Reviewing the Literature

Prepared and presented by Dr Patricia Farrar Senior Lecturer Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Health

What is the literature?

Journal articles Books Conference proceedings Government publications Theses and dissertations Internet sources Bibliographies

What is a literature review?

A conceptually organized synthesis of the results of a literature search that provides a context for your proposal or thesis It is NOT a summary of the literature, nor merely descriptions or paraphrases of the works It is a critical piece of discursive prose, not a list!

Why review the literature?

Critically examine and evaluate existing research Show the relationship between the different studies Locate your study within the broader research context eg method, ethical considerations

What is the purpose of a literature review?

To organize information and relate it to the proposal or thesis To synthesize results of the literature search To identify controversy in the literature To develop questions for further research

Butwhy do I have to write a literature review?

To indicate that I am knowledgeable in my field To demonstrate to others that I have the understanding and background knowledge to undertake this project To clarify the project for myself

When should I start the literature review?

As soon as you have decided on your topic and approach While you are formulating the research question or approach to the topic As you read the literature that you have accumulated

What skills are necessary?

Information seeking Analysis and critical appraisal Synthesis Evaluation

Stages in the development of a literature review

Problem formulation Literature search

Data evaluation
Analysis and interpretation

How can I organize all this information?

Software eg Endnote 4 X 3 Cards Themes the Kitchen Bench Method Cut up The 4P Method paper, post-it notes, paper-clips and piles

How should I organize the literature?

Time

Content themes or trends

Research method Theories

How do I analyze the information?

Initial appraisal

Author Date of Publication Edition or revision Publisher Journal

But wait, theres more analysis!

Content analysis

Intended audience Objective reasoning Coverage Writing style Evaluative review

How can I write a good literature review?

Remember the purpose

A context for your proposal or thesis

Read with a purpose

Summarize: concepts, similarities, differences Demonstrate and evaluate relationships

Write with a purpose

Literature reviews should contain

An overview of the subject, issue or theory under consideration Organisation of the works under review into categories Explanations of how each work is similar to and how it varies from the others Conclusions as to which pieces are best

The introduction

Define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern Point out overall trends, conflicts, gaps or new perspectives Establish your position (point of view) from which you are reviewing the literature State why certain literature is or is not included (scope)

The body

Group the literature according to common denominators Summarize individual studies or articles according to its importance in the literature Provide the reader with "umbrella" sentences at beginnings of paragraphs, "signposts" throughout, and brief "so what" summary sentences

The conclusion

Summarize major contributions of significant studies with reference to the introduction Evaluate the current "state of the art" for the body of knowledge reviewed Conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a larger area of study

Writing it up using linking words

For authors who draw similar conclusions: also; similarly; again; in addition For authors who complement one another: moreover; furthermore; notwithstanding For authors who disagree or contradict: however; conversely; nonetheless; on the other hand

More writing up useful verbs (adjust for case, tense, mood and voice)

When an author makes a claim:alleges;

suggests; contends; argues; proposes; contests

When authors make the same claim across texts:agree; concur; support; validate;

correspond with

When authors disagree: argue; refute;

challenge; dispute; contradict; negate; invalidate; rebut; disprove; counter; oppose

Citing references

In text
Footnotes Endnotes

What is a good or bad review? You choose!

Sexual harassment has many consequences. Adams, Brown and White (1998) found that some women students said that they avoided taking a class or working with certain lecturers because of risk of harassment. They also found that men and women students reacted differently. Their research was a survey of 1,000 men and women graduate and under graduate students. Benson and Thomsons study in Social Problems (2002) lists many problems created by sexual harassment. In their excellent book, The Lecherous Professor, Maralyn Davis and Julie Wilson (2004) give a long list that victims have suffered.

Now rate this one!

Survivors of sexual harassment suffer a range of consequences from lowered self-esteem and selfconfidence, to withdrawal from social interaction, changed career goals and depression (Adams, Brown & White, 1998; Benson & Thomson, 2002; Davis & Wilson, 2004). For example, Adams et al (1998) noted that 13 per cent of under-graduate women students said they avoided taking a class or working with certain lecturers because of the risk of harassment. Moreover, Davis and Wilson (2004) reported that 5 per cent of female post-graduate students withdrew from their studies completely as a result of sexual harassment.