Grade 8 Reviewer
Subject: RESEARCH 8
Quarter: 2
Topic: Literature review
Literature, in the context of research, refers to a collection of published information or materials
on a particular area of research or topic, such as books and journal articles of academic value.
Literature review is a process of studying what has already been written on a particular topic.
The process involves identifying, locating, and analyzing documents that contain information
related to a researcher's research topic
•Parenthetical in-text citation (Authors Last name, date)
•Narrative in-text citation authors Last name (date)
Characteristics of related literature material
1. The surveyed materials must be as recent as possible
2. Materials reviewed must be objective and unbiased
3. Materials surveyed must be relevant to the study
4. Surveyed materials must have been based upon genuinely original and true facts or
data to make them valid and reliable.
Importance, purposes, and functions of related literature
1. It helps or guides the researcher in searching for or selecting a better research problem
or topic
2. It helps the investigator understand his topic or research better.
3. It ensures that there will be no duplication of other studies.
4. It provides the conceptual or theoretical framework of the planned research
5. It gives the researcher a feeling of confidence
6. It provides information about the research methods used
7. It provides findings and conclusions of past investigations
What to review and where to get the materials
Researchers should be familiar with the different
sources of information related to the research
problem. The most common types of sources of information for a research problem are:
* General References
* Primary Sources
* Secondary Sources
General References
General references show where to locate other
sources of information related to a certain topic.
Examples of general references available in most libraries are indexes, reviews and abstracts.
Examples:
For education
-Indexes - Education Index and the Dictionary of Education
-Abstracts - Psychological Abstracts
Primary sources
Primary sources shows the results of many research studies that is based on direct experience.
Or the people/researches that witness first hand.
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources refers to publications where authors cite the work of others.
Most common secondary sources are:
-Books
-Reviews
-Yearbooks
-Encyclopedias
How to conduct the review of related literature
● Visit the school library or other libraries in the vicinity. Browse over books, magazines,
journals, etc. Be patient.
● Do a computer-aided search through an electronic database.
○ - Google Scholar
○ - Website of journals; Botanicus
● Ask for reprints from experts
● Take down notes on index card or research notebook. Begin organizing your notes by
devising sections and headings such as:
○ a. General Information
○ b. Methods in other studies
○ c. Support for Objectives 1 and 2.
○ d. Results to compare with mine.
○ e. Pros and cons of controversy
● write all bibliographic information, i.., author(s), complete title, publisher, date and place
of publication, and so on
● PARAPHRASE!
● Determining which literature is relevant to your research is challenging. Once you have
found the articles, read them and take notes. Write the literature review from your notes.
In reviewing related literature, the following steps may be followed:
○ * A useful first step when starting your dissertation literature review is to identify
relevant "key words" to help navigate your way through the existing literature.
How to write the literature review of related literature
● Use headings arranged in logical order to indicate main points
● Avoid too long introductions to your main topic.
● Include information that is directly related and relevant to your topic.
● A maximum of half-page (double-space) must constitute one paragraph
● Use headings arranged in logical order to indicate main points
Basic Criteria for evaluating related literature of science research
1. Relevance
● Alignment with research: Does the literature directly address your research question or
hypothesis?
● Scope: is the scope of the literature broad enough to cover, to be useful?
● Contextual fit: Does the literature come from similar fields of study, or does it offer useful
interdisciplinary insights?
2. Credibility and Authority
● Source credibility: Is the source peer-reviewed, published in a reputable journal, or
written by experts in the field?
● Author qualifications: Are the authors recognized authorities in their discipline with
relevant expertise?
● Affiliation and funding: Consider whether the authors' affiliations or funding sources could
introduce bias.
3. Currency
● Timeliness: How recent is the study? In rapidly evolving fields, newer literature may be
more relevant, while in more stable fields, older works could still be significant.
● Updates: Has the research been revisited or updated to reflect the latest developments?
4. Methodological Rigor
● •Research design: Does the study employ a solid, well-defined methodology that is
appropriate for answering its research questions?
● •Sample size and representativeness: Is the sample size adequate, and does it
represent the population being studied?
● •Data collection and analysis: Are data collection methods valid and reliable? Are the
statistical or qualitative analyses robust?
● •Replication potential: Could the study be replicated based on the provided
methodology?
5. Objectivity and Bias
● •Neutrality: Does the literature present the research findings objectively, or does it show
signs of bias in its interpretation of data?
● •Conflicts of interest: Are there any conflicts of interest disclosed that could affect the
objectivity of the research?
6. Significance and Contribution to the Field
● • Innovation: Does the study contribute new knowledge, methods, or insights to the field?
● •Impact: Has the study been widely cited or recognized as important by other
researchers in the field?
7. Clarity and Structure
● •Clarity of writing: Is the writing clear and accessible, allowing for a proper understanding
of the study's methods and conclusions?
● •Organization: Does the study follow a logical structure, making it easy to follow and
analyze?
8. Ethical Considerations
● •Ethical approval: Does the study follow ethical guidelines, such as obtaining approval
from institutional review boards (IRBs) or ethical committees?
● •Participant safety and consent: Are there clear statements about participant safety and
informed consent procedures?
9. Compatibility with Your Study
● •Support or opposition: Does the literature support or challenge your hypothesis or
viewpoint? Literature with diverse perspectives is valuable for building a balanced
argument.
● •Relation to theoretical framework: How does the literature fit within the theoretical
framework or model you are using for your own research?
APA Citation format
Author’s last name, F. M. (Year). Title of article. Title of journal, Vol. Number (issue number),
Pages. Url
