Lecture 2

Question 1

What is a report?

Answer 1

A report is a systematic, well-organised document which defines and analyses a subject or problem.

Question 2

What’s the purpose of reports

Answer 2

To communicate information compiled as a result of research and analysis of data and issues.

Question 3

What are the types of reports?

Answer 3

• Essays
• Technical reports
• Scientific (research) reports

Question 4

What is a Literature Review?

Answer 4

Public research in a field

Question 5

What is the purpose of Literature Reviews

Answer 5

To survey, summarise and link the public research together

Question 6

What does a Literature Review essay cover?

Answer 6

• The major findings in the field
• How they related or how they are different from other findings
• Major challenges and or identified gaps in
  current research in the field of interest

Question 7

Why are Literature Reviews important?

Answer 7

• They allow you (and the reader) to know
  WHAT is the current state of a field
• They allow you to demonstrate that you
  have mastered a specific subject
• They allow you to frame (and support) your research

Question 8

How is a Literature Review organised?

Answer 8

• Analysis of existing resources
• Selection of relevant material
• Synthesis of content in a critically contemplated manner

Synthesise small parts of relevant findings in your own way to make a point!

Question 9

What are the two cases of a Literature Review?

Answer 9

• A stand-alone literature review
• A literature review as part of a research report

Question 10

What are the differences between a stand-alone literature review and one that is part of a research report?

Answer 10

A stand-alone provides an overview and
analysis of the current state of research on a topic or question.

A literature review as part of a research report provides the context to which your work is a contribution

• When writing your dissertation, you must demonstrate how your research is connected to the field
• This must be supported (and justified) by existing literature!

Question 11

What are the three vital functions of a study?

Answer 11

• Description
• Analysis
• Evaluation

• Description: define what you are talking about, what is involved, where it takes place, or under what circumstances. Fulfilling this function introduces the topic
• Analysis: examine and explain how parts fit into a whole, give reasons, compare and contrast different views, and show your understanding of relationships. Analysis forms the main part of your study
• Evaluation: judge the success or failure of something, its implications and/or value. Evaluations lead us to conclusions or recommendations

Question 12

What questions does a description answer?

Answer 12

• What
• Where
• Who
• When

Question 13

What questions does an analysis answer?

Answer 13

• How
• Why
• What if

Question 14

What questions does an evaluation answer?

Answer 14

• So what
• What next

Question 15

What are the steps critical reading involves?

Answer 15

1. Restate What a text SAYS
2. Describe What a text DOES
3. Interprete What a text MEANS

Question 16

What are the steps to transfer the reading material to a correct written format?

Answer 16

• Introduce the literature review by pointing out the major research topic that will be discussed
• Identify the broad problem area but don’t be too global
• This step is just to get the most basic idea
  about the field

Question 17

What are the general guidelines for a literature review?

Answer 17

• Do not attempt to cover everything written
  on your topic
• Pick out the research most relevant to the
  topic you are studying
• Cover research relevant to all the variables
  being studied
• Cover research that explains the
  relationships between these variables
• Plan how you will structure your literature
  review and write from this plan

Question 18

What are the two orders to organise a literature review?

Answer 18

• Problem-Cause-Solution Order: Organise the review so that it moves from the problem to the solution
• General-to-Specific Order: Examine broad-based research first and then focus on specific studies that relate to the topic