Annotated Bibliography

PSY 161_Annotated Bibliography Directions

The annotated bibliography will be double spaced in a reasonable font (10-12 point) and include citations and references in APA style. References must be academically credible (i.e., peer reviewed) and examine either theoretical issues or report empirical data following a common theme (i.e., examining one psychological phenomenon with relevance to the modern world). The annotated bibliography should show understanding and thoughtful reflection on a topic that speaks to the mission and objectives of the course. Further, annotated bibliographies will be graded on the basis of content, clarity, and overall quality of work. Students will be assessed in terms of their technology assignments, with an appropriate grading scheme  for example, some combination of database experience and APA formatting.

Please click on the following link for numerous examples of APA-style annotated bibliographies:

Writing Center – Annotated Bibliography.

The basic purpose is to cite the source and provide a brief summary written in a clear and concise manner.

Make sure that you have 5 peer-reviewed references related to psychological phenomenon (therefore 5-10 summaries).

When writing your annotated bibliography consider the following questions:

1) What is the purpose of the article? This is the hypothesis or the testable prediction.

2) What is the most important information used to support the arguments (assertions)? This would be found in the results of the study. Just give the basic findings in your own words. Do not worry if you do not understand the stats or design; your job is come up with the “gist” of the findings.

3) What is the conclusion? In other words, was the hypothesis supported or not?

4) What are the logical implications of the results of the study? This is sometimes called the “significance” of the study