The Academic Literature

BHV 390: Research MethodsKimberly Porter Martin, Ph.D.

Kinds of LiteratureNon-Academic References

EncyclopediasDictionariesTextbooksReferencesNewspapersMagazines

You usually may not cite these in literature reviews. Use

them to locate authors the names of authors for whom you want to search in the academic literature.

Kinds of LiteratureAcademic References

Scholarly books Edited books/volumes

Peer-reviewed journal articlesTheses and DissertationsGovernment Documents

These are the kinds of references you may cite in literature reviews

The Academic LiteratureThere are three general types of academic literature:

1. Academic books

Written by a single expert* author

2. Edited volumes

Each chapter is written by a different expert*, with the book assembled by an expert* in the field

3. Journals

Frequently published periodicals containing a group of articles that present recent research results or new theoretical presentations.

*experts become experts through their participation in research in their fields

The Special Nature of Journal Articles

Journal articles have a special role in presenting research results because:

• They are published at least several times a year, making scientific knowledge available in a timely fashion.

• They follow strict standards for submission.• They require pre-publication review by peers

to maintain organized skepticism.• They do not pay their authors; the prestige of

publishing is the reward they offer.

Secondary Citations

Primary Citations You read Jones who gives a definition for self esteem. You give the definition and cite Jones.

Secondary citations. You read Smith who gives Jones’ definition for self esteem. You give Jones’ definition and cite Smith.

Secondary citations are generally unacceptable.

How to Begin a Systematic Literature Review

1. Choose a concept or population as a starting point.2. Generate lists of: -The disciplines that are likely to be involved -The types of academic references most relevant -Key words and terminology to use in the search3. Locate a wide variety of academic sources4. Mine the sources for information and take notes

Mining an Academic ReferenceLook for Theoretical Approaches

1. Names of theories

2. Perspectives of theories

3. All possible definitions for each relevant concept including

- aspects/components of each concept/definition

- comparisons/contrasts between definitions

4. Assumptions

5. Predictions

6. Logical relationships used to connect any of the above

Mining an Academic Reference

Look for How Each Concept Has Been Studied?

1. Instruments/items used to measure each concept

2. Ways in which data was collected

Survey

Interview

Observation

Participant-Observation

Content Analysis

Case Study

Mining an Academic Reference

Look for Populations Studied for Each Concept

1. type of populations

2. significant demographic characteristics of populations

3. populations that have been left out in the study of each concept

Mining an Academic Reference

Look for Results of Studies for Each Concept

• Descriptions of variables that are associated with each concept

• Populations that are affected by each concept

• Associations that have been demonstrated

• Cause and effect relationships that have been demonstrated

Mining an Academic ReferenceLook for Gaps/Problems with the Research• Reliability – does the study need to be replicated to

assure reliability?• Validity – does the study measure what it says it

measures?• Are there other populations that should be

studied?• Are there ways in which the methodology should

be improved?• Do the authors make suggestions for future

research?

Mining an Academic Reference

Look for

References cited in the article, book or government report that you might read to

contribute to your literature review.

How to Read an Academic Reference

• Skim before reading entire document

• Consider your own orientation and/or project

• Organize material as you read by highlighting

• Organize material as you read by charting

• Evaluate as you read

NOTE: You will read/review many more sources than you will be able to use in your literature review.

Getting the Big Picture Out of Your Literature

• Read and analyze all of the references you have gathered and then assign each a number.

• Generate a list of concepts/topics and populations that your references say may be important in understanding your topic

• Highlight using colors to distinguish different topics

• Create a matrix of variables that shows what references/articles address each one.

Highlighting in References• Highlight theory in one color• Highlight methods in another color• Highlight information about each concept

in a different color.• Highlight information about each

population in a different color• Make hard copies and use highlighting

pens• Use the highlight function in your word

processor to highlight in electronic files.

Chart Topics and Populations• Assign each reference (book, chapter, article,

etc.) a number• Put the numbers of your references in the

columns in a table• List each relevant topic and/or population that

you find in your references in the rows at the left in your table.

• For each topic and/or population check the columns of each reference that covers it.

• Each row in the table becomes a section or subsection in your paper.

Keeping Track of InformationTopic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Etc

Racism X X X X X X X

Gender X X X

Income X X X X X

Education X X X X

Etc.

Powerpoint Study GuideCritical EvaluationAcademic sourcesNon-academic sourcesBooksPeer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Edited Volumes

Master’s Theses

Doctoral Dissertations

Primary Citations

Secondary Citations

Highlighting in References

Charting References