conducting literature review1

8/8/2019 conducting literature review1

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Conducting LiteratureConducting Literature

ReviewReview


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What is a review of the literature?What is a review of the literature?

A literature review is an account of what has beenA literature review is an account of what has beenpublished on a topic by accredited scholars andpublished on a topic by accredited scholars andresearchers.researchers.

You will be required to write a chapter on literatureYou will be required to write a chapter on literaturereview.review. In writing the literature review, your purpose is toIn writing the literature review, your purpose is to

convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas haveconvey to your reader what knowledge and ideas havebeen established on the topic you have chosen, andbeen established on the topic you have chosen, and

what their strengths and weaknesses are.what their strengths and weaknesses are. As a piece of writing, the literature review must beAs a piece of writing, the literature review must be

defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your researchdefined by a guiding concept (e.g., your researchobjective, the problem or issue you are discussing, orobjective, the problem or issue you are discussing, oryour argumentative thesis). It is not a descriptive list ofyour argumentative thesis). It is not a descriptive list of

the material available, or a set of summaries.the material available, or a set of summaries.


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AGood Literature Review is:AGood Literature Review is:

FocusedFocused -- The topic should be narrow. You should only presentThe topic should be narrow. You should only presentideas and only report on studies that are closely related to topic.ideas and only report on studies that are closely related to topic.

ConciseConcise -- Ideas should be presented economically. Dont takeIdeas should be presented economically. Dont takeany more space than you need to present your ideas.any more space than you need to present your ideas.

LogicalLogical -- The flow within and among paragraphs should be aThe flow within and among paragraphs should be asmooth, logical progression from one idea to the nextsmooth, logical progression from one idea to the next

DevelopedDeveloped -- Dont leave the story half told.Dont leave the story half told. IntegrativeIntegrative --Your paper should stress how the ideas in theYour paper should stress how the ideas in the

studies are related. Focus on the big picture. What commonalitystudies are related. Focus on the big picture. What commonality

do all the studies share? How are some studies different thando all the studies share? How are some studies different thanothers? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewedothers? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewedcontribute to your topic.contribute to your topic.

CurrentCurrent --Your review should focus on work being done on theYour review should focus on work being done on thecutting edge of your topic.cutting edge of your topic.


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Besides enlarging your knowledgeBesides enlarging your knowledge

about the topic, writing a literatureabout the topic, writing a literaturereview lets you gain and demonstratereview lets you gain and demonstrate

skills in two areas:skills in two areas:

information seekinginformation seeking: the ability to scan the: the ability to scan theliterature efficiently, using manual orliterature efficiently, using manual or

computerized methods, to identify a set ofcomputerized methods, to identify a set ofuseful articles and booksuseful articles and books

critical appraisalcritical appraisal: the ability to apply principles: the ability to apply principles

of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies.of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies.


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A literature review must do theseA literature review must do these

things:things:

be organized around and related directly to thebe organized around and related directly to the

thesis or research question you are developingthesis or research question you are developing synthesize results into a summary of what is andsynthesize results into a summary of what is and

is not knownis not known

identify areas of controversy in the literatureidentify areas of controversy in the literature formulate questions that need further researchformulate questions that need further research


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Ask yourself questions like these:Ask yourself questions like these:

What is theWhat is the specific thesis, problem, or researchspecific thesis, problem, or researchquestionquestion that my literature review helps to define?that my literature review helps to define?

WhatWhat typetype of literature review am I conducting? Am Iof literature review am I conducting? Am I

looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy?looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy?quantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a newquantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a newprocedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies )?procedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies )?

What is theWhat is the scopescope of my literature review? What typesof my literature review? What typesof publications am I using (e.g., journals, books,of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books,government documents, popular media)? Whatgovernment documents, popular media)? Whatdiscipline am I working in (e.g., environment,discipline am I working in (e.g., environment,

geotechnical engineering, transportation, structure)?geotechnical engineering, transportation, structure)?


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Ask yourself questions like these:Ask yourself questions like these:

How good was myHow good was myinformation seekinginformation seeking? Has my? Has mysearch been wide enough to ensure I've found all thesearch been wide enough to ensure I've found all therelevant material? Has it been narrow enough torelevant material? Has it been narrow enough toexclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sourcesexclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sourcesI've used appropriate for the length of my paper?I've used appropriate for the length of my paper?

Have IHave I critically analyzedcritically analyzed the literature I use? Do Ithe literature I use? Do Ifollow through a set of concepts and questions,follow through a set of concepts and questions,comparing items to each other in the ways they dealcomparing items to each other in the ways they dealwith them? Instead of just listing and summarizingwith them? Instead of just listing and summarizing

items, do I assess them, discussing strengths anditems, do I assess them, discussing strengths andweaknesses?weaknesses? Have I cited and discussed studiesHave I cited and discussed studies contrarycontrary to myto my

perspective?perspective? Will the reader find my literature reviewWill the reader find my literature reviewrelevant,relevant,

appropriate, and usefulappropriate, and useful??


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Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these abouteach text book or article you include:each text book or article you include:

Has the author formulated a problem/issue?Has the author formulated a problem/issue?

Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope,Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope,

severity, relevance) clearly established?severity, relevance) clearly established? Could the problem have been approached moreCould the problem have been approached more

effectively from another perspective?effectively from another perspective?

What is the author's research orientation (e.g.,What is the author's research orientation (e.g.,interpretive, critical science, combination)?interpretive, critical science, combination)?


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Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these abouteach book or article you include:each book or article you include:

What is the author's theoretical framework (e.g.,What is the author's theoretical framework (e.g.,psychological, developmental, feminist)?psychological, developmental, feminist)?

What is the relationship between the theoretical andWhat is the relationship between the theoretical andresearch perspectives?research perspectives?

Has the author evaluated the literature relevant to theHas the author evaluated the literature relevant to theproblem/issue? Does the author include literatureproblem/issue? Does the author include literaturetaking positions she or he does not agree with?taking positions she or he does not agree with?

In a research study, how good are the basicIn a research study, how good are the basic

components of the study design (e.g., population,components of the study design (e.g., population,intervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are theintervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are themeasurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate andmeasurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate andrelevant to the research question? Are the conclusionsrelevant to the research question? Are the conclusionsvalidly based upon the data and analysis?validly based upon the data and analysis?


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Ask yourself questions like these aboutAsk yourself questions like these abouteach book or article you include:each book or article you include:

In material written for a popular readership, does the author useIn material written for a popular readership, does the author useappeals to emotion, oneappeals to emotion, one--sided examples, or rhetoricallysided examples, or rhetorically--chargedchargedlanguage and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning,language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning,or is the author merely "proving" what he or she alreadyor is the author merely "proving" what he or she already

believes?believes? How does the author structure the argument? Can youHow does the author structure the argument? Can you

"deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see whether or where"deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see whether or whereit breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing causeit breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause--effecteffectrelationships)?relationships)?

In what ways does this book or article contribute to yourIn what ways does this book or article contribute to yourunderstanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is itunderstanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is ituseful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?

How does this book or article relate to the specific thesis orHow does this book or article relate to the specific thesis orquestion I am developing?question I am developing?


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So what is a literature review?So what is a literature review?

A literature review is a piece ofA literature review is a piece ofdiscursive prosediscursive prose, not a, not alist describing or summarizing one piece of literaturelist describing or summarizing one piece of literatureafter another. It's usually a bad sign to see everyafter another. It's usually a bad sign to see every

paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher.paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher.Instead, organize the literature review into sections thatInstead, organize the literature review into sections thatpresent themes or identify trends, including relevantpresent themes or identify trends, including relevanttheory. You are not trying to list all the materialtheory. You are not trying to list all the material

published, but to synthesize and evaluate it according topublished, but to synthesize and evaluate it according tothe guiding concept of your thesis or research question.the guiding concept of your thesis or research question.


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Now you can start writingNow you can start writing DECIDE ON A TOPICDECIDE ON A TOPIC NARROW YOURTOPICNARROW YOURTOPIC CREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE REVIEWCREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW ORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPERORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER Scan each article to get an overview of each one.Scan each article to get an overview of each one.

Group the articles by categories.Group the articles by categories.

Read each article carefully, taking notes on each one.Read each article carefully, taking notes on each one.

WRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPERWRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER Make the structure and organization of your writeMake the structure and organization of your write--up explicit.up explicit.

Integrate the studies you summarize in your paper.Integrate the studies you summarize in your paper.

At the end of each section wrap up studies in a paragraph that tells the reader howAt the end of each section wrap up studies in a paragraph that tells the reader howthe studies relate and address your topic.the studies relate and address your topic.

Make sure you take note of key terms and definitions.Make sure you take note of key terms and definitions.

Identify landmark studies in your writeIdentify landmark studies in your write--upup

Identify major trends across the studies you are reading.Identify major trends across the studies you are reading.

WRAP THE PAPER UPWRAP THE PAPER UP Present your conclusionsPresent your conclusions..

Present implications.Present implications.

Present suggestions for future researchPresent suggestions for future research..


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Quoting reference into your writingQuoting reference into your writing

Quoting: (Author, Year)Quoting: (Author, Year) Quoting: Author (Year)Quoting: Author (Year) Quoting: (Author1 and Author2, Year)Quoting: (Author1 and Author2, Year)

Quoting: Author1 and Author2 (Year)Quoting: Author1 and Author2 (Year) Quoting: (Author1 et al., Year)Quoting: (Author1 et al., Year) Quoting: Author1 et al. (Year)Quoting: Author1 et al. (Year) Quoting: (Author, Year1, Year2, Year3, Year4)Quoting: (Author, Year1, Year2, Year3, Year4)

Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2, Year2)Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2, Year2) Quoting: (Author1, Year1; Author2, Year2; andQuoting: (Author1, Year1; Author2, Year2; and

Author3, Year3)Author3, Year3)


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Ground motion was first incorporated into slope stabilityGround motion was first incorporated into slope stabilityanalyses to study the effects from earthquakes (Sarma 1973).analyses to study the effects from earthquakes (Sarma 1973).

This paper will not go much into the matters on pseudoThis paper will not go much into the matters on pseudo--staticstaticand permanent displacement concepts as discussed by Newmarkand permanent displacement concepts as discussed by Newmark

(1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Whitman (1986), Kobayashi(1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Whitman (1986), Kobayashiet al. (1990), Yegian et al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994),et al. (1990), Yegian et al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994),and Kramer and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works byand Kramer and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works bySarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974),Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974),Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authorsKavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authors

own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitomboown earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitombo2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forces2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forcesthat were used in the pseudothat were used in the pseudo--static or permanent displacementstatic or permanent displacementideas.ideas.


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This discussion highlights the relevance ofSarmasThis discussion highlights the relevance ofSarmasmethod on the emerging interest in the country in somemethod on the emerging interest in the country in someareas of earthquake engineering (Adnan et al., 2005).areas of earthquake engineering (Adnan et al., 2005).T

his discussion will refer to works bySarma (1973,T

his discussion will refer to works bySarma (1973,1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson(1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),(1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988),Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and theKavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and theauthors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamatauthors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamatand Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerationsand Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerationswere computed into forces that were used in thewere computed into forces that were used in thepseudopseudo--static or permanent displacement ideas.static or permanent displacement ideas.


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Quoting actual script into yourQuoting actual script into your

writingwriting Dowding (1996) writes .too little experienceDowding (1996) writes .too little experience

from .earthquake engineering has spilled intofrom .earthquake engineering has spilled into.blasting vibrations..blasting vibrations.


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Quoting actual script into yourQuoting actual script into your

writingwriting The trend as indicated in Fig. 1 is currently happening.The trend as indicated in Fig. 1 is currently happening.

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1s

Q

2nd Q

3rd Q

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Fig. 1Fig. 1 Growth in Waste Recycling Activity. (After Aziz, 2004)Growth in Waste Recycling Activity. (After Aziz, 2004)


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Listing your referenceListing your reference

Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofAuthor, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofJournal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp.Journal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp.

Author1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year. Title ofAuthor1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year. Title of

Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. No. pp.Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. No. pp. Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. pp.Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. pp.

Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofAuthor, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name ofProceeding of Conference. Place. pp.Proceeding of Conference. Place. pp.

Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Report.Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Report.Name of Organization. Place. pp.Name of Organization. Place. pp.

Http://www1.eng.usm.my/awam/servisHttp://www1.eng.usm.my/awam/servis


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Listing your referenceListing your reference

Adnan A., Abas M. R., and Hendriawan. 2005.Adnan A., Abas M. R., and Hendriawan. 2005.

Earthquake Induced Energy:Sources andEarthquake Induced Energy:Sources andHazard Analysis For Structural EarthquakeHazard Analysis For Structural Earthquake

Resistant Design in Peninsular Malaysia. TheResistant Design in Peninsular Malaysia. TheIngenieur of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia,Ingenieur of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia,

Vol. 26, pp. 21Vol. 26, pp. 21--2525


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What is PlagiarismWhat is Plagiarism

Rewriting someone elses script without quotingRewriting someone elses script without quotingthe source.the source.

Rewriting someone elses script as if it is yourRewriting someone elses script as if it is yourownown

Cutting and Pasting internet materialsCutting and Pasting internet materials

Publishing someone elses result withoutPublishing someone elses result without

permissionpermission Reproducing someone elses figure or tableReproducing someone elses figure or table

without quoting source (as after Author, year)without quoting source (as after Author, year)


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Thank YouThank You

conducting literature review1

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