Chapter 5: The Literature Review Flashcards
Literature review
a survey of everything that has been written about a particular topic, theory, or research question
“literature” refers to
sources of information
Purposes of a literature review
Provide a context for your research.
Justify the research you are proposing.
Ensure that your proposed research has not been carried out by another person (and if you find it has, then your literature review should specify why replication is necessary).
Show where your proposed research fits into the existing body of knowledge.
Enable the researcher to learn from previous theories on the subject.
Illustrate how the subject has been studied previously.
Highlight flaws in previous research.
Outline gaps in previous research.
Show how your proposed research can add to the understanding and knowledge of the field.
Help refine, refocus, or even move the topic in a new direction.
3 Things involved in a lit review
Research
Critical Appraisal
Writing
True or false: The literature review is like a funnel
True
Where is a good place to look to find gaps in the research of an article?
The conclusion
3 parts of the literature review:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Tell me about the introduction of the lit review:
Identify topic by briefly discussing its importance
Defend the importance with a broad overview of the scope of work
Clarify whether you are looking at entire history or just particular period of time
Tell me about the purpose of the body of the lit review
Discuss and assess research in an organized manner
Compare, contrast, and connect the various pieces of research
Summarize the works you’re reviewing
Tell me about the purpose of the conclusion of a lit review
Suggest where the research should go next / propose your own research study
Most common way to organize a lit review
Thematically
Methodology review is used when discussing _____
interdisciplinary approaches to a topic / a number of studies with a different approach
Top 5 acceptable sources for lit reviews (from greatest to least)
1.) Peer reviewed journal articles
2.) Edited academic books
3.) Articles in professional journals
4.) Statistical data from government websites
5.) Website material from professional associations
Edited academic books
A collection of scholarly scientific papers written by different authors
Most of your lit review should comprise of information from _____
peer reviewed journal articles
