Review of Related

Literature
 Guba, E.G. in “The Paradigm
Dialogue” (1993)

argued that there are three fundamental research questions

that structure any research project

1. What is there that can be known?

2. What is the relationship of the knower to the known?

3. How do we find things out?

I don’t know
what I don’t
know!!
Review of Related Literature
•involves the systematic identification, location,
organization, and analysis of documents containing
information related to the research problem

•it is an account of what has been published on a topic by

accredited scholars and researchers

•in writing an RRL, our purpose is to convey what

knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic,
and what their strengths and weaknesses are
 Functions of a
Review of Related Literature

•It provides information about past research studies

related to the intended investigation, preventing the
duplication of research undertakings

•It presents gaps in the field of study

•It affords confidence and authority to the researchers
since reviewing the literature can provide them all
possible constructs and perspectives of the present study
 Functions of a
Review of Related Literature

•It gives information about the methods used in similar

studies, including the characteristics of samples, the
sampling techniques or the process of selecting the
research participants, the variables considered, the kinds
of data gathered, and the type of analysis and
interpretation done on the collected data

•Itenumerates findings from previous studies that may

support those of the present study
 Functions of a
Review of Related Literature

•It provides ideas on how implication may be drawn out

of the analysis and interpretation of data
 Organizing your Review of
Related Literature
1. Topical Order - organize by main topics or issues;
emphasize the relationship of the issues to the main
“problem”

2. Chronological Order - organize the literature by the dates

the research was published

3. Problem Cause Solution Order - organize the review so

that it moves from the problem to the solution
 Organizing your Review of
Related Literature

4. Inductive Order - also called as the “funnel” approach,

examine the broad-based research first and then focus
on specific studies that relate to the topic

5. Deductive Order - discuss specific research studies so

general conclusions can be drawn
 In a Review of Related
Literature…

•all sources cited should be listed in the references/

bibliography

•it should include an introduction, a summary and critique

of journals, and justifications for your research project
 Common Errors in Writing a
Review of Related Literature
Review isn’t logically organized
Review isn’t focused on most important facets of
the study
Review doesn’t relate literature to the study
Too few references or outdated references cited
Review isn’t written in author’s own words
Review reads like a series of disjointed
summaries
Review doesn’t argue a point
Recent references are omitted
 Common Errors in Writing a
Review of Related Literature
Plagiarism (Galvan, pg. 89):

1. Using another writer’s words without proper citation

2. Using another writer’s ideas without proper citation
3. Citing a source but reproducing the exact word without
quotation marks
4. Borrowing the structure of another author’s phrases/
sentences without giving the source
5. Borrowing all or part of another student’s paper
6. Using paper-writing service or having a friend write the
paper
 For further reading…
•A Literature Review by Helen M. Patterson in her study “Co-
Witnesses and the Effects of Discussion on Eye Witness
Memory” http://www.uq.edu.au/student-services/learning/
lit-review-ex-1

•A Literature Review arranged in Topical Order https://

theses.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-3898-144557/
unrestricted/CHAPTER2REV.PDF

•An Annotated Literature Review about Adolescent

Depression https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/
20070515025950_667.pdf