Writing an Effective Literature Review
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Writing an Effective Literature Review provides guidance on conducting a literature review. It advises researchers to begin by asking questions to ensure their topic is worthy of study and they have sufficient knowledge. A literature review assesses previous scholarly work on a topic by collecting, evaluating, and interpreting relevant literature. It helps focus the research, identify gaps, and build on existing ideas and theories. The document outlines the steps to search literature sources effectively, evaluate findings, organize the review, and avoid plagiarism.
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Writing an Effective Literature Review
- 1. Writing an Effective Literature Review 14/27/2020
- 2. Before starting your research, ask 3 questions The questions I wish to answer are worthy research? Do I know my stuff sufficiently? Methodology I chose is ‘doable’ way of getting the answers to the questions? 4/27/2020 2
- 3. Literature Review Literature Review is an assessment of a body or bodies of literature that pertains to a specific question. Or.. Collection of all the scholarly writings on the respective topic A systematic method for identify, evaluating and interpreting the work produced by researchers and scholars. A kind of chain story where each writer starts with a partial story created previously by others and expand on it. An interpretation and synthesis of published work. 4/27/2020 3
- 4. Reasons for reviewing the literature Focus on previous research, provide overview and critical appraisal of past and current thinking, ideas, policies and practices. It helps researchers to read about the results of similar or related studies. It also give researchers ideas about areas where more research needs to be done. They refer to these as “gaps” in the literature. It is the necessity and rationale of your research. 4/27/2020 4
- 5. Continue… Describe the relationship of each work to the others under consideration. Find out what information already exist in your field of research. Identify main ideas, conclusions, and theories and establish similarities and differences. Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature. Point the way in fulfilling the need for additional research. To carry on from where others have already reached. To increase your breadth of knowledge of your subject area. 4/27/2020 5
- 6. Other reasons … Enhancing and acquiring the subject vocabulary. Related ideas and theories. Identifying main methodologies and research techniques. Establishing the context of topic/problem. It may cause you to change your mind. 4/27/2020 6
- 7. Types of Sources General Reference Tools Indexes Primary Sources Direct Report of the Results Secondary Sources Textbooks, Research Reviews 4/27/2020 7
- 8. Steps Involved in a Literature Search Define the research problem as precisely as possible Narrow down the research question to specific area Ex: what sorts of teaching methods work well in urban classroom? Too fuzzy. Is discussion more effective than showing a video clip in motivating students to learn social studies concepts? 4/27/2020 8
- 9. Look at relevant secondary sources (these can include research reviews). An overview of previous work that has been done on the problem. An overview of previous asked research questions. An idea to revise or improve research question 4/27/2020 9
- 10. Select and peruse one or two appropriate general reference works. Formulate search terms (keywords or phrases) pertinent to the problem or question of interest. Search for relevant primary sources using appropriate general reference tools. Obtain and read relevant primary sources, and note and summarize key points in the sources. 4/27/2020 10
- 11. Evaluating Primary Sources It is good idea to begin with most recent articles. Read the abstract or summary first. Write in the past tense, except when discussing their significance. Use the present tense. 4/27/2020 11
- 12. Analyzing and digesting the literature Note taking Summarizing the key findings Extracting the critical facts/ arguments Examine evidence Understand interpretation 4/27/2020 12
- 13. Organization of literature Topical order Chronological order Problem-cause-solution order General to specific order Specific to general order Known to unknown order 4/27/2020 13
- 14. Tips for avoiding plagiarism Plagiarism is an act of misrepresenting someone else’s ideas as your own. It is a serious offence that can lead to dismissal. Do not use someone else’s words or ideas without referencing. Improper citation may also be considered plagiarism Use quotations 4/27/2020 14