Conducting Conducting Literature Literature

ReviewReviewByBy

M R SelamatM R Selamat

By the end of this By the end of this presentation, you should be presentation, you should be

able to:able to: Distinguish between plagiarized, cut-Distinguish between plagiarized, cut-

paste material and original contribution.paste material and original contribution. Find literature associated with your topic.Find literature associated with your topic. Properly quote literature from within your Properly quote literature from within your

thesis. thesis. Properly list reference material at the end Properly list reference material at the end

of your thesis. of your thesis. Realize the severe consequences of Realize the severe consequences of

plagiarism and the merit of doing your plagiarism and the merit of doing your work without it.work without it.

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

A literature review is an account of what has A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. scholars and researchers.

You will be required to write a chapter on You will be required to write a chapter on literature review. literature review.

In writing the literature review, your purpose In writing the literature review, your purpose is to convey to your reader what knowledge is to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on the topic and ideas have been established on the topic you have chosen, and what their strengths and you have chosen, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. weaknesses are.

As a piece of writing, the literature review As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). It is not a descriptive list of the thesis). It is not a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summaries. material available, or a set of summaries.

A Good Literature Review A Good Literature Review is:is:

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

ConciseConcise - Ideas should be presented - Ideas should be presented economically. Don’t take any more space than economically. Don’t take any more space than you need to present your ideas. you need to present your ideas.

LogicalLogical - The flow within and among paragraphs - The flow within and among paragraphs should be a smooth, logical progression from one should be a smooth, logical progression from one idea to the next idea to the next

DevelopedDeveloped - Don’t leave the story half told. - Don’t leave the story half told. IntegrativeIntegrative - Your paper should stress how the - Your paper should stress how the

ideas in the studies are related. Focus on the big ideas in the studies are related. Focus on the big picture. What commonality do all the studies picture. What commonality do all the studies share? How are some studies different than share? How are some studies different than others? Your paper should stress how all the others? Your paper should stress how all the studies reviewed contribute to your topic. studies reviewed contribute to your topic.

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

Besides enlarging your Besides enlarging your knowledge about the topic, knowledge about the topic, writing a literature review writing a literature review

lets you gain and lets you gain and demonstrate skills in two demonstrate skills in two

areas:areas: information seekinginformation seeking: the ability to scan : the ability to scan

the literature efficiently, using manual or the literature efficiently, using manual or computerized methods, to identify a set computerized methods, to identify a set of useful articles and books of useful articles and books

critical appraisalcritical appraisal: the ability to apply : the ability to apply principles of analysis to identify unbiased principles of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies.and valid studies.

A literature review must do A literature review must do these things:these things:

be organized around and related directly to be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question you are the thesis or research question you are developing developing

synthesize results into a summary of what synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not known is and is not known

identify areas of controversy in the identify areas of controversy in the literature literature

formulate questions that need further formulate questions that need further research research

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

What is the What is the specific thesis, problem, or research specific thesis, problem, or research questionquestion that my literature review helps to define? that my literature review helps to define?

What What typetype of literature review am I conducting? of literature review am I conducting? Am I looking at issues of theory? methodology? Am I looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy? quantitative research (e.g. on the policy? quantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a new procedure)? qualitative effectiveness of a new procedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies )? research (e.g., studies )?

What is the What is the scopescope of my literature review? What of my literature review? What types of publications am I using (e.g., journals, types of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books, government documents, popular media)? books, government documents, popular media)? What discipline am I working in (e.g., environment, What discipline am I working in (e.g., environment, geotechnical engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, transportation, structure)? structure)?

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

How good was my How good was my information seekinginformation seeking? ? Has my search been wide enough to ensure Has my search been wide enough to ensure I've found all the relevant material? Has it I've found all the relevant material? Has it been narrow enough to exclude irrelevant been narrow enough to exclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sources I've used material? Is the number of sources I've used appropriate for the length of my paper? appropriate for the length of my paper?

Have I Have I critically analyzed critically analyzed the literature I the literature I use? Do I follow through a set of concepts use? Do I follow through a set of concepts and questions, comparing items to each and questions, comparing items to each other in the ways they deal with them? other in the ways they deal with them? Instead of just listing and summarizing Instead of just listing and summarizing items, do I assess them, discussing strengths items, do I assess them, discussing strengths and weaknesses? and weaknesses?

Have I cited and discussed studies Have I cited and discussed studies contrarycontrary to my perspective? to my perspective?

Will the reader find my literature review Will the reader find my literature review relevant, appropriate, and usefulrelevant, appropriate, and useful??

Ask yourself questions like Ask yourself questions like these about each text book or these about each text book or

article you include:article you include: Has the author formulated a problem/issue? Has the author formulated a problem/issue? Is it clearly defined? Is its significance Is it clearly defined? Is its significance

(scope, severity, relevance) clearly (scope, severity, relevance) clearly established? established?

Could the problem have been approached Could the problem have been approached more effectively from another perspective? more effectively from another perspective?

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

Ask yourself questions like Ask yourself questions like these about each book or these about each book or

article you include:article you include: What is the author's theoretical framework What is the author's theoretical framework

(e.g., psychological, developmental, (e.g., psychological, developmental, feminist)? feminist)?

What is the relationship between the What is the relationship between the theoretical and research perspectives? theoretical and research perspectives?

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

In a research study, how good are the basic In a research study, how good are the basic components of the study design (e.g., components of the study design (e.g., population, intervention, outcome)? How population, intervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are the measurements? Is accurate and valid are the measurements? Is the analysis of the data accurate and relevant the analysis of the data accurate and relevant to the research question? Are the conclusions to the research question? Are the conclusions validly based upon the data and analysis? validly based upon the data and analysis?

Ask yourself questions like Ask yourself questions like these about each book or these about each book or

article you include:article you include: In material written for a popular readership, does the In material written for a popular readership, does the

author use appeals to emotion, one-sided examples, author use appeals to emotion, one-sided examples, or rhetorically-charged language and tone? Is there or rhetorically-charged language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning, or is the author an objective basis to the reasoning, or is the author merely "proving" what he or she already believes? merely "proving" what he or she already believes?

How does the author structure the argument? Can How does the author structure the argument? Can you "deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see you "deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see whether or where it breaks down logically (e.g., in whether or where it breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause-effect relationships)? establishing cause-effect relationships)?

In what ways does this book or article contribute to In what ways does this book or article contribute to your understanding of the problem under study, and your understanding of the problem under study, and in what ways is it useful for practice? What are the in what ways is it useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations? strengths and limitations?

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

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

A literature review is a piece of A literature review is a piece of discursive discursive proseprose, not a list describing or summarizing one , not a list describing or summarizing one piece of literature after another. It's usually a piece of literature after another. It's usually a bad sign to see every paragraph beginning with bad sign to see every paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher. Instead, organize the the name of a researcher. Instead, organize the literature review into sections that present literature review into sections that present themes or identify trends, including relevant themes or identify trends, including relevant theory. You are not trying to list all the theory. You are not trying to list all the material published, but to synthesize and material published, but to synthesize and evaluate it according to the guiding concept of evaluate it according to the guiding concept of your thesis or research question.your thesis or research question.

Now you can start Now you can start writingwriting DECIDE ON A TOPICDECIDE ON A TOPIC

NARROW YOUR TOPICNARROW YOUR TOPIC   CREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE CREATE AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR LITERATURE

REVIEWREVIEW   ORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPERORGANIZE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER    Scan each article to get an overview of each Scan each article to get an overview of each

one.one. Group the articles by categories.Group the articles by categories. Read each article carefully, taking notes on Read each article carefully, taking notes on

each one.each one. WRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER WRITE THE BODY OF YOUR PAPER 

Make the structure and organization of your write-up explicit. Make the structure and organization of your write-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 At the end of each section wrap up studies in a paragraph that tells

the reader how the studies relate and address your topic. the reader how 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 write-upIdentify landmark studies in your write-up 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.  .  

Quoting reference into your Quoting reference into your writingwriting

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, Quoting: (Author, Year1, Year2, Year3,

Year4)Year4) Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2, Quoting: (Author1, Year1 and Author2,

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

and Author3, Year3)and Author3, Year3)

Quoting reference into your Quoting reference into your writingwriting

Ground motion was first incorporated into slope Ground motion was first incorporated into slope stability analyses to study the effects from stability analyses to study the effects from earthquakes (Sarma 1973). This paper will not go earthquakes (Sarma 1973). This paper will not go much into the matters on pseudo-static and much into the matters on pseudo-static and permanent displacement concepts as discussed by permanent displacement concepts as discussed by Newmark (1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Newmark (1965), Chang et al. (1983), Lin and Whitman (1986), Kobayashi et al. (1990), Yegian et Whitman (1986), Kobayashi et al. (1990), Yegian et al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994), and Kramer al. (1991), Leshchinsky and San (1994), and Kramer and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works by and Smith (1997). Instead, it will refer to works by Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988), Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Gilbert (1988), Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authors own earlier publications Sitar (2002), and the authors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitombo 2003), on how (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forces that ground accelerations were computed into forces that were used in the pseudo-static or permanent were used in the pseudo-static or permanent displacement ideas. displacement ideas.

Quoting reference into your Quoting reference into your writingwriting

This discussion highlights the relevance of This discussion highlights the relevance of Sarma’s method on the emerging interest in the Sarma’s method on the emerging interest in the country in some areas of earthquake country in some areas of earthquake engineering (Adnan et al., 2005). This engineering (Adnan et al., 2005). This discussion will refer to works by Sarma (1973, discussion will refer to works by Sarma (1973, 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), 1975, 1979), Sarma and Bhave (1974), Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Kjartannsson (1979), Hoek (1987), Dowding and Gilbert (1988), Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford Gilbert (1988), Kavetski et al. (1990), Ashford and Sitar (2002), and the authors own earlier and Sitar (2002), and the authors own earlier publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and publications (Selamat 1999, Selamat and Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerations Chitombo 2003), on how ground accelerations were computed into forces that were used in the were computed into forces that were used in the pseudo-static or permanent displacement ideas. pseudo-static or permanent displacement ideas.

Quoting “actual script” into Quoting “actual script” into your writingyour writing

Dowding (1996) writes “….too little Dowding (1996) writes “….too little experience from ….earthquake experience from ….earthquake engineering has spilled into engineering has spilled into ….blasting vibrations”.….blasting vibrations”.

Quoting “actual script” into Quoting “actual script” into your writingyour writing

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

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

Listing your referenceListing your reference Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Author, Year. Title of Paper/Article. Name of

Journal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp. Journal/Bulletin. Vol. No. pp. Author1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year. Author1, Author2, Author3, Author4, Year.

Title of Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. Title of Paper/Article. Name of Journal. Vol. No. pp. No. pp.

Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. Author, Year. Title of Book. Publisher. Place. pp.pp.

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

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

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

Listing your referenceListing your reference

Adnan A., Abas M. R., and Adnan A., Abas M. R., and Hendriawan. 2005. Earthquake Hendriawan. 2005. Earthquake Induced Energy: Sources and Induced Energy: Sources and Hazard Analysis For Structural Hazard Analysis For Structural Earthquake Resistant Design in Earthquake Resistant Design in Peninsular Malaysia. The Ingenieur Peninsular Malaysia. The Ingenieur of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia, of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia, Vol. 26, pp. 21-25Vol. 26, pp. 21-25

What is PlagiarismWhat is Plagiarism

Rewriting someone else’s script without Rewriting someone else’s script without quoting the source.quoting the source.

Rewriting someone else’s script as if it Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is your ownis your own

Cutting and Pasting internet materialsCutting and Pasting internet materials Publishing someone else’s result Publishing someone else’s result

without permissionwithout permission Reproducing someone else’s figure or Reproducing someone else’s figure or

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

Thank YouThank You