is known as an annotated bibliography that provides the documents complete reference and a short summary and evaluation of the article. The annotated bibliography can be used later to develop a literature review. 

Annotated bibliographies and literature reviews differ because an annotated bibliography is a list of articles and summaries whereas a literature review is a prose narrative that discusses research on a particular topic. 

The main purpose of a narrative literature review is to provide an overview of the topic and to highlight significant areas of research. Literature reviews and annotated bibliographies can help to refine your research questions.