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How to prepare the bibliography?

The first step toward the production of a quality project or thesis is the development of an annotated bibliography of research in the topic area. By an annotated bibliography I mean a three to the four-page review of the major research in the topic area, followed by a three to four-page bibliography and a list of significant research questions which have been answered and research questions which remain unanswered. Hopefully, this annotated bibliography would be prepared some time in advance of the proposal preparation. My experience has indicated that the better projects or thesis proposals are prepared by those students who have a good grasp of the related literature and an understanding of significant research questions in the topic area of interest to them.

In order to formulate a significant research problem, it will be necessary to determine what problems have been addressed in the literature and what findings have been reported. Often students find that their topics have been addressed in the literature and their projects would add little to the understanding of the topic. Don’t let this disappoint you.
 
Each of the annotated bibliographic summaries should be summarized by addressing the following:
  • What was the principal question(s) addressed in the study?
  • What were the significant highlights of the research methods?
  • What did the results indicate?
As a rule of thumb, I suggest that a student review all the related literature for the past five to ten years, preparing summaries of the 20 to 30 most relevant articles. The completed annotated bibliography generally should be approximately 10-15 pages in length, five to six pages of summaries, five to six pages of answered and unanswered research questions, and three to four pages of additional, relevant references.

After your annotated bibliography has been prepared and reviewed, if necessary, by your intended committee, then you are ready to begin the preparation of the project proposal.

The proposal is intended to be an overview and suggestion for faculty consideration of a project
topic. The proposal should not be viewed as a binding, unchangeable document. The proposal should be viewed as the student’s well thought out offer of a project contract. The first draft of the proposal can be changed and modified by the student and the research committee.



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