research rescue lab

Trinity Washington University

Making Your Literature Review SingArgumentation & SyllogismSummation & CitationOverview of the Literature Review Research Rescue Lab

Business and Graduate Studies

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ARGUMENTATION & SYLLOGISM

Dr. Kelley Wood, MA, MS

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Argumentation & Syllogism

• Academic arguments string together like a theory– If A + B + C, then D = E– Discuss factors or variables in

order to lead to your point or conclusions

– But you must start by introducing and giving background

– Consider this pattern of syllogismBusiness and Graduate

StudiesDr. Kelley Wood, MA, MS

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• Syllogism– Main point– Minor point– Conclusion

• Or– General context– Specific context– Statement of the problem

General Context

Specific Context

Statement of the Problem



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• General context– Historical and background

information• Specific context

– Transition from the general context to the context the research problem exists within

• Statement of the problem– A concise statement of the general

research problemBusiness and Graduate


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• A guideline– General context

• 1 - 3 paragraphs– Specific context

• 2 - 4 paragraphs– Statement of the problem

• 1 paragraph– Overall

• No more than 6 – 8 paragraphs• You will condense this into the preamble for

your Introduction chapter

General Context

Specific Context

Statement of the Problem




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SUMMATION & CITATION


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Literature Review• Let’s review some examples

– See the examples from Prof. Glenn Steinberg’s Rhetoric II course at The College of New Jersey• http://

gsteinbe.intrasun.tcnj.edu/tcnj/vita.html– The examples

• http://gsteinbe.intrasun.tcnj.edu/tcnj/rhetoric2/litreviews.htm

– See the handoutsBusiness and Graduate Studies


http://gsteinbe.intrasun.tcnj.edu/tcnj/vita.html

http://gsteinbe.intrasun.tcnj.edu/tcnj/vita.html

http://gsteinbe.intrasun.tcnj.edu/tcnj/rhetoric2/litreviews.htm



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Literature Review• Items to note in these introductory

paragraphs (the preamble or preface)– The paragraphs are inclusive of one set

of issues and the related review literature as a group and not individually

– There is a logical flow to the way they are introduced• Which supports the argument



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Literature Review• Items to note in these introductory

paragraphs (the preamble or preface)– Consider these examples of how to introduce

your topic and the related issues or factors• These are examples of the general context of your

pattern of syllogism– Note the meta-citations

• Instances of more than one study cited– Then become more specific regarding the

studies and the authors in the sections and subsections, which followBusiness and Graduate



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Questions?



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OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW


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Research Paper Writing• In a research project you will

develop and express three masteries– 1. Your topic

• The academic and practitioner viewpoints, issues, & controversies

• Expressed in the Literature Review



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develop and express three masteries– 2. Your research method

• Rigor, reliability, validity, replicability in the research design and data collection

• Expressed in the Research Methods



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develop and express three masteries– 3. Your understanding of the data

(evidence)• What is present• What does it infer• What conclusions and or implications

might be derived from the data• Expressed in your Data Analysis

(Results or Findings)Business and Graduate Studies



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Research Paper Writing

Topic of Inquiry

Literature Survey

Research Problem, Research

Questions, Purpose, Significan

ce

Abstract Introduction

Literature Review

Research Methods

Results / Findings Discussion

It is a process from start to finish• And it is all integrated• The topic of your inquiry leads to the discussion


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The Research Topic• Topic of Inquiry

– Investigate an interesting topic related to your career field

– Think of this as the overarching question that motivates your research• Does transformational leadership in the federal

government agencies provide opportunities for advancement for Gen Y African American women?

• Does the use of social media facilitate better workplace relationships as expressed in reduced conflict and increased productivity?



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The Research Topic• Topic of Inquiry

– Discuss this topic of inquiry with your advisor, program chair, and instructors!

– Watch and listen for clues that might help you focus your topic

– Search intensively in the Trinity library databases, your textbooks, and other reliable resources



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Literature Survey• Ground yourself in the scholarly fields and

practitioner issues related to your inquiry– The more you read and the more diverse your

readings, the better informed you will be • This stage is very important!

– You are mastering your topic of inquiry• Begin developing an annotated bibliography

of the material you are collecting– Organize it into logical groupings – categories and

subcategories– Start to organize these into the outline of a

narrative– Save resources as files

• Sorted by categories and subcategories from aboveBusiness and Graduate Studies


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Annotated Bibliography• APA 6th ed. Reference• Followed by a paragraph or two,

which– Answers your questions

• What is the purpose?• What results or conclusions did the author find

or come to?• What way is this useful to your study?• Are there key items and passages you might

use?– Note the page or section, paragraph references

• Sort these entries by theme or variable

• See Lester, J. & Lester J. (2012). Chpt 8, f-g.



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Literature Survey• Selecting materials for the literature

review– For ideas

• Start with broad syntheses (such as) if you are new to the topic

– Textbooks, web search, Wikipedia, trade publications– For reference sources

• Use the online data bases search for journal articles– Best source for research reports and scholarly

discussion– Look for articles that offer a meta-analysis– And foundational scholars and authors

• Search for related dissertations– Then examine conference papers, reports, and

trade journals, Creswell (2013)Business and Graduate


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Literature Survey• Creswell (2013) suggests

– Identify key words– Search library catalogs– Identify about 20 or more research reports in articles or

books– Save those that are central to your topic

• Use a logical system of folders for your variables or factors

– Design a literature map– Draft summaries of the relevant articles

• Annotated Bibliography– Organize or outline the literature review by important

concepts – Review and write



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Literature Map•Model your working theory• Start with a

literature map• Helps to

visualize the order of the Literature Review and the related sections and sub sections

• Might suffice as a model of the qualitative theoretical construct



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Literature Review• First thing to remember:

– It is a story• Use a narrative or prosaic style• Without hyperbole or overstatement

• Second– It has an intended audience

• Your peers• The academic community



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Literature Review• Third

– It has a purpose • Is many fold• Set the background and context your

research problem exist within• Informs the audience• Expresses your mastery of the

literature, research, and conversation involving your research problem

• Supports the need for studying your research topic and questions



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Literature Review• According to Creswell (2013) the

literature review– Shares the results of other studies– Relates the study to the larger

dialogue in the literature– Provides a framework for

establishing the importance of the study

– Provides a benchmark for comparing the results to other findings Business and Graduate


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Literature Review• Styles of literature review

– Thematic • Narrative• By variable or factor

– Historical• Time line from earliest knowledge or sources

to present



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Literature Review• Traits of a successful literature

review – Comprehensive

• Expresses the breadth of issues, concerns, topics, themes

• Inclusive of historical sources and current conversations or dialogues

– Detailed• Discusses the issues, concerns, topics, or

themes, but not so that it is exhaustive and unwieldy



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Literature Review• Let’s look at the differences

between the reviews styles of the three research methodologies– Quantitative– Qualitative – Mixed-methods



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Literature Review• Quantitative studies use

literature to– Provide direction to the research

questions and hypotheses– Introduce a problem– Introduce a theory– Compare results with existing

literature or predictions– Cover all variables– End with a theoretical framework



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Literature Review• Quantitative literature reviews, a

suggested model– Develop the argument and the statement

of the problem– Discuss the structure of the review and

the organization of the sections– Review literature about the dependent

variables– Review literature about the independent

variables– Review literature that relates the

independent variables to the dependent variables



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Literature Review• Quantitative literature reviews, a

suggested model– Review related research

• Those who have examined your problem or similar problems

– Provide a summary• Highlight important studies• Capture major themes• Suggest why more research is needed• Advances how the proposed study will fill this need

– Introduce your model and define the variables



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Literature Review• Theoretical Framework

– Model your working theory• Quantitative

– Define concisely the outcome or end state and all probable variables

» Dependent variable» Independent variables» Moderating variables

– Qualify how your study can be generalized



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• Quantitative theoretical framework– Always in this format – Try to start this before you write

Literature Review

DVIVIVIV MV



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Literature Review• Qualitative studies use literature

to– Introduce the problem or issue– Describe an orienting framework

(but not set the direction)• Sections are developed to explore all

related factors and constructs– Compare and contrast findings– End with a theoretical construct



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Literature Review• Qualitative literature reviews, a

suggested model– Discuss the argument and the statement

of the problem(preamble)– Discuss the structure of the review and

the organization of the sections Review literature about the topic and research problem

– Review literature about the related factors suggested from the step above



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Literature Review• Qualitative literature reviews, a

suggested model– Review related research

• Those who have examined your problem or similar problems

– Provide a summary• Highlight important studies• Capture major themes• Suggest why more research is needed• Advances how the proposed study will fill this

need– Introduce your model



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Literature Review• Qualitative theoretical construct

– Model your working theory• Phenomena or ideal state

– Related factors• Is it a process, relationship• Can it be represented in a hierarchy or a

cycle, or a storyline?



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• Qualitative theoretical construct– Model your working theory

• Qualitative

Literature Review



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Literature Review• Mixed methods studies

– Are the constructs under investigation different in each section of the research method?

– No = Quantitative pattern• End with a theoretical framework

– Yes = Modified format• Lead with either a quantitative or qualitative

approach– Follow the pattern of how you will resent the

methods in the Research Methods chapter and the Data Analysis chapter

– Quantitative to qualitative or vice versa• End with a theoretical framework or

construct– Or both



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Literature Review• Let’s correct and edit a sample

– This is an example of something tossed together to meet the deadline• Rather than thought out and written at the

level expected – See the handout and the rubric

• Look at grammar & style, formatting, and citation style




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Questions?


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