The Anatomy of Chapter II of a

Dissertation

Dr. Sharon A. McDade

GSEHD, GWU

Types of Literature Reviews

Annotated bibliography Bibliography critique essay Short format lit review Long format lit review

Purposes of Literature Reviews

To trace the history of a topic To investigate the scope of a topic To provide a context of theory related to

the topic To assess previous research To assure the reader that the

researcher has a full grasp of the subject

Purpose of Literature Review in Dissertation To justify selection of the problem To aid in the selection of research

methodologies To address duplication To generate a bibliography To convince the committee that the

researcher has a grasp of the “big picture” To build the foundation for the research

instrument

Parts of a Literature Review

Introduction Purpose Definition/limitation of the topic Criteria for inclusion/exclusion Body Conclusion

What You Need to Get Started Most up-to-date computer you can

afford Endnotes software Most recent version of your preferred

word processing software Access to WordPerfect (for the

grammar checker) Filing cabinet, file folders Notepad

More of What You Need

Participation in at least one library tutorial session on searches

Library copy card A dedicated desk/work area A door that closes against rest of

world/family A colleague who will read and critique

Steps of the Process

Figure out the topic/s of the review Write a definition/problem statement Determine the variables for follow-

through Peruse the secondary sources Select an appropriate index and do a

trial run

More Steps of the Process

Expand your search to related bibliographic databases and indices

Read and take notes Collect bibliographies Search for the primary sources behind

the secondary sources Write often Get lots of feedback

Notes on Process

Review versus reproduction Assertions Reinventing the wheel Style of writing Finding your own voice

Organization

The first organization of the lit review is never the best one

Experiment with several organizational formats

A solution but not the best one--Put it all in and let your chair give you guidance

Don’t Forget

Each major section is a paper unto itself– Introduction– Body– Conclusion

Each paragraph needs a– Topic sentence– Concluding sentence

Don’t cheat a conclusion of one section by introducing the next topic

The Circle Method of Concept Organization

LeadershipVice

Presidents

Women

Tasks

Theory

Development

Tasks

Paths toPresidency

CareerDevelop

mentMeasure

mentHigher

Education

Finding the Good Stuff

How to start? Start Where to start? Anywhere What should be included? Initially,

everything Why can’t I find much? You haven’t

looked long, hard enough

More on Finding the Good Stuff

When have I looked enough? When you come back on yourself

How far back in the lit should I go? As far as necessary

How many references are enough? When you’ve read the majority

Why do I have to read what I won’t be including? So you know it’s there

Even More . . .

How many primary sources? Virtually all How can I keep track of my reading?

Try Endnotes Do I need to tell about the studies that I

cite? For the key studies Long long should it be? Long enough

(find out what your chair thinks is an appropriate length)

The Biggest Trap

Jones said . . . Smith said . . . Hudson said . . . Booth said . . . And then Jones again said . . .

Hints for Success Take advantage of resources available to you Keep a log of key terms Think of it as small sections instead of one

big project Use all of the capabilities of your computer Take advantage of the groundwork laid by

others Look at other dissertation lit reviews on your

topic

More Hints for Success

Record a complete citation for everything you read (Endnotes helps)

Be clear in your note taking Keep everything in one place Tell others what you are working on Contact researchers in the field (only

after you really know what you are talking about!)

How Not to Insult your Chair

Do not submit a draft that has not been properly formatted

Do not submit a draft that has not been spell-checked

Do not submit a draft that has not been grammar checked (Microsoft Word grammar checker is a weak eye)

Use APA style format, citations, headings Do not submit a draft that has not been read

and critiqued by a colleague

How It All Fits TogetherResearchQuestions

12345

Etc.Chapter I

LiteratureReview

Section 1Section 2Section 3Section 4

EtcChapter II

TheoreticalConstructsChapter III

ItemsOn

DataCollection

InstrumentsChapter III

DataPresen-tation

Chapter IV

DataAnalysis

Chapter V

Con-clusions

Chapter V