Review of Literature:
* Purpose: Critically analyze and synthesize existing research to gain a deeper understanding of a specific topic, identify gaps in knowledge, and justify the need for further research.
* Focus: To provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about a topic, including conflicting findings and methodological limitations.
* Structure: Typically follows a thematic or chronological approach, organizing information by key concepts or research trends.
* Length: Usually extensive and detailed, depending on the scope of the research.
* Format: Usually incorporated within a research paper, thesis, or dissertation.
Bibliography:
* Purpose: To provide a list of sources that have been consulted or cited in a research project or publication.
* Focus: To acknowledge the sources of information used and allow readers to locate the original works.
* Structure: Generally formatted alphabetically by author's last name.
* Length: Can be brief or extensive depending on the number of sources used.
* Format: Usually appears at the end of a research paper, thesis, or dissertation.
In simpler terms:
* A review of literature is like a detailed summary and analysis of the existing research, with an emphasis on understanding the current state of knowledge.
* A bibliography is a list of all the sources used, like a "thank you" note to all the authors whose work was consulted.
Here's an analogy:
Imagine you're writing a report on the history of the automobile.
* Review of literature: You would read books, articles, and primary sources on the subject, then analyze and synthesize the information to create a comprehensive overview of the history of the automobile.
* Bibliography: You would then list all the sources you consulted in a bibliography at the end of your report.
Remember: While a bibliography is necessary for any research project, a review of literature is often an essential part of research papers, theses, and dissertations.