Chapter 4

Review of Related Literature

Contents
 Meaning of Literature Review
 Purposes of Literature Review
 Characteristics of Valuable Literature
Review
 Sources of Literature Review
Introduction
 Human beings are the only animals that can take
advantage of knowledge which has been preserved or
accumulated through the centuries or since the origin of
man.
 Human knowledge has the three phases: preservation,
transmission and advancement.
 This fact is of particular importance in research which
operates as a continuous function of ever-closer
approximation to the truth.
 Humans build upon the accumulated and recorded
knowledge of the past. Their constant adding to the vast
store of knowledge makes possible progress in all areas
of human endeavor.
What is 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review of scholarly publications, unpublished scholarly print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.”
 A presentation of the current state of knowledge on a
topic, which is designed to highlight past research
findings and to pave the way for your study/discussion.
 Literature work is an evolving and ongoing task that is
updated and revised throughout the process of writing the
thesis/dissertation/article/paper.
 The researcher is positioned as agent who uses and
evaluates the research of others in order to make a place for
his/her own work.

literature review 4
Intro…
cont’d
 The investigator can ensure that his problem vacuum
/gap/ and that considerable work has already been done
on topics which are directly related to his proposed
investigation.
 For any specific research project to occupy this
place in the development of a discipline, the
researcher must be thoroughly familiar with both
previous theory and research.
 To assure this familiarity, every research project in the
business, has as one of its early stage, a review of the
theoretical and research literature.
Why Literature Review?
 Two reasons:
 First: (the preliminary search)
 helps you to generate and your
refine
research ideas.
 Second: (often called the
review) critical
 usually
awarenessrequire
of the current
you state
to ofdemonstrate
knowledge
in your subject, its limitations, and how your
research fits in this wider context
Why Literature …
Cont’d
 To determines what is known about a subject, concept
or problem
 To know gaps, consistencies & inconsistencies
about a subject, concept or problem
 To discover unanswered questions about a
subject,
concept or problem
 To explain strengths & weaknesses of designs,
methods of inquiry and instruments used in earlier
works

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Functions of
LR
Reviewing literature can be time-consuming,
daunting and frustrating, but is also rewarding.
 Its functions are:
a) Bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
b) Improve your methodology;
c) Broaden your knowledge;
d) Contextualize your findings.
Characteristics of Valuable related Literature
 Characteristics of High Quality Literature Reviews:
 Use of the most credible sources such as professional

journals
 A synthesis of relevant papers including Those that

may be contrary to one’s hypotheses

 Intuitively organized overview of the literature and a

conclusion that summarizes and synthesizes key

ideas from the review
Sources of Literature
What kinds of sources for
LR?
 At early stage:
 Any kind of literature (google, Wikipedia,
Investopedia, etc)
 When you get a clearer idea of what is out
there,
 you need to identify specific kinds of literature, to
judge the relative merit of what you find for your
study.
… sources for Cont’
LR?
Primary literature sources d
 Also known as Gray Literature
 Are the least accessible, often being company literature or

unpublished research, private correspondence and can

include conference proceedings
 Secondary literature sources
 Are much more easily available in the public domain &

aimed at a wider audience.

 Include published books and articles in journal articles,

news media and published business, government and

international body publications.
 Usually they reproduced in a different format and likely to

be less current than primary sources

… sources for Cont’
LR?
 Tertiary literature sources d
 Are also called search tools
 Are designed either to help to locate /as gateways/

primary and secondary literature or to introduce a

topic.
 Include encyclopedias, dictionaries, citation indexes,

catalogues and web-based portals and journals’

contents pages
 Important to track down secondary literature which is

relevant to our field of study.

 Often as information flows from primary to secondary to
tertiary sources it becomes less detailed and
authoritative but more easily accessible.
Literature sources available

Saunders et al. (2009)

 In assessing each piece source of literature,
consider the following
 Foundation—What are the author's credentials? Are the
author's arguments supported by evidence (e.g. primary
historical material, case studies, narratives, statistics,
recent scientific findings)?

 Objectivity—Is the author's perspective even-handed or

prejudicial? Is contrary data considered or is certain
pertinent information ignored to prove the author's point?

 Persuasiveness— is the author's thesis convincing?

 Value—Does the work ultimately contribute in any

significant way to an understanding of the subject of my
research?

15
Critical analysis of
literature
 Will provide the foundation on which your research is built.
 help you to develop a good understanding and insight into relevant
previous research and the trends that have emerged.
 You would not expect to start your research without first reading
what other researchers in your area have already found out.
 The purpose is not to provide a summary of everything that has
been written on your research topic, but to review the most relevant
and significant research on your topic.
 If your analysis is effective, new findings and theories will emerge
that neither you nor anyone else has thought about.
 However, you will need to show how your findings and the theories
you have developed or are using relate to the research that has
gone before, thereby demonstrating that you are familiar with what is
already known about your research topic.
Critical Analysis of Literature
Descriptive writing Critical analytical writing
States what happened Identifies the significance
States what something is like Evaluates strengths & weaknesses

Gives the story so far Weighs one piece of

information
against another
States the order in Makes reasoned judgements
which things happened
Says how to do something Argues a case according to
he evidence
Explains what a theory says Shows why something is relevant or
suitable
Gives the story so far Weighs one piece of
information against another
Critical Analysis … cont’d
Descriptive writing Critical analytical writing
Literature
Explains how something works Indicates whether something
is appropriate or suitable
Says when something occurred Identifies why the timing is of
importance
States the different components Weighs up the importance of
component parts
States options Gives reasons for selecting each
option
Lists details Evaluates the relative significance
of details
Lists in any order Structures information in order of
importance
Lists links between items Shows the relevance of links
between pieces of information
Gives information Draws conclusions
Critiquing Criteria for a Review of the
Literature
1) Does the literature review uncover gaps
or inconsistencies in knowledge?
2) How does the review reflect critical thinking?
3) Are all therelevant concepts and variables
included in the review?
4) Dose the summary of each reviewed study
reflect the essential components of the study
5) design?
Does the critique of each reviewed study include
strengths, weaknesses, or limitations of the design;
conflicts; and gaps or inconsistencies in
information in
relation to the area of interest?
6) Were both conceptual and data based literature
included?
Critiquing Criteria for a Review of the
Literature…
7) Were primary sources mainly included?
8) Is there a written summary synthesis of the reviewed
scholarly literature?
9) Does the synthesis summary follow a logical sequence
that leads the reader to why there is the need for the
particular research or non research project?
10) Did the organization of the reviewed studies (i.e.
chronologically, or according to concepts/variables, or
type/design of study) follow logically, enhancing the
ability of the reader to evaluate the need for the
particular research or non research project?
11) Does the literature review follow the purpose(s) of the
study project?
Checklist for critical
analysis
 Is the writer addressing a scholarly audience?
 Does the author review the relevant literature?
 Is the main argument based on data the author has
gathered, or on secondary sources?
 How recent is the work?
 How significant is the journal in your field?
 Does the author have a particular theoretical viewpoint?
(How controversial is it?)
 Does the author write from an objective viewpoint, and
are their views based on facts rather than opinions?
Which sources to avoid?
 Textbooks are usually not acceptable
 They are for teaching purposes, not research. If a concept is

mentioned in a textbook you can be sure it is based on an important

original work.
 Wikipedia and other open-source texts
 Their authoritativeness is in doubt due to many authors and lack of

information on their methodology. Use it in browsing perhaps, never

in the final thesis! A means to an end, not a quotable source!
 Newspaper articles and magazines
 Unless a news item or opinion piece on a contemporary topic adds

something to the scholarly debate, which is not very common.

 Newspaper articles have a certain angle, are time-bound, and have

not been peer-reviewed.

 So if you use them, think carefully about why it’s justified.
Scholarly
Journals
 The language of scholarly journals is that of the
discipline covered.
 It assumes some scholarly background on the part of the
reader.
 The main purpose of a scholarly journal is to report on
original research in order to make such information
available to the rest of the scholarly world.
 Many scholarly journals, though by no means all, are
published by a specific professional organization.
 Generally have a moderate, serious look.
 Scholarly journals always cite their sources in the form of
footnotes or bibliographies.

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Scholarly
Journals…
 Articles are written by a scholar in the or by
field someone who has done research in the
 field.
Often present empirical data to test hypotheses or
answer research questions.

 Require peer review

 It keeps the authors on their toes, checking that their

arguments are valid, that their methodology is sound.

 Can limit the discussion in a field, but is still a well-

accepted practice.
 Be sure to include plenty of peer-reviewed sources
(usually journal articles, but also books from reliable
publishing houses).
literature review 24
Literature Review Pitfalls /LRP/
LRP: Forgetting to
Frame
 Failing to synthesize ideas and information from
sources into a narrative account of what the
your
professionals currently know with the purpose
credentialing your study
 This synthesis could be framed by date, of
orientation,
theoretical method, issue, etc. The literature review,
however, is not an annotated bibliography.
 In other words, you organize the literature review
issues
by and ideas not by individual sources. Your goal is
to create a conversation between and among
the scholars on each important issue reviewed.

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LRP: Overreliance on Quotations…
You gain your reader’s trust by sparingly and
strategically
using other people’s words.

 In most cases, you should paraphrase the material,

selecting only the portions of the original quote that you
need.
 Generally when you use three or more consecutive
words from
marks theall
around original,
directlyyou must material
quoted place quotation
and use a
parenthetical citation that includes the page number.

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LRP: Patching not Paraphrasing…
“Patching” occurs when you insert a series of borrowed ideas
and phrases; these strings often differ only slightly from the
original wording.

 This is a form of plagiarism, even if the writer provides a

parenthetical citation.

 Paraphrase involves both a rewording and reorganizing the original

material; “synonym swapping” is not a paraphrase.

 You can mediate the potential for plagiarism by taking accurate

notes in your own words, carefully noting the source and page
number.
LRP: Failing to Connect Foundational Studies to Your
Project…
 Citing “seminal” works, those studies that are most cited
by others, without understanding how those significant,
early studies complement, qualify, or contrast with the
approach taken in your paper.

 While it is helpful to consult reviews of the literature

most crucial to your subject (because they can guide
your understanding of your own source base), it is
essential to gain a firm understanding of the
foundational studies that will contribute to the argument
you make.

Everything you discuss in your literature

review
needs to pave the way for your project.

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LRP: Cursory Overview or Biased
Sample…
 Failing to ensure that your literature review is
comprehensive because you were unaware of the
seminal studies on the topic

 Consciously choosing to omit scholarship

that
challenges your initial hypothesis, methodology, etc.

 Whether intentional or not, these omissions will

invalidate your claims. Further, you may find it
necessary to consider this pitfall as you evaluate
other scholars’ research.

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End of Chapter
Four