LITERATURE REVIEW: CONDUCTING & WRITING 3. Select the databases you will use to conduct your searches.
STEPS FOR CONDUCTING A LIT REVIEW Make list of the databases you will search. Remember to include
comprehensive databases such as world Cat and Dissertations & theses, if
1. Choose a topic. Define your research question you need to.
2. Decide on the scope of your review.
3. Select the databases you will use to conduct your searches. Where to find databases:
4. Conduct your searches and find the literature. Keep track of your
searches. Find Databases by Subject
5. Review the literature UWF Databases categorized by discipline
Find Databases via Research
Conducting a literature review is usually recursive, meaning that somewhere Libraries create research guides for all the disciplines on campus!
along the way, you’ll find yourself repeating steps out-of-order. Take advantage of their expertise and see what discipline- specific
search strategies they recommend!
That is actually a good sign.
4. Conduct your searches and find the literature. Keep track of your
Reviewing the research should lead to more research question or go back
searches !
and find more literature related to a more specific aspect of your research
question. Review the abstracts of research studies carefully. This will save you
time.
1. Choose a topic. Define your research question. write down the searches you conduct in each database so that you
may duplicate them if you need to later (or avoid dead end searches
Your literature review should be guided by a central research question. that you’d already tried)
Remember, it is not a collection of loosely related studies in a field but use the bibliographies and references of research studies you find to
instead represents background and research developments related to a locate others.
specific research question, interpreted and analyzed by you in a synthesized Ask your professor or a scholar in the field if you are missing any key
way. works in the field
Use refworks to keep track of your research citations. See the
Tips:
refworks tutorial if you need help.
Make sure your research question is not too broad or too narrow. Is it 5. Review the literature
manageable?
Some questions to help you analyze the research:
Begin writing down terms that are related to your question. These will
be useful for searches later. What was the research question of the study you are reviewing?
If you have the opportunity, discuss your topic with your professor. what were the authors trying to discover?
Was the research funded by a source that could influence the
2. Decide on the scope of your review findings?
What were the research methodologies? Analyze its literature
How many studies do you need to look at? How comprehensive should it be?
review,the samples and variables used, the results, and the
How many years should it cover?
conclusions. Does the research seem to be complete? Could it have
Tip: tis may depend on your assignment. How many sources does the been conducted more soundly? What further questions does it raise?
assignment require? If there are conflicting studies, why do you think that is?
How are the authors viewed in the field ? has this study been cited? 1. Adds authority to your work by supporting it with previous research.
If so, how has it been analyzed? 2. Demonstrates reading and understanding of relevant literature.
3. Enables the reader to track down the original sources to check its
quality.
4. Ensures that you write in an ethical manner by giving credit to the
ACTIVITY
original authors.
Based on your own understanding explain briefly what are Choose a
topic. Define your research question, Decide on the scope of your
review, Select the databases you will use to conduct your searches.
Conduct your searches and find the literature. Keep track of your
searches , Review the literature
(5 points each)
EVALUATION
What have you learned: (20 points each)
CITING RELATED LITERATURE USING STANDARD STYLES
The needs for citing Sources
When writing a research paper, literature citation is important for two
reasons:
1. To avoid plagiarism which is against the student code of conduct or
ethical standards?
2. To assign proper authority to a statement (this adds weight to your
paper)
3. Citation gives details of a scholarly publication’s location, people find
it quickly.
REFERENCING SOURCES
Referencing your sources means systematically showing what information or
ideas you are quoting or paraphrasing from another author’s work and where
they come from.
REASONS FOR REFERENCING SOURCES
What have you learned? (20 points)
SYNTHESIZING INFORMATION FROM RELEVANT LITERATURE
WHAT IS A SYNTHESIS?
A synthesis is a discussion that draws on one or more sources. Your ability
to infer relationships among sources such as essays, articles, fiction and also
non-written sources such as lecture, interviews and observations.
It refers to the bringing together of materials from different sources and the
creation of an integrated whole.
TYPES OF SYNTHESIS ?
1. Explanatory synthesis. It helps the readers to understand a topic. Its
ACTIVITY
primary aim is to present the facts in a reasonably objective manner.
Choose a citing sources (citing web sites, citing books, citing articles from Explanations given may entail descriptions, sequences of events or
print periodicals,citing electronic books, citing an entry in an online reference state of affairs .
work) and make a 5 examples of it. 2. Argumentation synthesis. Its purpose is for you to present your own
point of view with the support of relevant facts drawn from services
and presented in a logical manner.
CATEGORIES OF SOURCES
EVALUATION 1. Documents
2. Numerical records
3. Oral statements
4. Relics
HOW TO WRITE A SYNTHESIS
1. Consider your purpose in writing
2. Select and read carefully your sources according to your purpose.
3. Formulate a thesis. It is the main ideas that you want to to present in
your synthesis.
4. Decide how you will use your source material and take down notes
5. Develop an organizational plan according to your thesis.
6. Write the first draft of your synthesis, following your organizational
plan.
7. Revise your synthesis.
TECHNIQUES FOR WRITING A SYNTHESIS
SUMMARY- it is simplest way of organizing a synthesis. Here you write one
after the other the most relevant information and sources you gathered.
EXAMPLE OR ILLUSTRATION- it is a reference to a particular illuminating
example or illustration that you have included in your review.
TWO OR MORE REASONS- this approach can be an effective method by
simply stating thesis, then give reasons why it is true. Your reasons need to
be supported by evidence from your data and sources.
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST – these techniques will lead to examining
two subjects or data in terms of one another. Comparison considers
similarities while contrast highlights differences.
ACTIVITY
Search a “Sample of Literature Review Synthesis”
PREPARING A SYNTHESIS MATRIX
“World War Two and its Effect on Women” (30 points)
The synthesis matrix is a chart that will allow you to sort and categorize the
different opinions and arguments given on issue in relation to your study.
Across the top of the chart are the spaces to record the main points on the
topic being undertaken. EVALUATION
EXAMPLE OF CONTRAST AND COMPARISON What have you learned? (20 points)
Address previous research on the topic, grouped according to
theme, theoretical perspective, methodological approach,
chronological development.
Draw together the significance of previous , individual studies by
highlighting the main themes, issues and knowledge gaps.
WRITING COHERANT RELEVANT LITERATURE Use strong umbrella sentences at the beginning and end of
each paragraph.
PUTTING TOGETHER THE LITERATURE REVIEW Include brief “so what” sentences at intermediate points in the
review to connect the literature to the proposed research
Review the literature requires the ability to do multiple tasks from objectives
finding and evaluating relevant material to synthesizing information Described previous work you have accomplished related to the
from various sources: from critical thinking to paraphrasing; proposed research.
evaluating and citation skills.
Reviewing the literature is challenging. A good review does not just CONCLUSION
summarize the literature but discusses it critically , identifies
methodological problems and prints out research gaps. Provides a summary statement of the overall state of knowledge
about the topic, including gaps in knowledge and understanding,
WHAT IS COHERENCE? reconnecting to your introduction.
Reinforces the research purpose or objectives and establishes to the
Coherence directs to well-organized and unified piece of writing. potential significance or importance of your proposed research,
It also refers on how well a manuscript holds together as a unified relative to the current state of knowledge.
document.
Transitional expressions and other kinds of rhetorical markers also
help to identify the connection among the different sections as “in the
next example” or “in a related study”, the most recent finding in the ACTIVITY/EVALUATION
study. What have you learned on December Month module?
Use “first, second and third” at the beginning of your paragraphs to
mark the development of the related points.
SECTION OF A LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The introduction to the literature review is often a single paragraph that:
Introduces the general topic and provides an appropriate scholarly or
societal context for the review.
Identifies the overall state of knowledge about the topic (conflicts in
theory, methodology, evidence and conclusions: gaps in research)
BODY
