RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SKILL
ENHANCEMENT (BT-501)
RESEARCH PROCESS
Literature Survey
2. Literature Survey
In order to understand your study, you need
to familiarize yourself with what other
scholars have done in your proposed topic.
Literature Survey is a gradual process which the researcher
uses to search out, read, digest and critically evaluating
previous works of scholars related to the problem under
investigation.
Significance of Literature Survey
In the Initial Stages:
• Provides a theoretical background to your study.
• Bring clarity and focus to your research problem.
• Helps establish links between what you are proposing to
examine and what has already been studied.
• Form a starting point for our own work and help develop your
research methodology.
• Give scholarly authority to our work.
• To avoid duplication.
Significance of Literature Survey
Later in the Process:
• Helps you to integrate / compare your findings with the existing
knowledge.
• Tie your results to the works of those who have preceded you.
• Write-up of your report (support or contradict earlier research).
Search Strategy: Setting Limits To The Research
How far back we want our research to go??? Avoid too long a
time period.
Decide how widespread our search should be.
Eliminate the languages we don’t understand.
BE FLEXIBLE!! Be prepared to be flexible as the search
progresses, we might re-think the scope and terms of our
research.
Procedure for Literature Review
Review the literature in your broad area and then gradually
narrow down.
Then focus around your research problem.
Try to follow a concept-by-concept approach in presenting the
literature review, not a study- by-study approach.
Procedure for Literature Review
There are 5 steps involved in conducting a literature review:
1. Search for existing literature in your area of study.
2. Review the literature selected.
3. Develop a theoretical framework.
4. Develop a conceptual framework.
5. Writing up the literature reviewed
1. Search for Existing Literature – Sources
• Only “scientific literature” should be included.
Eg: professional journals, formal research reports, university-
affiliated bulletins, Scientific reports, Reviews.
WHO, NIH reports / website
• “Popular” publications should not be included.
Eg. Newspapers, news magazines (background information
only).
Search for Existing Literature – Sources
Literature Review Sources Classification
Primary Sources: Research Articles
Research reports, which are description of studies written by
researchers who conducted them.
Secondary Sources: Review Articles
Written by people other than the individuals who developed the
theory or conducted the research.
If researchers want external opinions on an issue or problem.
Gives overview of finding so far.
Search for Existing Literature – Sources
a) BOOKS
• Basic understanding of topic
• Topic overview / introduction / summary
• Accessible writing style
• Authoritative
written by subject experts
specialist publishers
b) LIBRARY
• Books on various subjects.
• Subscribed journals / e-journals of national and international
repute.
• Magazines and newspapers for general reading.
• Also include dissertations / theses and project reports on
various subjects.
c) JOURNALS
• Journals are vital source of up to date research.
• Also provide information on various specialized topics. Usually a
peer or refereed journal.
• Articles are reviewed by an editorial or advisory board.
• Authors are affiliated with universities, colleges, or prestigious
research centers.
• References are cited at the end of articles.
d) INTERNET SOURCES
The internet is widely used, readily accessible.
Provide practically instant information on most of the topics.
BUT anyone can post information, so the quality may not be
reliable.
.
d) INTERNET SOURCES
Google Scholar
Can search for books and articles. Can do an advanced search
Title links to abstracts and possible source of full text.
Link to articles that cited the work
Link to Related articles
Scientific Journals / Books Search Engines
e) SPECIALIST MATERIALS
Conference Proceedings:
Useful in providing latest research or research that has not been
published.
Provide information about people in research areas.
Government / Corporate Reports:
Their published findings can provide a useful source of information,
depending on our field of study.
Eg: Import data
Theses / Dissertations:
Generally available from the library but sometime online also.
Gives detailed information on topic and its methodology.
Student who carried out the research may not be an experienced
researcher and therefore we might have to treat their findings with
more caution than published research.
1. Search for Existing Literature -Keywords
Individual words and phrases which describe the topic you are
studying.
Includes words relevant to the problem, objectives, conceptual
framework and methods or procedures.
Start with broad key words, then narrow to a more confined list.
2. Review the Literature Selected
• Start reading with the most recent publications. This allows:
1) Focusing more quickly on current knowledge,
2) Recent research often includes references to relevant earlier
research
• First read the abstract or summary to determine relevance.
• As you read, keep in mind that the central purpose is to identify and
describe the relevance of the study to your research.
Note complete citation of each source.
Note problem, objectives, methods, findings and conclusions.
Note questions, shortcomings or problems with the study.
3. Develop a Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework consists of the theories or issues in
which your study is embedded.
Start with general information of topic to narrow down to
specific.
How:
Set main themes pertinent to your research topic by reviewing
the literature and organize rest of literature in it.
Highlighting agreements and disagreements among the authors
and identifying the unanswered questions or gaps.
4. Develop a Conceptual Framework
Stems from theoretical framework and is the basis of your
research problem.
Focuses on the section(s) which become the basis of your
study.
Describes the aspects you selected from the theoretical
framework to become the basis of your enquiry.
Risk factors associated with DIABETES MELLITUS in Pakistan
• What is diabetes?
• Types of diabetes
• Prevalence of diabetes WW and Pakistan Theoretical
• Mortality, Morbidity Framework
• Complications of diabetes
• Risk factors
• Risk Factors in Pakistan (GAP)
• Why you want to do it? Conceptual
• Expected outcome or Plan Framework
• Benefit
5) Writing up the Literature Reviewed
List the main themes and convert them into subheadings.
Subheadings should be precise, descriptive of the theme in
question, and follow a logical progression.
Record the findings in each subheading, with respect to the
theme in question, highlight the reasons for and against an
argument if they exist, and identify gaps and issues.
Merge to make a final literature review.
