Scribd
Upload
53 views9 pages

Literature Review

The document provides guidance on writing an effective literature review. It defines a literature review as a critical assessment and summary of existing scholarly research on a topic. An effective literature review should summarize and evaluate key findings, compare different authors' views, highlight gaps in existing knowledge that the proposed research will address, and avoid duplicating past work. The review should be logically organized, focused on the most important and relevant information, relate the literature to the proposed study, and cite sufficient and up-to-date references to support points. Common errors include attempting to review all literature, not relating the review to the study, and having an illogical structure.

Uploaded by

Sweth R
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views9 pages

Literature Review

The document provides guidance on writing an effective literature review. It defines a literature review as a critical assessment and summary of existing scholarly research on a topic. An effective literature review should summarize and evaluate key findings, compare different authors' views, highlight gaps in existing knowledge that the proposed research will address, and avoid duplicating past work. The review should be logically organized, focused on the most important and relevant information, relate the literature to the proposed study, and cite sufficient and up-to-date references to support points. Common errors include attempting to review all literature, not relating the review to the study, and having an illogical structure.

Uploaded by

Sweth R
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW

What is a literature review?


• It is a collection of all the scholarly writings on a
topic.
• The literature review is a critical examination of
existing research in a field that is significant to the
work that you are carrying out.
• A critical assessment of the current state of knowledge
on a topic – with a view to researching one of the ‘gaps’ in that body of
knowledge.
Literature Review
• After reviewing the literature, summarize what has
been done, what has not been done, and what
needs to be done
• Remember you are arguing your point of why
your study is important!
• Then pose a formal research question or state a
hypothesis—be sure this is clearly linked to your
literature review
Therefore, an effective review should:
• Summarize and evaluate findings
• Compare and contrast different authors’ views to
* Group authors who draw similar conclusions and
* Note areas where authors are in disagreement

A review preparatory to a research project should also:

• Highlight the gap(s) in knowledge the researcher will address


• Ensure the researcher avoids duplication (unless that is the
purpose)
• Evaluate potential research methodologies and procedures
Plagiarism includes (Galvan, pg. 89):

1. Using another writer’s words without proper citation


2. Using another writer’s ideas without proper citation
3. Citing a source but reproducing the exact word
without quotation marks
4. Borrowing the structure of another author’s
phrases/sentences without giving the source
5. Borrowing all or part of another student’s paper
Organizing Your Literature
Review
• Topical Order —It breaks the field into a number of subfields,
subject areas, or approaches organize by main topics or issues;
emphasize the relationship of the issues to the main “problem”
• Chronological (sequential) Order —organize the literature by
the dates the research was published
Ex. This subject was first studied by X, who argued/found… In (date), Y
modified/extended/contradicted X’s work by… Today, Z’s research typifies the
current state of the field.
• Methodological —Organize the review through methodological
that correlation, regression has applied but my method is more
appropriate.
• Thematical order - Under thematically, most difficult but most
influencing..link them together chronologically,..explained
conceptual framework and their relationships.
Common Errors Made in Lit Reviews

• Try to reading everything


• Reading but not writing
• Review isn’t logically organized
• Review isn’t focused on most important facts of
the study
• Review doesn’t relate literature to the study
• Too few references or outdated references cited

You might also like