AMA referencing style
I wrote a annotated bibliography for my research topic and it will be uploaded now I just need a narrative bibliography via AMA style and to follow the provided rules in the ex
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe and discuss the process used to write a narrative review of the literature for publication in
a peer-reviewed journal. Publication of narrative overviews of the literature should be standardized to increase
their objectivity.
Background: In the past decade numerous changes in research methodology pertaining to reviews of the literature
have occurred. These changes necessitate authors of review articles to be familiar with current standards in the
publication process.
Methods: Narrative overview of the literature synthesizing the findings of literature retrieved from searches of
computerized databases, hand searches, and authoritative texts.
Discussion: An overview of the use of three types of reviews of the literature is presented. Step by step instructions
for how to conduct and write a narrative overview utilizing a ‘best-evidence synthesis’ approach are discussed,
starting with appropriate preparatory work and ending with how to create proper illustrations. Several resources
for creating reviews of the literature are presented and a narrative overview critical appraisal worksheet is
included. A bibliography of other useful reading is presented in an appendix.
Conclusion: Narrative overviews can be a valuable contribution to the literature if prepared properly. New and
experienced authors wishing to write a narrative overview should find this article useful in constructing such a
paper and carrying out the research process. It is hoped that this article will stimulate scholarly dialog amongst
colleagues about this research design and other complex literature review methods. (J Chiropr Med 2006;5:101–
117)
Key Indexing Terms: Review Literature; Authorship; Peer Review, research; Manuscripts; Metaanalysis
Clinical Update
101 0899-3467/Clinical Update/1002-049$3.00/0
JOURNAL OF CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE
Copyright © 2006 by National University of Health Sciences
INTRODUCTION
Background
The purpose of this article is to describe and discuss
the research design known as a review of the literature
and to delineate how to write a particular variety
of this research design, the narrative overview of
the literature. Another intention of this article is to
provide educational information and assistance for
those who have not yet published a literature review
and to decrease potential author frustration
that can arise during the peer review process. It is
important to note that the general classification of
’literature review’ has three varieties: narrative review,
qualitative systematic review and quantitative
systematic review. Each will be addressed in this
article. However, the primary focus of this article
will be on the writing of a narrative review.
A literature review is a type of research article published
in a professional peer-reviewed journal. The
purpose of a literature review is to objectively report
the current knowledge on a topic and base this
summary on previously published research.1 A literature
review provides the reader with a comprehensive
overview and helps place that information
into perspective.2
The literature review research design is different
from other research designs because rather than
patients, data to write the report are collected from
the published literature.3,4 These full length articles
provide a new conclusion to the literature, not the
brief summary of literature that is given typically in
the introduction or discussion sections of other research
designs.2,5 In creating a literature review, the
author searches through the literature, retrieves numerous
sources of information and synthesizes the
findings of all relevant sources into one article.2,3,6
Thus, a vast amount of information is brought together
and written in a manner in which the reader
can clearly understand the topic.
There are several reasons to read reviews of the
literature. For the clinician, they can save valuable
time when reviewing or searching for information
about patient care by condensing a great amount of
information into a few pages.1,6,7 The clinician can
read one paper instead of sifting through the whole
of the literature to find the answer to a clinical
question; the author of the literature review has
already done most of this work for him.
