1.04 How to write a literature review
What is a literature review?
The aim of a literature review is to show your reader
(your tutor) that you have read, and have a good grasp of, the main published
work concerning a particular topic or question in your field. This work may be
in any format, including online sources. It may be a separate assignment, or
one of the introductory sections of a report, dissertation or thesis. In the
latter cases in particular, the review will be guided by your research objective
or by the issue or thesis you are arguing and will provide the framework for
your further work.
It is very important to note that your review should
not be simply a description of what others have published in the form of a set
of summaries, but should take the form of a critical discussion, showing
insight and an awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches. It
should be a synthesis and analysis of the relevant published work, linked at
all times to your own purpose and rationale.
According to Caulley (1992) of La Trobe University,
the literature review should:
• compare and contrast different authors' views on an
issue
• group authors who draw similar conclusions
• criticise aspects of methodology
• note areas in which authors are in disagreement
• highlight exemplary studies
• highlight gaps in research
• show how your study relates to previous studies
• show how your study relates to the literature in general
• conclude by summarising what the literature says
• group authors who draw similar conclusions
• criticise aspects of methodology
• note areas in which authors are in disagreement
• highlight exemplary studies
• highlight gaps in research
• show how your study relates to previous studies
• show how your study relates to the literature in general
• conclude by summarising what the literature says
The purposes of the review are:
• to define and limit the problem you are working on
• to place your study in an historical perspective
• to avoid unnecessary duplication
• to evaluate promising research methods
• to relate your findings to previous knowledge and suggest further research
• to place your study in an historical perspective
• to avoid unnecessary duplication
• to evaluate promising research methods
• to relate your findings to previous knowledge and suggest further research
A good literature review, therefore, is critical of
what has been written, identifies areas of controversy, raises questions and
identifies areas which need further research.
The overall structure of your review will depend
largely on your own thesis or research area. What you will need to do is to
group together and compare and contrast the varying opinions of different writers
on certain topics. What you must not do is just describe what one writer says,
and then go on to give a general overview of another writer, and then another,
and so on. Your structure should be dictated instead by topic areas,
controversial issues or by questions to which there are varying approaches and
theories. Within each of these sections, you would then discuss what the
different literature argues, remembering to link this to your own purpose.
Linking words are important. If you are grouping together
writers with similar opinions, you would use words or phrases such as:
similarly, in addition, also, again
similarly, in addition, also, again
More importantly, if there is disagreement, you need
to indicate clearly that you are aware of this by the use of linkers such as:
however, on the other hand, conversely, nevertheless
At the end of the review you should include a summary
of what the literature implies, which again links to your hypothesis or main
question.
You first need to decide what you need to read. In
many cases you will be given a booklist or directed towards areas of useful
published work. Make sure you use this help. With dissertations, and
particularly theses, it will be more down to you to decide. It is important,
therefore, to try and decide on the parameters of your research. What exactly
are your objectives and what do you need to find out? In your review, are you
looking at issues of theory, methodology, policy, quantitive research, or what?
Before you start reading it may be useful to compile a list of the main areas
and questions involved, and then read with the purpose of finding out about or
answering these. Unless something comes up which is particularly important,
stick to this list, as it is very easy to get sidetracked, particularly on the
internet.
A good literature review needs a clear line of
argument. You therefore need to use the critical notes and comments you made
whilst doing your reading to express an academic opinion. Make sure that:
• you include a clear, short introduction which gives
an outline of the review, including the main topics covered and the order of
the arguments, with a brief rationale for this.
• there is always a clear link between your own
arguments and the evidence uncovered in your reading. Include a short summary
at the end of each section.
Use quotations if appropriate.
Use quotations if appropriate.
• you always acknowledge opinions which do not agree
with your thesis. If you ignore opposing viewpoints, your argument will in fact
be weaker.
Your review must be written in a formal, academic style. Keep your writing clear and concise, avoiding colloquialisms and personal language. You should always aim to be objective and respectful of others' opinions; this is not the place for emotive language or strong personal opinions. If you thought something was rubbish, use words such as "inconsistent", "lacking in certain areas" or "based on false assumptions"! (See Guide 1.21)
When introducing someone's opinion, don't use
"says", but instead an appropriate verb which more accurately
reflects this viewpoint, such as "argues", "claims" or
"states". Use the present tense for general opinions and theories, or
the past when referring to specific research or experiments:
Although Trescothick (2001) argues that attack is the
best form of defence, Boycott (1969) claims that ...
In a field study carried out amongst the homeless of
Sydney, Warne (1999) found that ...
And remember at all times to avoid plagiarising your
sources. Always separate your source opinions from your own hypothesis. making
sure you consistently reference the literature you are referring to. When you
are doing your reading and making notes, it might be an idea to use different
colours to distinguish between your ideas and those of others. (See Guide
1.13).
Here is a final checklist, courtesy of the University
of Melbourne:
Selection of Sources
Have you indicated the purpose of the review?
Are the parameters of the review reasonable?
Why did you include some of the literature and exclude others?
Which years did you exclude?
Have you emphasised recent developments?
Have you focussed on primary sources with only selective use of secondary sources?
Is the literature you have selected relevant?
Is your bibliographic data complete?
Have you indicated the purpose of the review?
Are the parameters of the review reasonable?
Why did you include some of the literature and exclude others?
Which years did you exclude?
Have you emphasised recent developments?
Have you focussed on primary sources with only selective use of secondary sources?
Is the literature you have selected relevant?
Is your bibliographic data complete?
Critical Evaluation of the Literature
Have you organised your material according to issues?
Is there a logic to the way you organised the material?
Does the amount of detail included on an issue relate to its importance?
Have you been sufficiently critical of design and methodological issues?
Have you indicated when results were conflicting or inconclusive and discussed possible reasons?
Have you indicated the relevance of each reference to your research?
Have you organised your material according to issues?
Is there a logic to the way you organised the material?
Does the amount of detail included on an issue relate to its importance?
Have you been sufficiently critical of design and methodological issues?
Have you indicated when results were conflicting or inconclusive and discussed possible reasons?
Have you indicated the relevance of each reference to your research?
Interpretation
Has your summary of the current literature contributed to the reader's understanding of the problems?
Does the design of your research reflect the methodological implications of the literature review?
Has your summary of the current literature contributed to the reader's understanding of the problems?
Does the design of your research reflect the methodological implications of the literature review?
Note
The literature review will be judged in the context of your completed research.
The review needs to further the reader's understanding of the problem and whether it provides a rationale for your research.
The literature review will be judged in the context of your completed research.
The review needs to further the reader's understanding of the problem and whether it provides a rationale for your research.
Links to further resources on writing dissertations
|
Centre for Academic Success
City North : 0121 331 7685 Email
Millennium Point Learning Centre : 0121 202 2500 Email
City North : 0121 331 7685 Email
Millennium Point Learning Centre : 0121 202 2500 Email
To book a tutorial at City North: moodle.bcu.ac.uk/course/category.php?id=27
To book a tutorial at Millennium Point: 0121 202 2500
To book a tutorial at Millennium Point: 0121 202 2500
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