FIELD METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY

DE TORRES | LECTURE 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Topic Outline: • Final Section – The researchers may

● The Literature Review incorporate the related literature in the final
● Introduction
section, where it is used to compare and
● Purposes
● Process contrast with the results (themes or
● Sources categories) to emerge from the study.

THE LITERATURE REVIEW

• It shares with the reader the results of other
studies that are closely related to the one
being undertaken.
• It relates a study to the larger, ongoing
dialogue in the literature, filling in gaps and
extending prior studies.
• Provides framework for establishing the
importance of the study; benchmark for
comparing results with other findings.
• Literature review in journal article is an
abbreviated form of that found in a
dissertation or master’s thesis. INTRODUCTION
o It typically is contained in a section • The aim of a literature review is to show
called “Related Literature” and follows particular reader that researchers have read
the introduction to a study. This is the and have good grasp of the main published
pattern for quantitative research articles work concerning the topic or question in
in journals. specific field.
Placement of Literature Review in Research • This may be in any format of, including online
• Introduction – Literature provides useful sources.
backdrop for the problem or issue that has o It may be in separate assignment or one
of the introductory sections of report,
led to the need for the study.
dissertation, or thesis.
o Who has been writing about it.
o In the latter cases, the review will be
o Who has studied it.
guided by research objectives or thesis
o Who has indicated the importance of
researcher are arguing and will provide
studying the issue. the framework for researchers’ further
• Separate Section – The inquirer might work.
locate the theory discussion and literature in • Before we can create knowledge, we must
a separate section typically towards the first know the current state of knowledge
beginning of the write-up. about our research subject.
o In theory-oriented qualitative studies • Effective researchers will use knowledge and
such as ethnography, critical theory, insights of others and draw on element of prior
advocacy or emancipatory aim. research.

VARIAS MARRIANE NICOLAI | 1

 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• The task is to learn as much as you can from o More helpful on dissertations and
the efforts and works of others – which is particular thesis
published in “scientific research.” • Before reading compile a list of main areas
and questions involved, and then read with
PURPOSE the purpose of finding out about or
• Prevents duplication of what has already answering these.
been done. o Issues of theory, methodology, policy,
o Some duplication is necessary but quantitative research.
excessive duplication is wasteful.
o Duplication of old and outdated The Literature Map
research studies are acceptable. • Literature map – A visual summary of the
• Help to identify new areas where research research that has been conducted by others
is needed; how new research can and is typically represented in a figure.
contribute. • Identifying key words
• Provides direction for: o Useful in locating materials in an
o How to handle problems encountered academic library at a college or
o Techniques university.
o Sources of data o These keywords may emerge in
o Novel approaches for the research. identifying a topic or may result from
• Help develop insights on design of your own preliminary readings.
study by showing what has been previously • Begin searching for holdings regarding
successful. specific keywords.
• May reveal conceptual insights into the o Focus on journals and books related to
problem and/or suggest possible the topic.
hypotheses for your own study. • Try to locate about 50 books or reports
• A formal written literature review may not be related on the topic. Prioritize journal
necessary for all studies, but researchers articles and books because they are easy to
should never be undertaken without locate.
literature review. To do so risks unneeded • Skim initial group of articles and duplicate
duplication, repeating mistakes, and those that are central to your topic.
inefficient research. • As you identify useful literature begin
designing the literature map.
PROCESS • After the literature map, draft summaries of
• A good literature review requires a the most relevant articles.
thoroughly researched topic. Do not attempt o These summaries are combined into
to write the literature review overnight. final literature review for proposal or
• Researchers first need to decide what they research study.
need to read. • Assemble the literature review, structuring it
o Booklist thematically.
o Useful published works o End the literature review with the
• Its important to decide on the parameters of summary of the major themes and
the research. What exactly are the suggest how your particular study
objectives, and what di researchers need to further adds to the literature gaps in the
find out. themes.

VARIAS MARRIANE NICOLAI | 2

 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Primary Sources
• A primary source is an original object or
document.
o Raw materials or first-hand information,
source material that is closest to what is
being studied.
o Scientific and other peer-reviewed
journals are excellent source for primary
research.

Secondary Source
• A secondary source is something written
about a primary source.
SOURCES o Comments on, interpretation of, and
discussions on the original material.
Computerized Database o Second-hand information.
• Use both free online literature database as
well as those available through academic Conceptual/Theoretical Review
library. • Papers concerned with description or
• Search several databases, even if you feel analysis of theories or concepts associated
that your topic is not strictly education, as with the topic.
found in ERIC, or psychology, as found in o Tertiary sources have the most fluid
PsycINFO. Both ERIC and PsycINFO view definition of the three levels of analysis.
education and psychology as broad terms o Tertiary sources analyze and synthesize
for many topics. information about a given topic.
• Use guides to terms to locate your articles,
such as thesaurus, when available.
• Locate an article that is close to your topic;
then look at the terms used to describe it
and use these terms in your search.
• Use databases that provide access to full-
text copies of articles to reduce amount of
time searching for copies of your article.

VARIAS MARRIANE NICOLAI | 3