bbh literature review new

8/9/2019 BBH Literature Review New

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Literature Review

LISC 6900


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What is a literature review?

In the terms of a literature review,

"the literature" means the works

you consult in order to understand

and investigate your research

problem.


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What is a literature review? Cont.

The literature review is a critical look at the

existing research that is significant to your

project.

It is a systematicmethod for identifying,

evaluating and interpreting the work produced

by researchers, scholars and practitioners.

You should evaluate what has already been

done, show the relationships between different

work, and show how it relates to yourproject


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What is not a literature review ?

It is not supposed to be just a summary of

other people's work. A literature review ismore than a summary--it is a critique of

the status of knowledge of a carefully

defined topic.


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Purpose of Literature Reviews

Define and limit the problem.

Place the study in a historical and

relationship perspective. Avoid unintentional and unnecessary

replication.

Select promising methods and measures.

Relate the findings to previous knowledge

and suggest further research


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Why is a literature review

important? Demonstrates we are knowledgeable with

relevant research

Makes sure we are not repeating work thatother people have reported in the openliterature

Tells us what is still unknown, or what we

could do differently in our research Allows us a way to make sure we are not

missing any significant issues


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Why is a literature review

important? Cont. Orients reader to the importance

and scope of the problem

Periodically updated to check for

new research activity


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What sort of questions should

the review answer? What do we already know in the area

concerned?

What are the existing theories?

Are there any inconsistencies or othershortcomings?

What views need to be (further) tested?

What evidence is lacking, inconclusive,contradictory or too limited?

Why study (further) the research problem?


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What literature should you

review? 1.

Journal articles: these are good, especially

for up-to-date information. They arefrequently used in literature reviews

because they offer a relatively concise, up-

to-date format for research.

Depending on the publication, these

materials may be refereed or non-refereed

materials.


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What are refereed journals?

Refereed materials are publications

reviewed by "expert readers" or referees

before publication. Refereed materials are also referred to as

Peer Reviewed.

Refereed materials assure readers that

the information conveyed is reliable and

timely.


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What about non-refereed

journals? Non-refereed materials such as Trade

Journals orMagazines use less rigorous

standards of screening prior to publication. Non-refereed materials may not by

checked as intensely as refereed

materials, but many can still be considered

scholarly.


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review? 2.Books: remember that books tend to be

less up-to-date, as it takes longer for abook to be published than for a journal

article.

They are still likely to be useful for

including in your literature review as theyoffer a good starting point from which tofind more detailed and up-to-date sourcesof information.


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review? 3.Conference proceedings: these can be

useful in providing the latest research, or

research that has not been published.

They are also helpful in providing

information about people in different

research areas, and so can be helpful in

tracking down other work by the same

researchers.


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review? 4.Government/corporate reports: many

government departments and corporations

commission or carry out research.T

heirpublished findings can provide a useful

source of information, depending on your

field of study.


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review? 5.Newspapers: since newspapers are

generally intended for a general (notspecialised) audience, the information they

provide will be of very limited use for yourliterature review.

Newspapers are more helpful as providersof information about recent trends,discoveries or changes, e.g. announcingchanges in government policy.

Newspapers do not give unbiased

opinions.


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review? 6.Theses and dissertations: these can be

useful sources of information. Howeverthere are disadvantages:

they can be difficult to obtain since theyare not published, but are generally onlyavailable from the library or interlibraryloan

the student who carried out the researchmay not be an experienced researcherand therefore you might have to treat theirfindings with more caution than publishedresearch.


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review? 7.Internet: the fastest-growing source of

information is on the Internet.

bear in mind that anyone can postinformation on the Internet so the qualitymay not be reliable

the information you find may be intended

for a general audience and so not besuitable for inclusion in your literaturereview (information for a general audienceis usually less detailed)


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Reading - getting the gist

Check the introduction, conclusion,abstract or executive summary for themain points

Check contents pages of books andreports pick out relevantchapters/sections

Use the index of books or reports

First or last sentences of paragraphs oftensummarise


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Evaluating what you read

Think about

Relevance to your topic

Intended audience Currency of the information

Coverage of the topic that the informationprovides

Accuracy of the information Authority of the author or information source

Level of objectivity of the author


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Record your sources

Download references from online indexes

Note keys points: problems, procedures,findings, and implications. Note any promising

techniques or major problems and limits to thestudies.

Keep systematic notes of the full records typethe reference in correct APA style in a database

or on separate cards, pages, etc. This will form the basis of your bibliography for

your dissertation


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Organizing Your Literature Review

The literature review has:

an introduction to the topic, the organization ofthe review, an explanation of how studies wereobtained, and the purpose of the review

a critical review that is organized logicallyaround key topics in the research problem.Studies are compared and contrasted as well asevaluated.

a summary stating the status of knowledge onthe topic, gaps in current knowledge, and anexplanation ho w the review relates to yourstudy, its significance, and the researchquestions or hypotheses.


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A good literature review

Goes beyond simply listing relevant literature

Is a critical essay

Refers to the bibliography at the end of your

dissertation

Assesses the range of literature available

Is a critical summary of the literature

Examines the background against which yourown research is set

Forms a significant section of your dissertation


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A good literature review

Offers opinions and personal response tothe different writings

Relates different writings to each other,compares and contrasts

Does not take the literature at face value

Shows an awareness of the theories and

values that underpin the research Uses particular language: authors assert,

argue, state, conclude, contend

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