Literature review What is not a literature review? · An annotated bibliography o this is a descriptive summary that describes material in a list, a reference citation followed by a description of content ... but you might start your research for a literature review by building an annotated bibliography · A study by study or or article by article description of studies previously done What is a literature review? It is: · a form of secondary data analysis · a discussion of your knowledge about the topic that is supported by the research literature · shows how topic area has evolved, what is known and what is not · organised according to ideas, themes and concepts not authors · critical and descriptive What does it look like? · look at introduction and or second section of a journal article 3 phases of a literature review: 1. Broad scan To generate ideas and a working topic To determine extent of research, present understandings, practices and conclusions To identify gaps in research 2. Inquiry To answer more focused questions- what are major issues, gaps or controversies, who are the main authors 3. Comprehensive inquiry Detailed assessment of specific works Analyses trends, concurrence and disagreements Includes firm evidence to support the research problem/provide rationale for a study Practicalities How to search- keywords, key topics, authors, theories, models. Keep records- note everything you read, use software like Mendeley, endnote, or simple use word. Save references. Quotations. Categorise evidence. Starting a search for journal articles Brainstorm to come up with ideas to search
Then use advance search option on mySearch on library website-> tick full access, tick peer reviewed, consider limiting date initially Materials to use: Best Journal articles -> Research reports, books fi industry reports -> Newspaper -> Random Worst Criteria for evaluating literature How useful is material? . use book contents/index page or read journal article abstracts to check for relevance · then consider o currency o relevancy to your topic o who or what was studied Writing the literature review 4. Begin with introduction to review a. set scope b. outline main topics 5. Tell story from broad to specific a. start with broad review material b. specific areas of interest explored c. become more focused on interest as you progress 6. End with a summary a. what is known (brief summary) b. what is not known-identify research gap-should lead naturally into methods i. example: Previous research in other contexts appears to show that festivals can contribute to the development of bonding social capital, yet are less effective in building, bridging, or linking social capital. However, in the context of smaller scaled community festivals, there are few studies to inform this research." Tips 7. Organise materials by grouping similar studies/findings together 8. Identify areas of controversy in literature 9. Use findings of one story to explain another 10. Relate material to your topic 11. Describe theory then explain why it is relevant to your study 12. Make connection for reader between subtopics