Tutor:Prof. A. Taleb-Bendiab

Contact:E-Mail:A.TalebBendiab@ljmu.ac.ukTelephone: +44 (0)151 231 2284

Literature Review

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So far … #1

• Introduction (Lecture #1)– Nature of research

• Definitions, Research as a process

– Classifying Research • The field of research, The purpose of research• The approach to research, The nature of research

• Types of research methods (Lecture #2)– Qualitative research– Quantitative Research

• Types of experimental design (Lecture #3):– Pre-Experimental Design– True Experimental Design– Quasi-Experimental Design

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So far … #2

• Survey Research (Lecture #4)– Definition– Planning and undertaking survey– Information sources, search method– Guidelines, Documentation and presentation

• Student Project Planning (Lecture #5)– An overview of project development process

• Selecting a suitable topic,• Selecting an appropriate analytical framework,• Time management

– Activity Network Diagram• Introduction• Example

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In This Session …

• literature search and indexing• recording references• literature review

– How to “do” a literature review– Finding relevant publications– Structuring the literature review– Writing the literature review

• Reminder: Setting the Scene– Refer to lecture notes: Supplecture5.ppt

• Discussing– Student Project Design and Idea Generation

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Overview of Project Work Structure

Do MSc Project

Select a topic

Make aplan

Gather &analyse data

Perform literaturesearch

Write up

Decideobjectives

DevelopWork Struct.

Produceestimates

Planresources

Create Ganttchart

Source Ref: to be addedSource Ref: to be added

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Research Design

• General sequence of steps in research design– Identify the research problem– Determine the purpose of research– Develop the theoretical framework– Define the research questions and/or

hypotheses– Define the scope of the study– Decide on methodology– Define expected outcomes – Writing up J Hussey & R Hussey, Business Research (Palgrave, 1997), Ch. 5.

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Identifying the topic

• Why this topic?– is it topical, timely?– is there a clear need for work in this area?– if so, who needs it, who will use it?– how will the world be a better place?

• Where does expertise lie?– who can you talk to?– what can you read to find out more?– does this confirm the need for the research?

• Is the proposed research novel?• How does the project relate to other work?

– does it follow on sequentially from something? (eg extension of previous project)– does it apply similar approach to another project?– does it fill a gap in knowledge?– draw a “mind map” of the subject

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Generating a Research Idea #1

• Following questions can help to define a research focus including; – What does the research seek to find out? What questions does it

aim to answer, or what hypothesis does it seek to test?– What areas of knowledge, subjects and disciplines will the

research need to draw on?– What do we know already that is relevant? Where shall we need

to add new knowledge or know how?– What are the likely sources for the required information?– What are the potentially useful ways of doing the research - the

methodological options?– What limits must we set to the breadth and depth of the inquiry?– What obligations do we have to fulfil to the institution in which we

are doing the research?

E Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 2.

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Generating a Research Idea #2

• finding your research subject– brainstorming– ways of refining the topic

• analogy - import ideas and procedures from a similar area• morphological analysis - methodical breakdown of key

dimensions of general area of interest• mind maps - use network diagram to extend out from central

concept • relevance trees - use hierarchical diagram to develop fine

categories within research area

• importance of literature review– to increase your knowledge of research area and

methodologies– to scope, justify and decide feasibility of your proposed

work– to develop critical appraisal and ability to synthesize

• consider purpose, conduct, findings, strengths and weaknesses of the studies you read

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Defining Research: problems/questions

J Hussey & R Hussey, Business Research (Palgrave, 1997), Ch. 5.

1. read literature, identify gaps

2. generate list of interesting questions

3. questions alreadyanswered in literature?

4. test feasibility

5. eliminateimpractical questions

6. does suitableproblem exist?

to next stage inresearch design

N

N

Y

Y

1. state purpose of research

2. formulate specific questions or hypotheses

4. surveyrelevant literature

5. have questions been answered already?

to next stage inresearch design

N

Y

3. are they interestingor important?

N

Y

identifying a research problem developing research questions

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An Example -- Mind Map

E Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 2.

organizational policy- strategic objectives- corporate planninghow organizations make

decisions on informationproducts information

resourcemanagement

technology forinformation products- DTP- databases- electronic publishing- document management

monitoring and evaluationof information products

trainingmanagement of information products- writing - design - editing- typesetting - production - budget

organizationalinformation products- how they are used- medium of production

people involved ininformation products- decision makers- professional specialists

‘the role of information products andinformation presentation in organizations’

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Literature Survey

• Literature search – a methodical search of published sources of information

to identify items relevant to a particular need, for instance;

• Topic selection, Find specific project information• Discover structure of information in a particular subject, etc.

– But remember to• Define your initial topic, scope, content and parameters for your

own work first• Decide on what sort of relevant information to your project

– range of sources - eg, reference works, books and articles, government publications, theses, conference proceedings, standards and statistics, directories, company and market reports…

– Structure how you get it– decide on a search order, allow enough time, keep detailed records– identify keywords for searching, use computerized databases and

Internet, but narrow your search first– Keep notes of references on index cards or computer

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Searching Cycle

Document/Start

Search statement

Information Sources

Search Strategy

SEARCH

EvaluateModify

Read/Store

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• Some useful links including; • http://nulis.napier.ac.uk• Information Skills Tutorial

– http://cwis.livjm.ac.uk/lea/

• http://www.eevl.ac.uk• http://edina.ed.ac.uk/salser

• Some useful sources– Ei Compendex & Ei Engineering Village 2

• All aspects of engineering and computing

• http://edina.ed.ac.uk/compendex– Inspec

• Physics, engineering, communications, control engineering, and computing

• http://edina.ed.ac.uk/inspec

Information sources #1

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• Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

– Umbrella service for 30+ databases

– Subject coverage includes computing, engineering and science

– http://www.csa1.co.uk

• ANTE - Abstracts in New Technologies and Engineering

– Computing, electronics, engineering including; biotechnology and medical technology.

– http://www.csa1.co.uk• Emerald Abstracts - Computer Abstracts International Database

– All aspects of computing– http://www.emerald-library.com

Information sources #2

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Information Sources #3

• IngentaJournals

– Incorporates full-text links to a number of engineering and

computing journals

– http://www.ingenta.com

• Conference papers

– Index of Conference Proceedings • (via Web of Science)

– ACM Digital Library • Finding theses and research in progress (GB and Ireland)

• http://www.theses.com/

– COS Expertise http://expertise.cos.com/• COS Expertise, our knowledge management service for individuals and

institutions, contains more than 460,000 first-person profiles of researchers from over 1300 institutions worldwide.

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Information Sources #4

• Full-text Access to Electronic Journals see– Ingenta Journals (http://www.bids.ac.uk), – ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com)

– Emerald, Catchword – IDEAL– Expanded Academic ASAP International– etc,

• Finding standards and patents– Technical Indexes: British Standards (http://bsonline.techindex.co.uk)

– EEVL (http://www.eevl.ac.uk) • Select EEVL catalogue, tick resource(s) required, select resource operator

(or/and)

– Ei Engineering Village 2 http://edina.ed.ac.uk/compendex)

• US patents full-text

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Information Sources #5

• Finding company and industry information– Company/Professional association websites

– Mintel Marketing Intelligence (Web) • consumer market research reports

– Newspapers (Learning Centres, Web)– Findex see Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

• Finding Internet resources

– Search Engines such as;

• AltaVista, Yahoo, Google

– For CS and IT only

• www.researchindex.com

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Other Catalogues #1

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Other Catalogues #2

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Other Catalogues #3

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Other Catalogues #4

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Storing information

• extracting information from sources - an exhaustive process– use key topics as ‘hooks’ for searching and storing– making notes

• make accurate note of bibliographic details of item• at top of notes about any item, put key topic(s) prominently• don’t copy large chunks of text, but do note page no. of any quotations you

might use• which vehicles to use for notes? Cards, loose leaf, notebooks? If notebooks,

number them and number pages.

• storing information - key decisions– what containers to use– how to arrange items in containers

• like with like (need to label the containers by key topic)• in sequence (need to number items as they come in)

– whether to create records of the items you store• probably yes• if no, items must be clearly labelled, and you will need an index into them by

topic (etc)E Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 3.

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Software: Endnote

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Evaluating your Search Results

• Ask yourself a number of questions;– relevant to your needs?– useful for the problem in hand?– date of publication appropriate?– obtainable?– level of information correct? – Too simple/advanced?– Is this a new information or do you know this

already?

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Searching your information

• Key considerations for indexing – decide what are the key topics– put them on index cards or use reference database

software (Endnote)– use them as hooks to fish for information– put main topics on notes you make and on items you

photocopy.– decide how to store your information - in number

sequence or by main topic– set up an index - use cards from 2 or make back-of-book

index to notebooks.

• Searching your information– look up the cards for topics you want.– go from there to information store, and take out relevant

itemsE Orna w. G Stevens, Managing Information for Research (OU Press 1995), Ch. 3.

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Literature Review

• Definition– A story or narrative, which documents the previous research that is

relevant to your own research area• The literature review essentially “sets the scene” and prepares the

reader for your own contribution• The literature review usually occurs as chapter 2 in your thesis

– But other sections of your thesis are likely to contain references to material considered in the literature review

• Also the literature review is also an opportunity to learn more about the subject area you are researching

• Purpose – knowledge of current literature and your own reading– present it thematically or in an order that relates to the rest of the

project structure– identify trends, gaps etc in the literature– analyse, evaluate and otherwise demonstrate that you have

understood what you have read

• ALWAYS check your project guidelines

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Planning the Literature Review #1

• Planning the literature review– Set aside enough time to find, read and review a

given publication.– 75% of the literature review can be done in one

session– The other 25% may be ongoing as your

understanding, knowledge and research skills develop

• Identify the main areas of the literature to be covered– Make up a “shopping-list” of these areas so you

know what you are looking for

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Planning the Literature Review #2

• Find relevant publications

– Always follow the literature search cycle• Remember

– to find 10 relevant publications you may have to read over 30

• Thus you need to adhere to– Find, read and record relevant literature

» Record the title of each publication» Record the source (e.g. reference or a web-

page)» Make a brief note about the relevance of the

publication

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• Structure the literature that you have reviewed– You could even use a table with appropriate categories– Start by drawing a “concept map” or an overall plan of

the literature review chapter

• Identify the main areas of the literature– This will include the “parent” or main discipline and the

context of your research– The main areas will be the main sections in the literature

chapter

• Identify relevant sub-areas to be highlighted– Sub-divide the main literature areas into smaller sections– These sections will be the sub-sections within the main

sections of the literature chapter

Structuring your Review #1

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Structuring the literature review

• Section 2.1 (introduction)– Introduce your own research topic and explain what

literature areas need to be reviewed– Briefly present your concept map or plan to show the

reader how the literature review is logically structured

• Section 2.2 to 2.x– Address each of the main areas of the concept map or

plan– Try to move towards specific discussion of each area and

identify what is already known and what is not known

• Section 2.x (final section)– End by stating your own research challenge/question or

any hypothesis

Structuring your Review #2

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Writing the literature review

2.2

2.3

2.2

2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3

Structuring your Review #3

• Different literature review structures can be used including;– The ‘funnel’ approach:

• from broad to narrow focus, • from main areas/issues to detail• from periphery to centre of research

issue– The ‘family tree’ approach:

• different levels of knowledge at each level:

– various options/theories/issues

– Time line– Concept map

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Guidelines #1

• The literature review chapter should not be standalone but relates to other chapters– Ensure that the literature review chapter is closely

linked to your study• Mention your research topic up-front• Then proceed to identify the main areas that will

drive the literature review• Show how your study is related to previous work

(e.g. extends, fills gap, applies in different contexts, etc.)

• Use the literature review chapter to develop your own research framework or research model

• Use the literature review chapter to help shape subsequent chapters in your thesis

– Often to highlight the gap including research problem that your project is to focus on

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Guidelines #2

• Try to review topics rather than articles– GOOD: reviewing topics

• “Absenteeism has been defined in three ways:– genuine absences through illness [1]– voluntary non-attendance e.g. skiving [2]– frequent absences due to mental or physical health

problems [3]”

– NOT AS GOOD: reviewing articles• “[1] says voluntary absences are due to illness.

[2] suggests some absences are simply due to non-attendance e.g. skiving. [3] did a study and found that frequent absences are caused by mental or physical health problems ”

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Additional Lecture Notes

• Lecture notes: literature survey– Literature_Survey.pdf

• See guidance re: how to avoid plagiarism, etc.

• Examples – An example literature survey (Also)– An example review paper

• Oral Presentation– SuppLecture1.ppt

• Technical Report Writing– SuppLecture6.ppt

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TutorialTutorial

• No tutorial, just study the handout, which considers a good literature review and a not so good literature review.

• You can find this article and other useful material on technical writing at the following URLhttp://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21LIT.HTM

• Also visit the online: Information skills tutorial at– http://cwis.livjm.ac.uk/lea/info/list/menu1.htm

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Next Sessions …

• Roles of Supervisor and Project Student

• Writing your MSc project proposal