Both the terms bibliography and references are used as a heading of the list of references to the sources used for preparing a document. We see either Bibliography or References at the end of a research thesis, books, reports and publication. A list of references is given below it to refer to the external sources (e.g. research papers, books, thesis, reports) used for preparing the document. There is a difference between the utility of both terminologies.

The term ‘bibliography’ is used to refer only to those external sources which are used only for taking help to prepare a document but are not actually present in the document. On the other hand, the term ‘references’ is used to refer to those external sources which are used for taking help and are also actually present in the document.   

You read some sources only for help - to understand various dimensions of the research area but do not reproduce any part of those sources in your research thesis. As a researcher, you need to understand various dimensions of your research area to undertake meaningful research. Suppose your research intends to explore the impact of a drug on the human brain. You will need to understand the underlying bio-chemical process involved in the impact of the drug on the human brain. Similarly, you will need to understand some specific concepts related to the research topic in order to have the basic knowledge to conduct the research. You may read many sources simply to understand the basic aspects of your topic but you don’t need to take some part of it and write it in your thesis. Hence, for such sources which are used only for taking help (e.g., for gaining contextual understanding) and are not actually reproduced in  research thesis, the term ‘Bibliography’ is used to refer to them.

On the other hand, a large part of your research includes information and findings from external sources. You study relevant literature and include information from them in your research such as the findings, facts and figures, statements, definitions and so on. You reproduce such information in your research thesis to make a theoretical base for your study; to give varying stances on an issue; and to analyse your own findings in the light of that information. Sometimes, you may need to give a definition for a specific term, and you take a definition given by another scholar and write it in your thesis. In such a case, some parts of the external sources are actually included in your thesis. The term ‘include’ does not mean that you have directly copied an extract from an external source, but you have reproduced the idea in your own words in your thesis. For instance, you are including a finding from another study in your thesis. You write this finding in your own words. You also mention the name of the author and year of publication within the same line.

Example: In the following example, the research-area of the researcher is conflict resolution. He is giving a difference between the two terms ‘conflict’ and ‘dispute’. He has reproduced ideas of another writer ‘Tillet’ who has published it in a book in 1991.

Tillet (1991) distinguishes between the terms dispute and conflict that a dispute is a short term antagonism while the conflict is a long-term antagonism.

or

A conflict is different from a dispute because unlike a dispute which is a short term antagonism, the conflict is a long-term antagonism (Tillet, 1991). 

The above two ways reflect how to reproduce the ideas of another writer and to write a short citation (e.g., name of author and year) within the same line.

These parts from the external source (though in the writer’s own words) are actually included in the thesis. In such a case, the term ‘reference’ is used at the end of the thesis to state complete reference for such external sources. See the following example:

References

Tillet, G. (1991). Dynamics of Conflict Resolution, Prentice - Hall: New York. pp. 184 - 195

 Which one to use – Bibliography or References?

You may use either of both depending on the above difference. The term ‘Bibliography’ is used to tell the reader that these references (sources) are used only for help. Similarly, the term ‘References’ is used to tell the reader that these references (parts of sources) are actually included in the document.

It should be noted that these terminologies are sometimes used interchangeably but the correct use of these terminologies is based on the above-discussed difference.

There are different styles for writing a reference. Any style (format) of reference writing can be used for Bibliography and References. There are two known styles of reference writing: APA style and MLA style. You can use any style for writing the references under the heading ‘Bibliography’ or ‘References’.

Examples:

References

Goldberg, S. B., Sander, F. E., and Rogers, N. H. (1992). Dispute Resolution: Negotiation, Mediation, and Other Processes. Boston, Massachusetts: Little Brown.

Moore, E. (1985). Conflict and Compromise: Justice in an Indian Village, New York: New York University Press.

Bibliography

Goldberg, S. B., Sander, F. E., and Rogers, N. H. (1992). Dispute Resolution: Negotiation, Mediation, and Other Processes. Boston, Massachusetts: Little Brown.

Moore, E. (1985). Conflict and Compromise: Justice in an Indian Village, New York: New York University Press.