Reviewing the literature

Purposes of the Review

Requisites for Doing the review

Guidelines in Doing the Review

Prepared by: Cheryl M. Asia

Examining a body of literature toward the

answer to a research question

Literature means writings and a body of

literature refers to all the published writings

in a particular style on a particular subject.

In research, a body of literature is a collection

of published information and data relevant to

a research question.

A literature review is an evaluative report of studies found in the literature related to your selected area. The review should describe, summarize, evaluate and clarify this literature. It should give a theoretical basis for the research and help you determine the nature of your own research. Select a limited number of works that are central to your area rather than trying to collect a large number of works that are not as closely connected to your topic area.

A literature review goes beyond the search for information and includes the identification and articulation of relationships between the literature and your field of research.

The form of the literature review may vary with different types of studies, the basic purposes remain constant:

Provide a context for the research

Justify the research

Ensure the research hasn't been done before (or that it is not just a "replication study")

Show where the research fits into the existing body of knowledge

Enable the researcher to learn from previous theory on the subject

Illustrate how the subject has been studied previously

Highlight flaws in previous research

Outline gaps in previous research

Show that the work is adding to the understanding and knowledge of the field

Help refine, refocus or even change the topic

Reviewing the literature is not an easy

task for it involves a systematic identification,

search, and critical analysis of existing

conceptual and research literature related to

the researcher’s topic or problem. Conceptual

literature refers to ideas, concepts and

theories propounded by experts as contained

in books, periodicals and other standard

preferences. On the other hand, research

literature consists or empirical studies

conducted by individuals and professionals on a

given research or topic.

Patience, persistence, and industry are

essential qualities a researcher must posses

when doing the review. This is because he has

to spend time spotting books, journals, theses,

dissertations, and research projects needed in

completing the review of literature.

Good knowledge of library techniques,

tools and skills is also one of the requirements

for doing the review.

The use of the internet is also one of the

requisite skills that a researcher has to equip

himself with.

-there are some guidelines that you as

a researcher have to consider when doing

the review of related literature and studies.

Prepare a working bibliography

-cma