role of literature review in the research process

Running head: Role of Literature Review in the Research Process 1

David W. Hankins

TUI University

Role of Literature Review in the Research Process

MAE 504 Module 3 Session Long Project

Dr. Anna Lint


Matrix

Experiment

al Research

Correlational

Study

Survey

Research

Grounded

Theory

Ethnogra

phy

Case

Study

Narrative

Research

Mixed

Method

Action

Research

Type of

Research

basic

research

applied

research

basic

research

applied

research

applied

research

basic

researc

h

applied

research

applied

research

basic

research

Purpose Exploratory Speculative Evaluativ

e

Explanator

y

Descripti

ve

Explor

atory

Descriptiv

e

Explorat

ory

Explorato

ry

Example of

Research

Problem

What is it? Why is it so? Why it

happens

this way?

It happens

because of

this but

what is

the back

grounding

theory?

Why is it

so

consideri

ng the

local

peculiarit

ies?

What

had

happe

ned?

How

people

influence

the

situation?

Combin

ations of

the

previous

ly

mention

ed

It

happens

because

of this so

let us

check

why

Type of

Research

Questions

Descriptive Relational Causal Relational Relationa

l

Descri

ptive

Descriptiv

e

Relation

al

Causal

Type of

Variables

independen

t and

dependent

independent

and

dependent

depende

nt

independe

nt and

dependent

independ

ent and

depende

nt

depen

dent

independ

ent and

dependen

t

indepen

dent

and

depend

ent

independ

ent

Role of

Literature

Review

Prior Prior Prior Prior Minor Minor Minor Prior Prior

Sample

Population

Data

Collection

Data

Analysis

Evaluation

of Findings


Role of Literature Review in the Research Process

Any research is conducted to achieve certain objectives and purposes. Some

conducted studies are unique and have experimental nature. However, most of such activities

are based on the previous studies and researches, conducted before. Therefore, a background

has to be explored and evaluated before conducting any research. This process is called

literature review. The paper is aimed to evaluate the purpose of literature review in

qualitative and quantitative studies. In addition, it identifies the type of research in which

literature review plays a bigger role and describes why this is so.

According to Lie (2000), “A literature review is the effective evaluation of selected

documents on a research topic. A review may form an essential part of the research process

or may constitute a research project in itself.” The major purpose of any literature review is to

determine what has already been done in the area related to the topic of the research. Among

other purposes the following ones can be outlined: to determine the research strategies, data

collection approaches, and other peculiarities, related to the specific area; to avoid issues of

the similar studies; to benefit from the experience of other researchers; to eliminate the

mistakes in the researches; etc. A good literature review provides a researchers with the

clearly identifies scope of the future study and points out the methods and tools to be used in

the further research.

The review of literature has different purposes for different types of researches. Thus,

quantitative research presupposes examination and evaluation of facts, empirical, statistical

data and other similar findings. It means that it should be compared and contrasted with

previous researches in this area. Therefore, quantitative research requires through and deep

exploration of the available materials regarding the subject of the research and related

information.


The literature review, in this case, must be utterly detailed and well-organized, wide

and clearly presented. Such approach will provide readers with necessary background of the

previous researches and will guarantee the clarity of understanding while reading the

concluding sections with findings, evaluation, recommendations, and conclusions.

Qualitative research is different in its nature. The purpose of the literature review is

different as well. Thus, it has to demonstrate the underlying assumptions that are behind the

central research questions. It also has to provide an opportunity for the researcher new to the

subject to convince the reader about the competence of the researcher in the conducted study.

In addition, literature review in a qualitative research provides the background to identify any

gaps and issues that could be present in the related literature and provide the rationale of the

future research.

Considering the above-said, qualitative and quantitative researches require different

approaches to the process of the literature review development. The purposes are rather

similar but the importance of the literature review in both cases is not. Quantitative research

must have a quality, thorough literature review to be based on something so the researchers

could conclude something definite and give clear recommendations for further research in

this area. It means that the importance of the literature review for the quantitative research is

rather substantial.

On the other hand, qualitative research does not require such a serious background to

be conducted. It does not mean that literature review is not necessary. However, it is less

important and should not as exhaustive as in case of quantitative research. Thus, according to

Uark.libguides.com (2012), the literature review for qualitative research is usually “limited;

may not be exhaustive”, while the literature review for quantitative research is “extensive;

may significantly influence a particular study.”


References

Lie, K. (2000). Writing the Literature Review. Retrieved from:

http://www.ais.up.ac.za/med/tnm800/tnmwritingliteraturereviewlie.htm

Uark.libguides.com (2012). Qualitative or Quantitative? Retrieved from:

http://uark.libguides.com/content.php?pid=110370&sid=1384703

role of literature review in the research process

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