how to write (and publish) a literature review
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Surviving the PhD 2014 Edi4on:
How to Write a Literature Review
Marcel Bogers marcelbogers.com
@bogers
November 3, 2014 Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=715
Three types of “review”
• A literature review – Part of an empirical study
• A review ar4cle – Stand-‐alone review paper
• A conceptual/theore4cal ar4cle – Non-‐empirical theory paper
A Literature Review
What is a literature review?
• Is it an end or a means? • Framework for empirical study – Hypotheses – (Implicit) model – How to do it?
• Analysis & results – Relate results back to (original) literature – Extend review to discover other relevant areas
• Contribu4on to theory
The t-‐word!
• Concepts & causal mechanisms • What cons4tutes a theore4cal contribu4on? – Two dimensions (Corley & Gioia, 2011 AMR):
• Originality: revelatory vs incremental • U4lity: scien4fic vs prac4cal
• A literature review offers: – Theore4cal background of empirical study – Basis for developing & explaining theore4cal contribu4on
A Review Ar4cle
Why write a review paper?
• First step in research project (sunk cost) • Brings together different streams/perspec4ves
• Good way to synthesize and cri4que exis4ng literature (and to build on that) – Helps to find & develop your contribu4on – Adds value to readership (read: cita4ons J)
• However: ”review” ≠ ”review paper” • Can be difficult to publish – How to get it rejected?
Weak analysis of the literature – too descrip4ve
21%
Poor coverage of the literature with major gaps in key areas
17%
Focus of the paper unclear
and key concepts poorly
defined 13%
Paper did not make a unique contribu4on
12%
Paper too similar to exis4ng literature reviews 9%
Topic too broad/narrow and paper poorly organized
7%
Omiled key journals from
review 5%
Methods poorly explained or inappropriate
5%
Limited research agenda 5%
Other 6%
Reasons for rejec8on at IJMR (Jones & Catrell, 2014)
Journal of Management’s call for proposals (2014 Review Issue)
“Submissions will be evaluated with respect to the following criteria … a) Relevance
– The proposed manuscript should thoroughly review a significant and important research area within the organiza4onal sciences.
b) Viability – The proposal should represent an achievable project within the 4ght
4me constraints required. … c) Scope of Interest
– Papers of broad interest to scholars in a variety of specialty areas are greatly preferred.
d) Organiza8on and Coherence – The proposal should follow a logical structure, read clearly, and
thoroughly represent the available research. e) Insight for Future Work
– The proposal should convey important implica4ons for future management scholars.”
Some guidelines • Gives good overview/summary/report of research field – State of the literature(s) – Scope & depth – Brings something new & adds value
• Different styles and types – Systema4c/rigid vs qualita4ve/narra4ve-‐style – Different structures and outcomes (cf. theory)
• Fit with the journal & contribu4on – Audience, “so what”, & future research
• See editorials for more guidelines
A Conceptual/Theore4cal Ar4cle
Wri4ng (publishing) a conceptual/theore4cal ar4cle
• Develops some sort of conceptual or theore4cal model • The t-‐word
– “Theory is a statement of concepts and their interrela4onships that shows how and/or why a phenomenon occurs” (Corley & Gioia, 2011 AMR)
– ”Theory is about the connec4ons among phenomena, a story about why acts, events, structure, and thoughts occur. Theory emphasizes the nature of causal rela4onships … .” (Sulon & Staw, 1995 ASQ)
• What does it mean for your paper? – On the level of the construct (not opera4onalized) – May use proposi4ons (cf. hypotheses) – Focus on theory
• Some cri4que & concern related to theory – Lille agreement on what theory is (Corley & Gioia, 2011 AMR) – Too much of a good thing? (Hambrick, 2007 AMJ)
Surviving the PhD:
Good luck!
Marcel Bogers marcelbogers.com
@bogers www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=715
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