Literature review

Christian SpannagelUniversity of Education Heidelberg

spannagel@ph-heidelberg.dehttp://cspannagel.wordpress.com

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Where can I find relevant literature?

• Experts• Library• Internet databases• in literature!

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ERIC database: http://www.eric.ed.gov/

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ERIC database: http://www.eric.ed.gov/

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Search for: mathematics self-efficacy

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Search for: “mathematics self-efficacy“

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ERIC: Useful tools „on the left side“

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Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

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Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

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Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

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Google books: http://books.google.com/

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Finding literature in literature

References

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Search for…

• standard books• Latest literature!

– e.g. latest editions– latest studies…– Scan the volumes of the last years of relevant journals!

• Review articles– „Review on studies about teaching algebra“– …

• Literature in Portuguese and English!• Literature in Portuguese AND English!• Literature in Portuguese AND ENGLISH!

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Some important aspects

• Don‘t read only one author regarding a topic. Use more than one source!

• Wikipedia: yes or no?

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Plan your literature search!

• Find topics / theories / concepts which are relevant to your research idea.

• Examples:– Teaching algebra– Dynamic Geometry System– Cognitive Load Theory– Constructivist learning– Interviews– Qualitative Studies– Experimental research– …

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Now…

• Find at least 5 references for each of your topics relevant to your research project!– In the library– In the internet

ERIC: http://www.eric.ed.gov/Google scholar: http://scholar.google.comGoogle books: http://books.google.com