If the world of academic and research writing is being looked at, then it can be experienced that in order to build up a strong theoretical foundation for a research based study. Researchers repeatedly look into the existing body of literature, and in that way, they strive to place their works in the stream of the existing literature. They embark on several kinds of methodologies in order to carry out the formation of theoretical foundation, and some of those methodologies are review of literature, Meta analysis, survey of literature etc. However, out of all these methodologies, annotated bibliography is the most powerful and the most extensive tool used by the researchers.
While writing an annotated bibliography, majorly four categories are used based on the nature of the study. Following are those categories:
- Investigative: In this type of annotated bibliography, after the source being cited, broad and superficial details of that study are described. Under this category, minute details of the study, like research questions, data, methodologies etc. are avoided, and only the broad details like context and scope are described.
- Instructive: In this type of annotated bibliography, after the source being cited, minute details along with the summary of the entire study in presented. This category is kind of a snapshot or extended abstract of the entire study.
- Critical: In this type of annotated bibliography, after the source being cited, the study is being analyzed, in terms of its contributions, limitation, future scope, appropriateness of the study, choice of context, further use of the study, explicability etc. This category is a critical analysis of the study.
- Blended: In this type of annotated bibliography, after the source being cited, a combination of the aforementioned three categories is used. This category is mostly used by researchers, and this is another version of standard literature review.
For more information about various aspects of conducting an annotated bibliography, kindly browse through the pages of www.getpublished.co.