ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the basic principles for creating a literature review or annotated bibliography. Primary research involves formulating and testing a hypothesis, collecting information, and then reporting the results. Secondary research is conducted by reading reports of previous research, analyzing the results, and then formulating a synthesis of the current state of knowledge on a topic. This research is called secondary because it draws on reports of previous research. Reporting on that previous research on a topic helps researchers master their subject, provides contextual information for their audience, and demonstrates the gaps in previous research. Finally, a literature review helps establish the researcher’s credibility as an expert on a research area. An annotated bibliography provides a listing of primary and secondary sources, along with descriptive and evaluative notes about each of those sources. Although annotated bibliographies may be published in journals, books, or web sites, they are often assembled by researchers for their own reference as a part of their background investigation for a primary research project. A literature review is always prepared for an audience other than the researcher. Rather than being organized by source like an annotated bibliography, the literature review is organized by topic.
