LQ1 - Methods of Research - Literature Review

Literature review

a comprehensive summary and analysis of prior research on a specific topic

Literature review

it shows how your work fits into the existing body of knowledge

Literature review

it does not present new experimental results, but instead provides context

1. state, art

2. gaps

3. theoretical framework

4. problem, objectives

5. duplication

6. research questions, hypothesis

Purpose of literature review:

1. Understand the ___ of the ___

2. Identify the ___ in knowledge

3. Establish a ____ ____

4. Justify your research ____ and ____

5. Prevent ___ of efforts

6. Refine your ___ ___ or _____

Narrative literature review

A type of literature review carried out as a general summary and used for introductory or conceptual reviews

Systematic literature review

A type of literature review that is structured, exhaustive, and often coupled with a criteria. It is used for meta-analysis and clinical research.

Scoping literature review

A type of literature review that is broad and exploratory. It is used for new fields and interdisciplinary topics.

Theoretical literature review

A type of literature review that is focuses on conceptual frameworks. It is used for philosophy and social sciences.

Integrative literature review

A type of literature review that is combines different methodologies. It is used for complex, multidisciplinary research.

1. Chapter 2

2. Introduction, Methodology

3. rationale, objectives

Where is the Literature Review in the Thesis?

1. Usually appears in ___ __

2. Preceded by ___, followed by ____

3. It should support your _____ and align with your ___

1. studied

2. theories, methods, findings

3. strengths, weaknesses

4. gaps

5. differ

Key questions to answer in a literature review:

1. What has been ____ already?

2. What are the key ____, ____, and ____?

3. What are the ____ and ____ of past studies?

4. Where are the ___ in the literature?

5. How does your study ___?

1. topic, research question

2. relevant literature

3. credible, relevant

4. critically, notes

5. Categorize, organize

6. Synthesize

Steps in performing a literature review:

1. Define the ___ or ____ ____

2. Search for ____ ____

3. Select ____ and ____ sources

4. Read ____ and take ____

5. ____ and ____ sources

6. _____ information

7. Write and revise the review

1. Narrow

2. inclusion, exclusion

3. timeframe

4. keywords, synonyms

Defining your research scope:

1. ____ your topic

2. Set ___/____ criteria

3. Choose a ____

4. Define ___ and ____

1. peer, reviewed

2. primary sources

3. citations

4. outdated, foundational

5. peer, reviewed, opinion

Good practices when selecting sources:

1. Choose ___-___ journals

2. Use ___ ___ over secondary

3. Check ___ and relevance

4. Avoid ____ articles (unless ____)

5. Non-___-___ blogs or ____ pieces

1. relevance

2. purpose, methodology, findings, limitations

3. contribute

4. sound

Critical Reading Strategy:

1. Skim first for ____

2. Highlight ___, ____, ___, and ___

3. Ask what does this literature ____?

4. Ask if the literature is methodologically ___?

1. Author

2. Year

3. Topic

4. Methods

5. Findings

6. Relevance

6 things to consider (or include) when taking notes

1. Thematic categories

2. Chronology

3. Methodologies

4. Trends and gaps

4 Ways to Organize Literature

Summarizing/Summary

Has the following characteristics:

• Listing individual studies

• Descriptive

• Often chronological

Synthesizing/Synthesis

Has the following characteristics:

• Integrates ideas across studies

• Analytical

• Often thematic

1. scope, objectives

2. themes, methods

3. gaps, trends

4. missing, addresses

Structure of the literature review:

1. Introduction - ___ and ____

2. Body - organized ___ or ___

3. Synthesis - discussions of ___ and ___

4. Conclusion - what’s ___ and how your study ____ it

1. over, reliance

2. summarizing

3. recent

4. clear

Common mistakes in writing the literature review:

1. ___-___ on few sources

2. Just ____ without analysis

3. Ignoring ___ studies

4. No ___ structure

5. Plagiarism

1. comprehensive, up,date

2. well, structured

3. analyzed

4. gap

Questions for evaluating the quality of the review:

1. Is the review ___ and __-to-__?

2. Is it ___-___?

3. Are sources critically ___?

4. Does it justify your research ___?

15-30

How many sources required for undergraduate literature review?

30-50

How many sources required for master’s literature review?

80-100+

How many sources required for PhD

IEEE

Citation style often used for engineering and tech

APA

Citation style often used for social sciences

Chicago

Citation style often used for humanities

explore, evaluate, synthesize, foundation, gaps

General Objective of a Literature Review:

To ___, ____, and ____ existing research related to your topic, to establish a ____ and identify ___ that this study will address

1. analyze

2. categorize

3. limitations

4. compare

How to Write Specific Objectives

1. To ___ the trends in…

2. To ____ the methodologies used in…

3. To identify ____ in current…

4. To ___ the effectiveness of….

1. early

2. organized

3. track

4. revisit, update

5. feedback

Tips in writing a literature review:

1. Start ___

2. Stay ___

3. ____ your reading

4. ____ and ___ regularly

5. Get ____

1. scholarly, relevant

2. logically

3. compared, contrasted

4. clearly

Review Checklist for a Literature Review:

1. Are the sources ___ and ___?

2. Are themes ____ grouped?

3. Are key findings ____ and ____?

4. Is the gap ____ stated?