Here's a breakdown:
What it means:
* List of materials: A bibliography is indeed a list of sources used in a research paper or other academic work. It includes books, articles, websites, etc.
* To survey: A bibliography can help researchers get an overview of the existing literature on a topic. They can scan the titles, authors, and sometimes abstracts to get a sense of the research landscape.
The caveat:
* Not exhaustive: A bibliography is usually only a list of sources *used* in a specific work. It's not a comprehensive list of *all* materials on a topic.
* Active research: Researchers typically use bibliographies as a starting point. They then need to actively search databases, libraries, and online resources to find additional relevant materials.
In summary: A bibliography can be a helpful tool for researchers to identify relevant materials, but it's just one step in a broader research process. Researchers need to go beyond a bibliography to conduct thorough research and develop a comprehensive understanding of their chosen topic.