Unit 2:
The Annotated Bibliography
Dr. Jeanie M. Thorndike
1
What is the Difference ?
A Bibliography:
Is a list of references put together on a topic
of interest.
An Annotation Bibliography:
Is a commentary a reader makes after
critically reading an information source.
2
What is an Annotated Bibliography?
•
Provides a brief account of available
research on a given topic.
•
It’s a list of research sources that includes
concise descriptions and evaluations of
each source.
•
The standard annotated bibliography
consists of a citation followed by a short
paragraph.
3
What is the Purpose of an Annotated
Bibliography?

Review the literature of a particular subject.

Demonstrate the quality and depth of reading that
you’ve done.

Explore and organize sources for further research.

Highlight sources that may be of interest to other
readers and researchers.
4
Where do I start?

Select a topic to research
– Topic Ideas:
• Divorce & its effects
• Eating disorders
• Drug abuse & its effects
• Child abuse & longitudinal effects
• Depression & children
• TV violence
• Any psychological disorders from DSM IV
• Adolescent pregnancy
• Academic achievement and sports
• Death of a spouse, parent, child
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
5
Finding and Selecting
the Research Articles

Review the literature of a particular topic
– Go to KU Library
• Electronic Articles
– PsychARTICLES - full-text articles
– FYI: PsychINFO - abstracts only

Select 3-5 research articles from 2-4 peer review
academic journals from the past 5 years (2005-2010).
– Select scientific studies not a meta-analysis or
literature review of a topic.
6
Writing the Annotated Bibliography

Summarize each article using the annotated bibliography
format
– Approximately 150-250 words per article
– If you select three articles approximately 2 pages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Full citation of your source using APA format guidelines
A brief description of the research questions/hypotheses
Research methods in study
Results of study
Limitations of study and Conclusions of the study
Quality and credibility of the study and author(s)
How study connects or contrasts with other studies on
topic
8. Reflection* on how this study sheds light on your topic
7
Quality and Credibility of Study and
Author(s)

Who is the author? His/her credentials?, Biases?

Where is the article published? What type of journal
is it?

Was the article organized?

Were the supporting sources credible?
8
Conclusion of Unit 2 Assignment

Conclude the Unit 2 assignment by describing how
the process of putting together an annotated
bibliography helps researchers to develop quality
research questions and hypotheses.
– Approximately 1 page
9
Harry the Cat!
10