ARS C2 Literature Review Notes

What is a Literature Review?

  • A literature review is a text that reviews critical points of current knowledge on a topic.

  • It can include scholarly publications, unpublished scholarly print materials, audiovisual materials, and personal communications.

Literature Review Details

  • Discusses information about a specific topic.

  • Can be a simple summary, but often has an organizational pattern combining summary and synthesis.

    • Summary: Synopsis of important information.

    • Synthesis: Interpretation of information.

Summary vs. Synthesis

  • Summary:

    • Sharing key points from an individual source.

  • Synthesis:

    • Combining information from multiple sources with your own analysis.

Steps to Effective Synthesis

  • Critically read the research on your topic.

  • Think about how ideas and findings connect.

  • Share similarities and differences in findings.

  • Support with your ideas and voice in interpreting the information.

Synthesis Example

  • The literature on the imposter phenomenon (IP) is limited regarding graduate students.

  • No known studies have compared online graduate students to traditional graduate students.

  • Previous studies suggest online students experience lower anxiety (DeVaney, 2010).

  • Loss of social cues in electronic communications may reduce anxiety (Kitsantas & Chow, 2007).

  • Electronic environments may create more comfortable, open atmospheres (Sullivan, 2002).

  • Online communication lacks body language, nonverbal cues, and emotional reactions (Parks & Floyd, 1996).

  • Less social influence and conformity may result from online communication (Parks & Floyd, 1996).

Importance of Synthesizing

  • Academic writing is a scholarly conversation.

  • Show understanding and integration of research in a unique way.

  • Combine current information and add a new interpretation or analysis.

Wikipedia as a Research Tool

  • Students should be supported in becoming critical and proficient users of Wikipedia.

  • Academics are divided on Wikipedia, particularly in the 'soft sciences'.

  • Many academics use it cautiously.

  • Wikipedia disrupts conventional academic power-knowledge arrangements.

Good vs. Poor Literature Review

  • Good:

    • Synthesis of available research.

    • Critical evaluation.

    • Appropriate breadth and depth.

    • Clarity and conciseness.

  • Poor:

    • Annotated bibliography.

    • Confined to description.

    • Narrow and shallow.

    • Confusing and long-winded.

Importance of Literature Review

  • Learn what is known and not known.

  • Understand the subject matter better.

  • Identify and highlight important variables.

  • Document significant findings from earlier research.

  • Resolve conflicts among contradictory studies.

  • Prevent duplication of effort.

  • Develop hypotheses.

  • Point the way forward for further research.

  • Convince the reader of the researcher's knowledge.

Types of Literature Review

  • Simple:

    • Brief overview of a topic.

    • Quality of source is important.

  • Applied:

    • Used in business, government, and professional fields.

    • Marketability and profit are important.

    • Accuracy & objectivity are important.

  • Academic:

    • Stand-alone product about a specific topic.

    • Requires high quality of values – accuracy, quality resources, objectivity.

Components of a Literature Review

  • Problem formulation: Define the topic and its issues.

  • Literature search: Find relevant materials.

  • Data evaluation: Determine significant contributions.

  • Analysis and interpretation: Discuss findings and conclusions.

Article Reading Recommendations

  • Read the abstract or summary first.

  • Read the bibliographic data.

  • Take notes or photocopy the abstract/summary.

Information to Note

  • Problem statement: State it clearly.

  • Hypothesis or Objectives: List them exactly.

  • Procedures: List the methodology, number of subjects, and instrument used.

  • Findings: List major findings.

  • Conclusions: Describe the author’s conclusion and note disagreements.

Abstract

  • Summary of the paper's contents, conveying main points.

  • It should be accurate and honestly reflect the content of the paper.

Content of an Abstract (IMRD Model)

  • Introduction: Problem, scope, argument, importance.

  • Methodology: Models, approaches, evidence.

  • Results: Specific data or general findings.

  • Discussion: Contribution to knowledge, applications, implications.

Components to Look At in Research

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Brief Background

  • Statement of Problem

  • Research Questions & Objectives

  • Research Hypothesis

  • Scope and Limitations

  • Significance of the Study

Chapter 2: Literature Review

  • Review of Articles

  • Theoretical Framework

  • Conceptual Framework

Chapter 3: Methodology

  • Research Design

  • Research Setting

  • Research Sample

  • Research Procedure

  • Research Instrument

  • Data Collection Method and Analysis

Chapter 4: Findings / Result

  • Analysis of Findings/Results

Chapter 5: Discussion / Conclusion

  • Discussion of the results

  • Implications of the findings

  • Recommendations

Common Errors in Literature Review

  • Illogical organization.

  • Lack of focus on important facets.

  • Literature not related to the study.

  • Too few or outdated references.

  • Not written in author’s own words.

  • Disjointed summaries.

  • Failure to argue a point.

  • Omission of recent references.

Conclusion

  • Literature review brings the reader up to date on a topic.

  • Forms the basis for future research.

  • It is a vital chapter in a thesis/report