Doing A Literature Review Jeffrey Knopf

What is a literature review?

A literature review summarizes and evaluates a body of writings about a specific topic. It should conclude how accurate and complete knowledge of that specific topic is.

Three Contexts for Literature Reviews:1. As an end in and of itself, to survey what knowledge is out there.

2. As a preliminary stage in a larger research project.

3. As a component of a finished research report.

Tips:• Plan to adjust your research topic based on what gaps, or debates, you find in the

literature.• There is no specific number of number of writings that one should consider in a research

review. The number varies, depending on the topic and its extant body of knowledge.• You will encounter two types of research; both are useful.

Science: what is it?

Science is a systematic enterprise of gathering knowledge aboutthe world, and organizing and condensing that knowledge into testablelaws and theories.

Two basic questions that define science:1. Is it possible to devise an experimental test? 2. Do the scientific findings make the world more predictable?→ If the answer to either of these two questions is no, then it isn't science.

What is voodoo science?

Three Different Forms of Voodoo Science:

1. Pathological science2. Junk science3. Pseudoscience

Pathological science

Scientists: • gather “evidence” (always at the very limit of detectability)• see what they expect to see• are immune to evidence that points to a contradictory result• fool themselves • isolate themselves from sceptics• Ex. John Newman and his “energy machine”

Junk science

Scientists:• Develop untenable theories, and produce little supporting evidence• Produce arguments that are specifically designed to deceive jurists

and lawmakers, non-scientists • Ex. Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (morning sickness drug

caused birth defects)

Pseudoscience

Scientists:• lack evidence and fill in scientific uncertainty with views based on political or religious convictions • use superstitions to support theories•Ex. Mars Effect (career prediction based on which planet was rising when individual was born)

Discussion Questions:

1. People say science is merely a reflection of cultural bias, and not a means of reaching objective truth. Do you agree or disagree?

Discussion Questions:

2. Scientists are rarely willing to confront voodoo science. Do you think that they should? Why do you think that they should/shouldn’t?

Discussion Questions:

3. Scientists generally believe that the cure for pseudoscience is to increase science literacy. Do you agree or disagree?