Writing The Literature Review

Seema Arif (PhD)Associate ProfessorSSS&H. UMT

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The Literature Review

The review of the literature is defined as a broad, comprehensive, in-depth, systematic, and critical review of scholarly publications, unpublished scholarly print materials, audiovisual materials, and personal communications

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Purpose of a Literature ReviewThe literature review is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to the work that you are carrying out.

To provide background informationTo establish importanceTo demonstrate familiarityTo “carve out a space” for further research

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Relationship Of Review Of Literature To Theory, Research, Education And Practice

Research

Practice

Education

Theory

Review of Literature

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The Use of Literature Review in Quantitative Research

Design and methodThe literature review reveals strengths and

weaknesses of designs and methods of previous research studies

Outcome of the analysis (findings, implications, and recommendations)

The literature review is used to discuss the results or findings of a study. The discussion relates the study’s findings to what was or was not found in the review of literature

Characteristics of Effective Literature ReviewsOutlining important research trends

Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of existing research

Identifying potential gaps in knowledge

Establishing a need for current and/or future research projects

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Steps for Writing a Lit ReviewPlanningReading and Research

AnalyzingDraftingRevising3/21/2014 8Seema Arif, SSS&H, UMT

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Organization of literature reviewA general organization looks like a funnel

Broader topicsSubtopicsStudies like yours

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Structure of literature review Introduction

Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.

Body Contains your discussion of sources.

Conclusions/Recommendations Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?

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Structure of review articlesLiterature reviews are in reality a type of research

Should conform to the anatomy of a typical scholarly article AbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionReferences

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Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary source: is written by a person(s) who developed the theory or conducted the research

Secondary source: is written by a person(s) other than the individual who developed the theory or conducted the research

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The Role of Secondary Sources

Two general reasons for using secondary sources:

1. A primary sources is literally unavailable

2. A secondary source can provide different ways of looking at an issue or problem

Secondary sources should not be overused

Steps of Searching the Literature

Determine concept/issue/topic/problem

Conduct computer (and/or hand) search

Weed out irrelevant sources before printingOrganize sources from printout for retrieval

Retrieve relevant sources

Conduct preliminary reading and weed out irrelevant sources

Critically read each source (summarize & critique each source)

Synthesize critical summaries

Citing SourcesIf it’s not your own idea (and not common knowledge)—DOCUMENT IT!

Paraphrase key ideas. Use quotations sparingly.Introduce quotations effectively.Use proper in-text citation to document the source of ideas.

Maintain accurate bibliographic records.

Citing Sources: Things to AvoidPlagiarismIrrelevant quotations.Un-introduced quotations.

Examples: Citing SourcesQuoting: Despite pleasant depictions of home life in art, the fact remains that for most Seventeenth-century Dutch women, the home represented a curtailment of some degree of independence. Art historian Laurinda Dixon writes that “for the majority of women, however, home was a prison, though a prison made bearable by love and approval” (1995, p. 136 ).

Paraphrasing: Despite pleasant depictions of home life in art, the fact remains that for most Seventeenth-century Dutch women, the home represented a curtailment of some degree of independence. Art historian Laurinda Dixon argues that the home actually imprisoned most women. She adds that this prison was made attractive by three things: the prescriptions of doctors of the day against idleness, the praise given diligent housewives, and the romantic ideal based on love and respect (1995, p. 136).

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Reporting verbsArgueAssertAssumeChallengeClaimContendContradictDescribeDisputeEmphasizeEstablishExamineFindMaintain

NoteObjectObservePersuadeProposeProvePurportRecommendRefuteRejectRemarkSuggestSupport

Choice of TensesPresent indefinite

Past indefinitePresent Perfect

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Show othersHave someone else look at your literature review for

ClarityCan they understand what you’re trying say?

FlowDoes the organization make sense?

CompletenessAre there areas left out?Questions left unanswered?Statements without citations?

Four Analysis Tasks of the Literature Review

Comparison and CritiqueEvaluates the strength and weaknesses of the work:

How do the different studies relate? What is new, different, or controversial?

What views need further testing?What evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradicting, or too limited?

What research designs or methods seem unsatisfactory?

Evaluative AdjectivesUnusualSmallSimpleExploratoryLimitedRestrictedFlawed

ComplexCompetentImportantInnovativeImpressiveUsefulCareful

Summary and SynthesisIn your own words, summarize and/or synthesize the key findings relevant to your study.

What do we know about the immediate area?

What are the key arguments, key characteristics, key concepts or key figures?

What are the existing debates/theories?

What common methodologies are used?

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Analyzing: Putting It All TogetherOnce you have summarized, synthesized, compared, and critiqued your chosen material, you may consider whether these studies

Demonstrate the topic’s chronological development.

Show different approaches to the problem.

Show an ongoing debate.Center on a “seminal” study or studies.Demonstrate a “paradigm shift.”

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

Summarizing

Synthesizing: Putting It All TogetherWhat do researchers KNOW about this field?

What do researchers NOT KNOW?Why should we (further) study this topic?

What will my study contribute?

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The Writing ProcessRough DraftFinal DraftEditEdit Again

Drafting & EditingTitle: Is my title consistent with the content of my paper?

Introduction: Do I appropriately introduce my review?

Thesis: Does my review have a clear claim?Body: Is the organization clear? Have I provided headings?

Topic sentences: Have I clearly indicated the major idea(s) of each paragraph?

Transitions: Does my writing flow?Conclusion: Do I provide sufficient closure? (see p. 10)

Spelling and Grammar: Are there any major spelling or grammatical mistakes?

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Plagiarism 1. Using another writer’s words without

proper citation2. Using another writer’s ideas without

proper citation3. Citing a source but reproducing the

exact word without quotation marks4. Borrowing the structure of another

author’s phrases/sentences without giving the source

5. Borrowing all or part of another student’s paper

6. Using paper-writing service or having a friend write the paper

ReferencingAll sources cited in the literature review should be listed in the references

To sum, a literature review should include introduction, summary and critique of journal articles, justifications for your research project and the hypothesis for your research project

Knowing & using APA or any other recommended style

Common Errors Made in Lit Reviews

Review isn’t logically organized Review isn’t focused on most

important facets of the study Review doesn’t relate literature

to the study Too few references or outdated

references cited Review isn’t written in author’s

own words Review reads like a series of

disjointed summaries Review doesn’t argue a point Recent references are omitted

Few Sources & samples The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It.

Writing at University of Toronto. http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/literature-review

Literature Reviews. Writing Center at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html

Sample APA Papers: Literature Review. Purdue University Online Writing Center. PDF File. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/apa/print/papers/litreview.pdf

Sample Literature Review on Critical Thinking. Gwendolyn Reece, American University Library.http://www.library.american.edu/Help/tutorials/lit_review/critical_thinking.pdf

For Professional technical writing: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/4/16/

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